High-level waste

[Rennhack]

Radioactive materials at the end of a useful life cycle that should be properly disposed of, including--

• The highly radioactive material resulting from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, including liquid waste directly in reprocessing and any solid material derived from such liquid waste that contains fission products in concentrations;
• Irradiated reactor fuel; and
• Other highly radioactive material that the Commission, consistent with existing law, determines by rule require permanent isolation.

High-level waste (HLW) is primarily in the form of spent fuel discharged from commercial nuclear power reactors. It also includes HLW from activities and a small quantity of reprocessed commercial HLW (see 10 CFR 63.2 and Nuclear waste; Waste, radioactive; and Low-level waste).

[Rennhack]

The highly radioactive material resulting spent nuclear fuel reprocessing:

Liquid waste directly produced in reprocessing
Any solid material derived from the liquid wastes having a sufficient concentration of fission products.
Other highly radioactive materials can be designated as high-level waste, if they require permanent isolation. This determination is made by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission based criteria established in U.S. law.