The characteristics of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste are described, and options for permanent disposal that have been considered are described. These include:
•disposal in a mined geological formation,
•disposal in a multinational repository, perhaps on an unoccupied island,
•by in situ melting, perhaps in underground nuclear test cavities,
•sub-seabed disposal,
•disposal in deep boreholes,
•disposal by melting through ice sheets or permafrost,
•disposal by sending the wastes into space, and

Radioactive waste management is embedded in broader societal issues such as the
environment, risk management, energy, health policy and sustainability. In all
these fields, there is an increasing demand for public involvement, participation
and engagement. Involvement may take different forms at different phases and
can include sharing information, consulting, dialoguing or deliberating on
decisions with relevant stakeholders. Stakeholder involvement should be seen as a