high-level radioactive waste repository

A high-level radioactive waste repository is a secure facility where the most radioactive waste from nuclear power plants and medical sources is stored for long-term management. This waste, which includes used nuclear fuel, remains hazardous for thousands of years. The repository is designed to contain the radioactivity safely, prevent environmental contamination, and protect public health. Typically, waste is sealed in sturdy containers and placed deep underground in geology that naturally isolates it from the surface. This approach ensures that the hazardous materials stay contained and pose minimal risk over the extended period necessary for radioactivity to decay to safer levels.