COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Inventory of radioactive waste and spent fuel present in the Community's territory and the future prospects Accompanying the document REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT on progress of implementation of Council Directive 2011/70/EURATOM and an inventory of radioactive waste and spent fuel present in the Community's territory and the future prospects
Date: 2017-05-15
Institutions: Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission
Subjects: EU policy - national policy, application of EU law, decommissioning of power stations, energy production, irradiated fuel, nuclear policy, nuclear power station, nuclear safety, radioactive waste, waste management

EN 

   EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 15.5.2017  SWD(2017) 161 final   COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Inventory of radioactive waste and spent fuel present in the Community's territory and the future prospects Accompanying the document REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT on progress of implementation of Council Directive 2011/70/EURATOM and an inventory of radioactive waste and spent fuel present in the Community's territory and the future prospects  {COM(2017) 236 final} {SWD(2017) 159 final}  
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

List of abbreviations ................................................................................................................... 3 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

Introduction ................................................................................................................ 4 

Sources of information ............................................................................................... 5 

Sources of spent fuel and radioactive waste ............................................................... 7 

Classification of spent fuel and radioactive waste ..................................................... 8 

Estimated spent fuel and radioactive waste inventory in the European Union .......... 9 

Projections of future spent fuel and radioactive waste arisings ............................... 23 

Annex:  Spent fuel and radioactive waste inventory data ...................................................... 25 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
List of abbreviations 

DSRS   

Disused sealed radioactive sources 

EU  

HLW    

IAEA    

ILW  

European Union 

High Level Waste 

International Atomic Energy Agency 

Intermediate Level Waste 

LLW    

Low Level Waste 

NORM  

Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material 

OECD-NEA  Nuclear  Energy  Agency  of  Organisation  for  Economic  Co-operation  and 

Development 

RAW    

Radioactive waste 

SF  

tHM  

Spent fuel 

Tons of heavy metal 

VLLW  

Very Low Level Waste 

VSLW  

Very Short Lived waste 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. 

Introduction 

Radioactive waste is generated in all Member States of the European Union even though the 
quantities  are  very  small  in  non-nuclear  power  Member  States  compared  to  those  Member 
States operating nuclear power plants. 

Nuclear power plants are the main producers of spent fuel although small quantities of spent 
fuel are also generated during the operation of research, training and demonstration reactors. 

According  to  the  Council  Directive  2011/70/EURATOM1  establishing  a  Community 
framework  for  the  responsible  and  safe  management  of  spent  fuel  and  radioactive  waste 
(further “Directive”) Member States have to provide for appropriate national arrangements for 
a  high  level  of  safety  of  spent  fuel  and  radioactive  waste  management,  including  the 
establishment, implementation and updating of national programmes for the management of 
such  material.  Member  States  have  to  communicate  such  national  programmes  and  the 
national reports on the implementation of the Directive (including the national inventories in 
line  with  Article  12(1)c  of  the  Directive)  to  the  Commission  in  line  with  Article  13(1)  and 
14(1) of the Directive. 

This  document  gives  an  overview  of  spent  fuel  and  radioactive  waste  inventory  in  the 
European Union and the future prospects, as required by Article 14(2)b of the Directive. It 
contains  background  information  to  the  inventory  data  presented  in  the  Report  from  the 
Commission  to  the  Council  and  the  European  Parliament  on  progress  of  implementation  of 
Council Directive 2011/70/EURATOM and an inventory of radioactive waste and spent fuel 
present in the Community's territory and future prospects (COM(2017)236). 

Previously the European Commission (further "Commission") published a series of "Situation 
Reports"2  which  were  developed  in  order  to  analyse  and  inform  stakeholders  about  the 
situation of spent fuel and radioactive waste management in the European Union. Data from 
the  6th  Situation  Report3  and  7th  Situation  Report4  have  been  used  here  for  comparison  and 
identification of trends in the evolution of the European Union inventory. 

Information  about  the  Member  States'  installations  generating  radioactive  waste  and  spent 
fuel, policies, strategies, concepts, plans and financing mechanisms is summarised in the Staff 
Working  Document  COM(2017)159  on  progress  of  implementation  of  Council  Directive 
2011/70/EURATOM  and  an  inventory  of  radioactive  waste  and  spent  fuel  present  in  the 
Community`s territory and future prospects.  

1  

2  

3  

4  

Council Directive 2011/70/EURATOM of 19 July 2011 establishing a Community framework for the 
responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste; OJ L 199/48, 2.8.2011. 
The last one of the series was "Commission staff working paper, Seventh situation report, radioactive 
waste and spent fuel management in the European Union; SEC(2011) 1007 final, 22.8.2011". 
Report  from  the  Commission  to  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council,  Sixth  situation  report  on 
radioactive waste and spent fuel management in the European Union; COM(2008)542 final, 8.9. 2008 
and accompanying document SEC(2008)2416 final/2, 16.7.2010. 
Commission  staff  working  paper,  Seventh  situation  report,  radioactive  waste  and  spent  fuel 
management in the European Union; SEC(2011) 1007 final, 22.8.2011. 

4 

 
 
                                                 
2. 

Sources of information 

The  European  Union  spent  fuel  and  radioactive  waste  inventory  data  presented  in  this 
document is based on the national programmes and national reports submitted by Member 
States  to  the  Commission.  Although  the  data  from  individual  Member  States  have  different 
reference dates ranging from end of 2013 to 2016, most of the Member States have chosen the 
end of 2013 as a reference date5. 

The  summaries  presented  in  this  document  have  been  verified  by  the  respective  Member 
States, with one exception. 

For the trend analysis additional documents containing historical inventory data have been 
used. Most of the data for 2004, 2007 and 2010 inventories have been taken from the  Sixth 
and  Seventh  Situation  Reports,  as  well  as  unpublished  inventory  data  reported  to  the 
Commission by the Member States in 2010. 

In  order  to  perform  trend  analysis  for  the  European  Union  inventory  of  spent  fuel  and 
radioactive  waste,  missing  and  inconsistent  data  from  the  above-mentioned  sources  were 
reviewed and updated by using various sources, such as national inventory reports published 
by  competent  authorities,  and  national  Joint  Convention6  reports.  Any  updates  to  data  for 
2004, 2007 and 2010 are identified in the tables in the Annex. The collected inventory data 
also appeared to be consistent with the IAEA inventory data. 

In preparation of this report, the following main sources of uncertainty have been identified: 

  Member  States  report  radioactive  waste  data  using  their  national  classification 
schemes.  Therefore,  conversion  to  a  common  reporting  basis  (IAEA  GSG-1 
classification7; see Chapter 4 below) introduces uncertainties, as the radioactive waste 
classes  in  different  national  classification  schemes  often  cannot  be  directly  matched, 
and the transformation is carried out on a “best approximation” basis. 

  Member  States  use  different  units  (volume,  mass,  etc.).  With  some  exceptions, 
volumes of radioactive waste are reported. Where this is not the case, conversion from 
mass 
treat-
ment/conditioning methods used can result in significant uncertainty.  

to  volume  without  detailed  knowledge  of 

radioactive  waste 

This  includes  different  ways  to  reporting  disused  sealed  radioactive  sources. 
Especially in countries with large nuclear programmes, the disused sealed radioactive 
sources are generally integrated into other large radioactive waste streams and are not 
reported separately. In other countries, especially where the disused sealed radioactive 
sources  are  a  significant  part  of  the  national  inventory,  they  are  reported  separately 
from  the  other  radioactive  waste  and  radioactive  waste  classes,  and  in  general  are 
reported as number of sources. 

5  

6  

7  

Article  14(1)  of  the  Directive  states  “...taking  advantage  of  the  review  and  reporting  under  the  Joint 
Convention.” In the last Joint Convention reporting cycle (5th Joint Convention meeting in May 2015) 
the Member States used 2013 as a reference date. 
Joint  Convention  on  the  Safety  of  Spent  Fuel  Management  and  on  the  Safety  of  Radioactive  Waste 
Management, INFCIRC/546, 24.12.1997. 
Classification of Radioactive Waste. IAEA Safety Standards No. GSG-1, 2009, Vienna. 

5 

 
 
                                                 
 

Member  States  used  different  approaches  to  report  volume  of  radioactive  waste  – 
some  reported  volumes  as  stored,  while  others  reported  volumes  as  ready  for 
disposal.  

When inventory is reported “as disposed” volumes – it is used for integration of the 
national reporting into the overall European Union inventory, since this represents the 
final step in management of radioactive waste.  

Interpretation of volume "as stored" in some cases can lead to significant uncertainties, 
especially  when  estimating  the  need  for  disposal  capacities.  One  example  is  the 
usually  very  large  volume  of  liquid  radioactive  waste  and  sludge  in  storage.  After 
treatment and conditioning for disposal this volume may be significantly reduced. The 
same is true for combustible and compactible radioactive waste.  

To  achieve  consistency  and  comparability  of  the  data,  it  is  preferable  for  Member 
States to report radioactive waste volumes as packaged for disposal.  

  Limited  knowledge  of  radioactive  contamination  of  facilities  subject  to  decom-
missioning  results  in  uncertainties  in  predicting  amounts  of  decommissioning  waste. 
The  detailed  characterization  of  a  facility  subject  to  decommissioning  increases  the 
precision  in  forecasting  the  amount  of  radioactive  waste,  however,  only  when 
decommissioning is  well  progressed will the actual categories and amounts  of waste 
be fully known. This is also valid for the limited knowledge of characteristics of some 
legacy wastes. 

  Differences  in  materials  considered  as  radioactive  waste.  Waste  containing 
naturally  occurring  radioactive  material  –  NORM  (e.g.  from  uranium  mining  and 
milling)  is  not  categorised  as  radioactive  waste  in  some  Member  States,  although  a 
few Member States declare this waste in the scope of their national programmes.  

  Pending decisions result in uncertainties in the projection of future radioactive waste 

inventories (e.g. volumes, classes). Examples of pending decisions are: 

o  Final  decisions  about  the  management  routes  for  radioactive  waste  (such  as 

evaporation versus cementation); 

o  Immediate or deferred decommissioning, with the amount of radioactive waste 

potentially decreasing with prolonged safe enclosure of a facility; 

o  Final  disposal  end-points,  potentially  with  considerable  differences 

in 

acceptance criteria. 

  Political  decisions  and  changes  in  the  legal/regulatory  framework  may  also 

introduce considerable changes in estimates of future arisings, e.g.: 

o  Decisions to retrieve disposed radioactive waste; 

o  Changes to the fuel cycle; 

o  Inclusion  or  not  of  certain  materials  –  e.g.  spent  fuel  being  categorised  as 

waste, or other materials such as depleted uranium.  

During  the  assessment  of  the  evolution  of  Member  States  inventories  with  time,  the 
following additional sources of uncertainties have been identified: 

  Use of different radioactive waste classification schemes from one reporting period 

to another. 

6 

 
 
  Differences in the reference dates of Member States inventories – for the current 
reporting period although the majority of Member States reported inventories as of the 
end of 2013, a few have chosen to report more recent inventories with dates ranging 
from 2014 to 2016.  

  Change in radioactive waste status - some Member States plan to recover previously 
disposed  radioactive  waste,  process  and  re-dispose  of  it  in  existing  and/or  newly 
constructed  disposal  facilities.  So  there  might  be  changes  depending  on  whether 
radioactive  waste  is  still  reported  as  disposed  of  or  stored.  Also  the  overall  volume 
might change as a result of subsequent retreatment and final disposal. Overall after a 
decision  for  remediation  of  a  disposal  site,  radioactive  waste  is  considered  as  stored 
whilst awaiting retrieval. 

  Change  of  assumptions  used  for  reporting  during  different  reporting  periods.  For 
example, some Member States reported combined radioactive waste classes like "Low 
and  Intermediate  Level  Waste"  as  "Low  Level  Waste"  while  in  a  subsequent  period 
this  was  reported  as  "Intermediate  Level  Waste".  This  however  has  no  effect  on  the 
need for safe management of this waste. 

  Declaration  of  material  as  radioactive  waste  or  not,  changing  from  one  reporting 
period to the other (e.g. spent fuel and depleted uranium). It has also been noted that 
some Member States report “irradiated fuel” and others “spent fuel”. 

3. 

Sources of spent fuel and radioactive waste 

The  largest source  of  radioactive  waste  stems  from  the  nuclear  power plants  and  associated 
nuclear  fuel  cycle  activities.  The  latter  include  those  from  the  nuclear  fuel  cycle,  i.e.  from 
conversion  of  uranium  through  to  fuel  fabrication  prior  to  electricity  generation,  and 
subsequent  reprocessing  of  spent  fuel.  Other  Member  States  make  use  of  the  once-through 
fuel cycle option, with direct disposal of the spent fuel in deep geological facilities foreseen. 
Decommissioning  of  nuclear  power  plants  and  other  nuclear  facilities  at  the  end  of  their 
useful lifetime also results in generation of significant volumes of radioactive waste, mainly 
low-level  waste.  Another  large  contribution  can  be  waste  from  mining  and  milling  of 
uranium, if it is declared as radioactive waste. Some Member States report such material as a 
part  of  radioactive  waste  inventory,  whereas  others  do  not.  Therefore,  a  comparison  of 
inventories  of  waste  containing  naturally  occurring  radioactive  material  between  Member 
States  or  compilation  of  an  overall  European  Union  inventory  (incl.  NORM  waste)  is 
currently not possible and therefore outside the scope of this report. 

Smaller  volumes  of  radioactive  waste  are  generated  as  a  result  of  non-power  uses  of 
radioactive  materials,  such  as  the  manufacturing  of  radioactive  materials  for  use  in  medical 
and  industrial  applications,  or  research  facilities  such  as  laboratories,  and  research  reactors. 
Therefore,  all  Member  States  generate  radioactive  waste,  though  non-power  related  wastes 
represent a small proportion of the total generated radioactive waste. 

7 

 
 
4. 

Classification of spent fuel and radioactive waste 

In  line with Article 12(1)c of the Directive, Member States need  to  develop as  part of their 
national  programmes  and  notify  to  the  Commission  spent  fuel  and  radioactive  waste 
inventories in accordance with an appropriate classification. Correspondingly, Member States 
notify  their  national  programmes  and  reports  on  their  spent  fuel  and  radioactive  waste 
inventories based on radioactive waste classifications that may differ from one Member State 
to another.  

In  order  to  make  spent  fuel  and  radioactive  waste  inventories  comparable  among  different 
Member States and in order to aggregate the overall inventory on the territory of the European 
Union, Member States inventories were translated into a common classification scheme. The 
IAEA  GSG-1  classification  system  has  been  chosen  for  that  purpose  in  order  to  facilitate 
Member  States  reporting  to  various  international  organisations  (e.g.  IAEA)  and  instruments 
(e.g. Joint Convention). 

The categories of radioactive waste used for data aggregation are: 

  Very  Low  Level  Waste  (VLLW):  waste  that  does  not  need  a  high  level  of 
containment  and  isolation  and,  therefore,  is  suitable  for  disposal  in  near  surface 
landfill type facilities with limited regulatory control. 

  Low  Level  Waste  (LLW):  waste  that  is  above  clearance  levels,  but  with  limited 
amounts  of  long-lived  radionuclides.  Such  waste  requires  robust  isolation  and 
containment  for  periods  of  up  to  a  few  hundred  years  and  is  suitable  for  disposal  in 
engineered near surface facilities. This class covers a very broad range of waste. LLW 
may  include  short-lived  radionuclides  at  higher  levels  of  activity  concentration,  and 
also 
levels  of  activity 
concentration. 

long-lived  radionuclides,  but  only  at  relatively 

low 

  Intermediate Level Waste  (ILW): waste that, because of its content, particularly of 
long  lived radionuclides,  requires  a greater  degree  of  containment  and  isolation  than 
that  provided  by  near  surface  disposal.  However,  ILW  needs  no  provision,  or  only 
limited  provision,  for  heat  dissipation  during  its  storage  and  disposal.  ILW  may 
contain  long-lived  radionuclides,  in  particular,  alpha  emitting  radionuclides  that  will 
not  decay  to  a  level  of  activity  concentration  acceptable  for  near  surface  disposal 
during the time for which institutional controls can be relied upon. Therefore, waste in 
this  class  requires  disposal  at  greater  depths,  of  the  order  of  tens  of  metres  to  a  few 
hundred metres. 

  High Level Waste (HLW): waste with levels of activity concentration high enough to 
generate significant quantities of heat by the radioactive decay process or waste with 
large amounts of long lived radionuclides that need to be considered in the design of a 
disposal facility for such waste. Disposal in deep, stable geological formations usually 
several hundred metres or more below the surface is the generally recognized option 
for disposal of HLW. 

Spent  fuel  (SF)  is  also  considered  in  its  entirety,  whether  it  might  be  intended  for  repro-
cessing or awaiting decision for future long term management (reprocessing or disposal). 

8 

 
 
 
 
In addition to the above mentioned waste classes, IAEA GSG-1 classification system defines: 

  Exempt  waste  with  concentrations  of  radionuclides  small  enough  to  not  require 
provisions  for  radiation  protection.  Such  material  can  be  cleared  from  regulatory 
control  and  does  not  require  any  further  consideration  from  a  regulatory  control 
perspective. 

  Very short lived waste containing only very short half-life radionuclides, thus such a 
waste  can  be  stored  until  the  activity  has  fallen  beneath  the  levels  of  clearance, 
allowing for the cleared waste to be managed as conventional waste.  

The  latter  two  waste  classes  do  not  require  future  long  term  management  or  disposal  as 
radioactive waste due to their short-lifetime and/or levels allowing the exemption or clearance 
from  regulatory  control.  Accordingly,  exempt  waste  and  very  short  lived  waste  are  in  most 
cases not reported by Member States. Thus, these waste classes have not been used for data 
aggregation in the present document. 

Several Member States combine VLLW and LLW, or do not have a separate VLLW class. In 
the latter case such material could be subject to clearance in accordance with the respective 
national  legislation.  Reflecting  the  disposal  routes,  several  Member  States  also  use  a 
combined  waste  class  “low  and  intermediate  level  waste”  -  LILW.  Where  other  than  the 
IAEA  GSG-1  classification  system  is  used  for  reporting  by  Member  States,  a  conversion 
provided by the Member States is applied in this Report in order to achieve the transformation 
from the national to the IAEA classification systems. 

5. 

Estimated spent fuel and radioactive waste inventory in the European Union 

The present inventory covers all European Union Member States. The data was analysed with 
respect  to  Member  States  currently  or  previously  having  operated  nuclear  power  plants  and 
those not, i.e. those with relatively much smaller radioactive waste inventories. 

When comparing the current data with the data provided for previous reporting (i.e. Situation 
Reports) the data are generally consistent. In some cases, however, there are some deviations 
due  to  reasons  such  as  the  use  of  the  older  classification  scheme,  affecting  in  particular  the 
ratio  between  LILW  and  VLLW;  successful  programmes  of  volume  reduction;  the 
decommissioning  of  nuclear  installations;  and  shipments  of  radioactive  waste/spent  fuel  for 
reprocessing. 

Radioactive waste 

At the end of 2013 the estimated total inventory of radioactive waste in the European Union 
was  3  313  000  m3,  with  70  %  disposed  of  (2  316  000  m3),  and  30  %  stored  (997  000  m3). 
Table 1 summarizes the overall amounts of radioactive waste in the European Union. 

9 

 
 
 
 
Table 1. Volumes of radioactive waste in the European Union, end 2013 

Waste 
Category 

Total amount (m3) 

Stored 

Disposed 

VLLW 

237 000 

279 000 

516 000 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

428 000 

326 000 

6 000 

2 025 000 

2 453 000 

12 000 

338 000 

0 

6 000 

Total (m3) 

997 000 

2 316 000 

3 313 000 

2 500 000

2 000 000

1 500 000

1 000 000

3

m

,
e
m
u
l
o
V

 500 000

  0

HLW

ILW

LLW

Stored

Disposed

Figure 1. Distribution of the radioactive waste in the European Union between                 

stored and disposed of by waste class, end of 2013  

Distribution  of  the  European  Union  radioactive  waste  inventory  according  to  different 
radioactive  waste  classes  is  shown  in  Figures  1  and  2.  LLW  is  the  dominating  waste  class 
making around 74% of the overall waste, while VLLW and ILW is estimated to be 15% and 
10% respectively. HLW makes the smallest fraction of the overall waste volume, accounting 
for 0.2%. 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Stored

Disposed

30 % 

0.2% 

10% 

15% 

VLLW

LLW

ILW

HLW

70 % 

74 % 

Figure 2. Distribution of the radioactive waste in the European Union, end of 2013 

There are sixteen European Union Member States that operate or have operated nuclear power 
plants.  They  account  for  99.7%  of  the  radioactive  waste  inventory  in  the  European  Union. 
The  total  volume  of  radioactive  waste  in  those  Member  States  and  the  distribution  among 
them is shown in Figures 3 and 4. 

Slovenia

Romania

Finland

The Netherlands

Czech Republic

Hungary

Slovakia

Belgium

Bulgaria

Italy

Lithuania

Spain

Sweden

Germany

UK

France

Stored

Disposed

  0

 300 000

 600 000

 900 000

1 200 000

1 500 000

Volume, m3 

Figure 3. Volumes of radioactive waste in Member States with nuclear power 
programme, end of 2013 

11 

 
 
 
  
UK 38.3 % 

Germany 7.3 % 

France 44.2 % 

Sweden 2.0 % 
Spain 1.7 % 
Lithuania 1.5 % 
Italy 1.3 % 

Bulgaria 0.8 % 
Belgium 0.7 % 

Slovakia 0.6 % 
Hungary 0.5 % 
Czech Republic  
0.4 % 
The Netherlands 
0.3 % 
Finland 0.3 % 
Romania 0.1 % 

Slovenia 0.1 % 

Figure 4. Distribution of total volumes of radioactive waste in Member States with 
nuclear power programme, end of 2013 

Twelve  Member  States  have  no  nuclear  programme,  although  six  of  them  are  operating  or 
have  operated  research,  training  or  demonstration  reactors.  The  total  volume  of  radioactive 
waste  and  the  distribution  among  the  Member  States  without  nuclear  power  programmes  is 
shown in Figures 5 and 6. 

Malta

Luxembourg

Cyprus

Croatia

Ireland

Greece

Portugal

Latvia

Estonia

Denmark

Austria

Poland

Stored

Disposed

  0

  500

 1 000

 1 500

 2 000
Volume, m3 

 2 500

 3 000

 3 500

 4 000

Figure 5. Total volume of radioactive waste in Member States without nuclear power 
programme, end of 2013 

12 

 
 
 
  
Denmark 
18.1 % 

Estonia 
17 % 

Latvia 
7.9 % 

Austria 
20.3 % 

Poland 
33.5 % 

Portugal 
2.3 % 

Greece 
0.4 % 

Ireland 
0.3 % 

Croatia 
0.1 % 

Cyprus 
0 % 

Luxembourg 
0 % 

Malta 
0 % 

Figure 6. Distribution of total volumes of radioactive waste in Member States                   

without nuclear power programme, end of 2013 

The total estimated volume of stored radioactive waste is 997 000 m3. LLW makes almost 
half  of  this  amount  (43%),  while  VLLW  together  with  ILW  make  24%  and  33% 
correspondingly.  HLW  fraction  in  the  overall  radioactive  waste  in  storage  is  0.6%. 
Distribution of stored radioactive waste is shown in Figure 7. 

0.6 % 

24 % 

33 % 

43 % 

VLLW

LLW

ILW

HLW

Figure 7. Distribution of stored radioactive waste in the European Union by class, end of 
2013 

Member  States  having  nuclear  power  programmes  are  large  contributors  to  the  overall 
radioactive  waste  inventory  of  the  European  Union.  The  spent  fuel  and  radioactive  waste 
amounts  are  in  line  with  the  size  of  the  nuclear  programme.  Amounts  of  stored  radioactive 
waste in Member States with nuclear power programmes are shown in Figure 8. 

13 

 
 
 
 
Romania

Finland

Slovenia

Czech Republic

Slovakia

Hungary

The Netherlands

Sweden

Spain

Belgium

Bulgaria

Italy

Lithuania

Germany

UK

France

VLLW

LLW

ILW

HLW

  0

 50 000

 100 000

 150 000

 200 000
Volume, m3 

 250 000

 300 000

 350 000

 400 000

Figure 8. Volumes of stored radioactive waste by class in Member States with nuclear 
power programme, end of 2013 

Other countries having a small nuclear programme (i.e. only research reactors) or no nuclear 
programme  at  all  have  very  little  contribution  to  the  overall  European  Union  radioactive 
waste  in  storage  (see  Figure  9).  The  amounts  of  stored  radioactive  waste  in  those  Member 
States are shown in Figure 10. 

14 

 
 
 
r
e
w
o
p
r
a
e
l
c
u
n
t
u
o
h
t
i

W

r
e
w
o
p
r
a
e
l
c
u
n
h
t
i

W

m
a
r
g
o
r
p

m
a
r
g
o
r
p

VLLW

LLW

ILW

HLW

  0

 200 000

 400 000

 600 000

 800 000

1 000 000

Volume, m3 

Figure 9. Volumes of stored radioactive waste by class in Member States with and 
without nuclear power programme, end of 2013 

Malta

Luxembourg

Cyprus

Portugal

Croatia

Ireland

Greece

Latvia

Poland

Estonia

Denmark

Austria

VLL
W
LLW

ILW

  0

  500

 1 000

 1 500

 2 000

 2 500

Volume, m3 

Figure 10. Volumes of stored radioactive waste by class in Member States without 
nuclear power programme, end of 2013 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currently, twelve Member States8 have radioactive waste disposal facilities either in operation 
or closed (nuclear power programme countries: Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, 
Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, UK; non-nuclear programme countries: Latvia 
and Poland) although based on the information from the national programmes and reports it is 
expected  that  more  repositories  will  be  built  in  coming  years.  The  total  quantity  of  the 
disposed radioactive waste as of end 2013 equals 2 316 000 m3. This consists almost entirely 
of LLW (87%).  

A  number  of  Member  States  (both  with  and  without  nuclear  power  plants)  have  dedicated 
disposal  sites  for  institutional  radioactive  waste.  In  some  cases,  the  disposal  of  waste 
undertaken in the past at several sites is now being reconsidered and there are plans for the 
retrieval of the waste disposed of several decades ago. As a result change of radioactive waste 
inventories  can  be  expected  after  retrieval  for  processing  and  subsequent  storage  and/or 
disposal. 

Distribution of the disposed of radioactive waste in Member States as of end of 2013 is shown 
in Figure 11. 

Portugal

Latvia

Romania

Poland

Hungary

Finland

Czech Republic

Slovakia

Spain

Sweden

Germany

UK

France

VLLW

LLW

ILW

  0

 200 000

 400 000

 600 000

 800 000

1 000 000

Volume, m3 

Figure 11. Volumes of radioactive waste disposed of in the European Union, end of 2013 

8  

Bulgaria  and  Lithuania  categorised  and  using  these  past  disposal  (RADON  type)  facilities  as  storage 
facilities.  See  Table  8  of  the  Staff  Working  Document  (2017)159  on  Progress  of  Implementation  of 
Council Directive 2011/70/Euratom. 

16 

 
 
  
                                                 
Evolution of the total radioactive waste volumes (per waste category) is given in Table 2. 
In  all  radioactive  waste  categories  an  overall  increase  over  time  is  noted.  However,  the 
radioactive waste volumes decreased between two reporting dates (2004-2007). This decrease 
can  be  due  to  different  activities  resulting  in  reduction  of  volumes,  like  compaction  of  the 
solid waste or treatment of large quantities of liquid waste. 

Table 2. Evolution of radioactive waste inventory since the end of 2004 

Waste 
Category 

Total amount (m3) 

2004 

2007 

2010 

2013 

VLLW 

210 000 

280 000 

414 000 

516 000 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

2 228 000 

2 435 000 

2 356 000 

2 453 000 

206 000 

288 000 

321 000 

338 000 

5 000 

4 000 

5 000 

6 000 

The  evolution  of  total  radioactive  waste  volumes  for  the  period  2004-2013  is  illustrated  in 
Figure 12.  

3 000 000

2 500 000

3

m

,
e
m
u
l
o
V

2 000 000

1 500 000

1 000 000

 500 000

  0

82 % 

80 % 

85 % 

83 % 

16 % 

0 % 

38 % 

0 % 

48 % 

0 % 

54 % 

4 % 

Disposed

Stored

W
L
L
V

W
L
L

W
L
I

W
L
H

W
L
L
V

W
L
L

W
L
I

W
L
H

W
L
L
V

W
L
L

W
L
I

W
L
H

W
L
L
V

W
L
L

W
L
I

W
L
H

2004

2007

2010

2013

Figure 12. Evolution of total radioactive waste volumes since the end of 2004                

(with the fraction of waste disposed of indicated) 

Evolution  of  the  stored  radioactive  waste  volumes  (per  waste  category)  is  presented  in 
Table  3.  There  are  currently  no  operational  deep  geological  disposal  facilities  for  ILW  and 
HLW. Consequently, the amounts of stored ILW and HLW are steadily increasing over time. 

17 

 
 
  
 
 
The  amounts  of  VLLW  and  LLW  in  storage  are  affected  by  differences  in  generation  and 
disposal  rates.  During  different  time  periods,  their  respective  amounts  in  storage  may 
therefore increase or decrease. 

Table 3. Evolution of stored radioactive waste in the 2004-2013 period 

Waste 
Category 

2004 

VLLW 

176 000 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

411 000 

206 000 

6 000 

Amount in Storage (m3) 

2007 

175 000 

495 000 

288 000 

4 000 

2010 

217 000 

365 000 

321 000 

5 000 

2013 

237 000 

428 000 

326 000 

6 000 

Table  4  shows  the  evolution  of  radioactive  waste  disposal  over  time.  The  increase  in 
disposed of LLW is levelling over the time period since 2004. Contrary to this, the disposal of 
VLLW shows a steady increase. 

Table 4. Evolution of radioactive waste disposals in the 2004-2013 period 

Waste 
Category 

Amount in Disposal (m3) 

2004 

2007 

2010 

2013 

VLLW 

34 000 

105 000 

197 000 

279 000 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

1 817 000 

1 940 000 

1 991 000 

2 025 000 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

12 000 

0 

From Table 4 it can be also seen that some Member States have declared disposals of ILW. 
These disposals, in accordance with the IAEA classification, consist mainly of highly active 
disused radioactive sealed sources containing short-lived radionuclides. 

18 

 
 
1,60

1,50

1,40

1,30

1,20

1,10

1,00

0,90

0,80

0,70

0,60

e
m
u
l
o
v
d
e
z
i
l
a
m
r
o
N

VLLW
LLW
ILW
HLW

2004

2007

Date 

2010

2013

Figure 13. Normalised9 evolution of stored radioactive waste amounts in                          

European Union since the end of 2004 

8,00

4,00

2,00

1,00

2004

e
m
u
l
o
v
d
e
z
i
l
a
m
r
o
N

5.8 

8.2 

3.1 

1.067 

2007

VLLW

LLW

1.095 

2010

Date 

1.11 

2013

Figure 14. Normalised10 evolution of disposed of radioactive waste in European Union 
since the end of 2004 

The overall evolution of radioactive waste generated in the European Union (normalized sum 
of radioactive waste both stored and disposed)  until the end of 2013 is shown in Figure 15. 
The  amounts  of  the  individual  waste  classes  are  increasing  (LLW  to  a  lesser  extent)  with 
different  rate.  One  exception  is  HLW  where  data  reported  in  2004  are  significantly  higher 
than in the following reporting periods.  

9  

10  

The chart shows increase factors of radioactive waste volumes over the time in comparison to the 2004 
volumes. 
The chart shows increase factors of radioactive waste volumes over the time in comparison to the 2004 
volumes. 

19 

 
 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
 
 
e
m
u
l
o
v
d
e
z
i
l
a
m
r
o
N

2,50

2,00

1,50

1,00

0,50

0,00

2004

2007

Date 

2010

Figure 15. Normalized11 evolution of radioactive waste volumes  
(both stored and disposed) 

VLLW
LLW
ILW
HLW

2013

From  the  information  presented  above  the  following  trends  concerning  the  inventory  of 
radioactive waste and spent fuel in the European Union can be observed: 

Radioactive waste 

At  the  end  of  2013,  54  %  of  the  total  VLLW  volume  is  reported  as  disposed  of  and  the 
amount  of  VLLW  disposed  has  steadily  increased.  The  volume  of  stored  VLLW  shows  a 
steady increase of about 20 % over the time period 2004 – 2013. This shows that the disposal 
rate of VLLW needs to increase further to keep pace with its generation.  

At  the  same  time  83  %  of  LLW  is  reported  as  disposed.  With  17  %  of  the  LLW  amount 
generated  still  in  storage,  and  no  reported  systematic  increase  in  the  amounts  in  storage 
between  2004  and  2013,  the  overall  LLW  amounts  of  waste  generated  and  disposed  is 
generally  in  equilibrium.  This,  however,  is  dominated  by  those  countries  with  large  LLW 
inventories, whereas a number of Member States with smaller inventories do not yet dispose 
of their LLW. 

For ILW the situation is very different. Less than 4 %  is reported as  disposed, and in  some 
cases  such  ILW  will  be  retrieved  as  current  disposal  facilities  do  not  meet  present  safety 
requirements. Consequently, there is a steady increase in ILW in storage. 

For HLW and spent fuel declared as waste, the first facility for disposal of such  material is 
expected around 2022 in Finland, with further facilities in France (around 2025) and Sweden 
(around  2030).  Therefore,  one  should  expect  that  the  amounts  of  HLW  and  spent  fuel  in 
storage are increasing steadily in line with their generation. The reported data show a different 
situation in the period from 2004 to 2007. The reason is related to very high HLW volumes 
reported by Germany and Belgium for 2004. These volumes are 1450 m3 higher for Germany 

11  

The chart shows percentage increase of radioactive waste volumes over the time. 

20 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
in 2004 than in the subsequent reporting. For Belgium the corresponding volume is 350 m3. 
The other Member States show more consistent data with respect to the expected constant or 
increasing amount of HLW. 

Based  on  the  Member  State  strategy,  spent  fuel  is  stored  pending  either  disposal  or 
reprocessing. During reprocessing, uranium and plutonium are recovered, with generation of 
radioactive waste (mainly HLW and ILW), which is currently stored until disposal facilities 
become available. 

Spent Fuel 

At the end of 2013  more than 54 000 tHM of spent fuel was  stored in the European Union 
(20%  increase  since  200712)  and  around  800  tHM  of  spent  fuel  (about  1.5  %)  was  sent  for 
reprocessing  outside  the  European  Union  with  the  expected  returns  of  resulting  radioactive 
waste from reprocessing. These amounts include both spent fuel coming from power and non-
power (e.g. research, isotope production) reactors. It is foreseen to return around 1100 m3 of 
radioactive waste from spent fuel reprocesing outside the European Union by 2030. 

Table 5. Spent fuel in storage on Member States’ territory in the                                   

European Union for 2004-2013 period 

Spent Fuel in storage, tHM 

2004 

38 100 

2007 

44 900 

2010 

53 300 

2013 

54 300 

Most recent reported amounts of spent fuel stored in individual Member States are shown in 
Figure  16.  Some  Member  States  have  smaller  inventories  of  spent  fuel  (or  none)  in  storage 
than that generated by the nuclear power plants, as part of it or all of it has been reprocessed. 
On the other end, countries with neither past, nor current reprocessing have comparably high 
spent fuel inventories. 

Given that today there is no disposal route available for spent fuel (first disposal facilities to 
become  operational  in  2022-2030)  and  that  not  all  Member  States  have  their  spent  fuel 
reprocessed, there is a continual increase in the amount of spent fuel in storage (Figure 16). 

12  

See footnote 4. 

21 

 
 
                                                 
0.02 tHM 
0.24 tHM 
30.16 tHM 

Poland
Denmark
Italy
Slovenia
Bulgaria
Hungary
Slovakia
Czech Republic
Finland
Romania
Lithuania
Belgium
Spain
UK
Sweden
Germany
France

  0

 2 000

 4 000

 6 000

 8 000

 10 000

 12 000

 14 000

Mass of heavy metals, tHM 

Figure 16. Spent fuel in storage, end of 2013 

UK 
9.8 % 

Spain 
8.6 % 

Belgium 

6.1 % Lithuania 

4.5 % 

Sweden 
11.6 % 

Germany 
15.5 % 

France 
26.1 % 

Romania 
4.2 % 

Finland 
3.6 % 

Czech Republic 
2.8 % 
Slovakia 
2.8 % 

Hungary 
2.2 % 

Bulgaria 
1.5 % 
Slovenia 
0.8 % 
Italy 
0.1 % 
Denmark 
0 % 
Poland 
0 % 

Figure 17. Member States' contribution to the overall spent fuel inventory in the 
European Union, end of 2013 

22 

 
 
 
  
  
 60 000

 50 000

 40 000

 30 000

 20 000

 10 000

  0

M
H
t

,
s
l
a
t
e
m
y
v
a
e
h
f
o
s
s
a
M

2004

2007

2010

2013

Figure 18. Evolution of spent fuel in storage in Member States since the end of 2004 

6. 

Projections of future spent fuel and radioactive waste arisings 

In  order  to  establish  future  trends  Member  States  were  asked  to  report  future  estimates  of 
volumes of radioactive waste. Two different reporting approaches were used by the Member 
States for estimating future radioactive waste arisings: 

-  One approach was to provide the data along with the reference waste classes for the 
end  of  the  useful  life  of  existing  facilities  and  sites,  including  decommissioning  and 
site remediation.  

-  The other approach was to provide the amounts of radioactive waste for the different 
reference  waste  classes  for  specified  future  dates,  namely  2020,  2030  and  in  some 
cases also 2040.  

The ends-of-operation of planned facilities are not certain, and correspondingly the estimates 
in this report include mainly existing facilities and sites. In the majority of the Member States 
that consider new facilities (e.g. nuclear power plant) detailed data has not been provided. 

An  example  of  the  first  reporting  approach  could  be  the  United  Kingdom.  It  provides  data 
adjusted to the IAEA reference waste categories for the end of the useful life of the respective 
sites  and  facilities  presently  in  operation,  including  waste  from  decommissioning  and  site 
remediation. A few Member States provide the same data and also future waste arisings data 
for specified years. Most Member States however do not provide data for the end of the useful 
life, but only for specified future years. Consequently, it is not possible to project the future 
overall  arisings  as  the  data  reported  is  not  consistent.  All  Member  States  reported  data  are 
available in the tables in the Annex.  

23 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
With regards to spent fuel, an increase from present 54 000 tHM in storage to 64 000 tHM in 
2030 is estimated noting, however, that the majority of the new build inventories has not been 
reported. 

24 

 
 
 
 
Annex: 

Spent fuel and radioactive waste inventory data 

"-"   in  the  tables  below  means  no  data  was  received  from  the  Member  State  or  no  such 

practice exists 

"0"  in the table means that the data with value "0" was received from the Member State 

25 

 
 
 
Table I.1. Overall European Union radioactive waste inventory and the future prospects as at the end of 2013 

2013 

2020 

2030 

2040 

2050 

Other date 

Volume, 
m3 

Decom. 
Share, 
m3 

Volume,  
m3 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

Volume, 
m3 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

Volume,  
m3 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

Volume, 
m3 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

Volume, m3 
(date) 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

Austria 

VLLW 

- 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Belgium 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

2240 

60 

- 

0 

16067 

5371 

285 

Bulgaria 

VLLW 

4700 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Croatia 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Cyprus 

VLLW 

LLW 

23000 

10 

0 

- 

12.5 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

900 

30 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2781 

1390 

3120 

1980 

3660 

2480 

3710 

2480 

63 

33 

68 

38 

71 

41 

74 

44 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

42000 

90200 

10 

1100 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

113.75 

100 

1546.25 

100 

1548.25 

100 

4561.25 

4540 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

41 

- 

- 

- 

41 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

26 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

 
 
 
 
 
 
2013 

2020 

2030 

2040 

2050 

Other date 

Volume, 
m3 

Decom. 
Share, 
m3 

Volume,  
m3 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

Volume, 
m3 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

Volume,  
m3 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

Volume, 
m3 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

Volume, m3 
(date) 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

ILW 

HLW 

VLLW 

- 

- 

- 

LLW 

13580.2 

Czech 
Republic 

ILW 

HLW 

Denmark  VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Estonia 

VLLW 

30 t 

- 

- 

1200 

846 t 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

1120 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

LLW 

1550.9 

1379 

1552.8 

1379 

1555.5 

1379 

1558.2 

1379 

1560.9 

1379 

374.6 

357 

375 

357 

375.6 

357 

376.2 

357 

376.8 

357 

ILW 

HLW 

Finland**  VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

- 

- 

6404 

3421 

- 

France 

VLLW 

440000 

LLW 

880000 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

7661 

4526 

- 

650000 

1000000 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

15383 

10002 

- 

1100000 

1200000 

27 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

31705 

12707 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

33327 

12852 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

5000 - 
10000 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2200000 

1900000 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

 
 
 
 
 
 
2013 

2020 

2030 

2040 

2050 

Other date 

Volume, 
m3 

Decom. 
Share, 
m3 

Volume,  
m3 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

Volume, 
m3 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

Volume,  
m3 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

Volume, 
m3 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

Volume, m3 
(date) 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

ILW 

135000 

HLW 

3200 

Germany  VLLW 

- 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

215585 

23966 

568 

Greece 

VLLW 

29.344 

LLW 

21.202 

ILW 

HLW 

Hungary 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

- 

- 

- 

11475 

4918 

201 

Ireland 

VLLW 

0 

LLW 

ILW 

< 30 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

140000 

4100 

- 

232800 

25900 

700 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

11949 

5121 

266 

0 

< 30 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

173000 

5500 

- 

298900 

34000 

700 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

322300 

36600 

700 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

342700 

38800 

700 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

14007 

310 

16323 

310 

17359 

310 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

6996 

523 

0 

< 30 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

7440 

610 

0 

< 30 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

6003 

400 

0 

< 30 

0 

28 

252000 

10000 

- 

350200 
(2080) 

39700 
(2080) 

700 (2080) 

62.344 

23.602 

12 

- 

- 

65590 
(2100) 

28110 
(2100) 

1019 
(2100) 

0 

< 30 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

33 

5 

12 

- 

- 

57330 

6370 

243 

0 

0 

0 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Italy 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Latvia 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

0 

0 

858 

32.5 

0 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1858 

42.5 

0 

Lithuania  VLLW 

20000 

3502 

26000 

Luxem-
bourg 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

30377 

500 

0 

- 

0.1 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

35816 

1000 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2013 

2020 

2030 

2040 

2050 

Other date 

Volume, 
m3 

Decom. 
Share, 
m3 

Volume,  
m3 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

Volume, 
m3 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

Volume,  
m3 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

Volume, 
m3 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

Volume, m3 
(date) 

Decom. 
Share, m3 

HLW 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

5311 

900 

10036 

5625 

17870 

13460 

22467 

18057 

22467 

18057 

30545 

4499 

38087 

12043 

48927 

22883 

54579 

28534 

56279 

30233 

5540 

150 

5911 

521 

11463 

6073 

13713 

8322 

13713 

8322 

0 

22467 
(2065) 

58659 
(2065) 

13713 
(2065) 

0 

18057 

32614 

8322 

38.1 (2065) 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

1000 

10 

0 

38.1 

0 

1898 

52.5 

0 

- 

0 

1000 

10 

0 

38.1 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

35000 

60000 

50000 

60000 

50000 

12840 

96130 

27220 

96130 

27220 

7500 

12000 

10500 

12000 

10500 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

< 2 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

1000 

10 

0 

8000 

1000 

200 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

38.1 

0 

1878 

47.5 

0 

42000 

66130 

9000 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Malta  

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

- 

- 

- 

- 

VLLW 

- *** 

The 
Nether-
lands 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Poland 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Portugal 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

11000 

- *** 

43.9 

41.7 

844 

2113 

830 

0 

- 

234 

31 

- 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

- 

Romania  VLLW 

330 

330 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1020 

2250 

850 

- 

- 

269 

56 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1280 

2350 

880 

- 

- 

339 

106 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1540 

2350 

910 

- 

- 

423 

160 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

13.5 

3.4 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1850 

2350 

940 

- 

- 

493 

210 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

50 

130 

- 

- 

- 

13.5 

3.4 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2802 

0 

3760 

500 

7670 

1000 

12730 

2000 

17250 

2000 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

4.5 

0 

4.5 

0 

60 

0 

60 

0 

285 

0 

60 

0 

960 

0 

60 

0 

30 

32370 
(2095) 

2235 
(2095) 

16100 

1320 

1075 

175 

0 

0 

0 (2095) 

0 

 
 
 
 
LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Slovenia 

VLLW 

Spain 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

31 

12 

Sweden 

VLLW 

21717 

LLW 

ILW 

41911 

4000 

HLW 

6296* 

Slovakia 

VLLW 

5511 

5246 

13726 

12726 

13399 

8273.773 

23558 

12015 

24.813 

13.5 

150 

137 

- 

0 

2306 

37.6 

0 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

2562 

40 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

29000 

38512 

1200 

- 

- 

2970 

2 

- 

29000 

29000 

29000 

29000 

29000 

24648 

41894 

25136 

44644 

25136 

1187 

1900 

1887 

1900 

1887 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

3336 

6 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

0 

4207 

740 

0 

- 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

16777 

2200 

26223 

9371 

44018 

24133 

101955 

81452 

101955 

81452 

38481 

2196 

44372 

5229 

55856 

12608 

85939 

42438 

85939 

42438 

101955 
(2090) 

85939 
(2090) 

81452 

42438 

361 

365 (2090) 

361 

365 

12 

30000 

0 

- 

157000 

86000 

15500 

12600* 

- 

- 

12 (2090) 

- 

157000 
(2076) 

15500 
(2076) 

12600* 

0 

- 

86000 

- 

- 

41 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

365 

12 

28000 

110000 

13000 

11000* 

361 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

27 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

31 

12 

24000 

32000 

9000 

7500* 

27 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

45 

12 

26000 

97000 

12000 

9500* 

31 

 
 
 
 
UK 

VLLW 

1170 

LLW 

1107500 

ILW 

153000 

HLW 

1550 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2840000 

2457600 

458000 

1410 

- 

- 

- 

- 

*  

**  

Spent fuel either in storage or directly disposed of (Mass of heavy metal, tHM) 

No HLW expected as spent fuel will be disposed of directly. Finland reported the amounts of spent fuel stored without the information on the overall 
inventory of spent fuel. 

***  

Not registered. 

32 

 
 
Table I.2. Spent fuel stored on Member States' territory 

SF in Storage on a Member State territory, tHM 

2013 

2020 

2030 

2040 

2050 

Other (Mass/date) 

- 

3302 

796.5 

- 

- 

1521.3 

0.2379 

- 

1933.9 

14146 

8397 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1530 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2236 

2612 

2979 

3377 

- 

- 

2361 

14256 

9600 

0 

- 

- 

2658 

16277 

10500 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2251 

2561 

- 

- 

10500 

10500 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1177.509 

1393.13 

2063.56 

2844.42 

3323.42 

4999.92 / 2086 

- 

30.162 

- 

- 

2.5 

- 

- 

2.5 

- 

- 

2.5 

- 

- 

2.5 

- 

- 

- 

- 

Austria 

Belgium 

Bulgaria 

Croatia 

Cyprus 

Czech Republic 

Denmark 

Estonia 

Finland 

France 

Germany 

Greece 

Hungary 

Ireland 

Italy 

Latvia 

Lithuania 

2415.952 

2415.95 

2415.95 

2415.95 

2415.95 

0 / after 2067 

Luxembourg 

Malta 

The Netherlands 

Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

Slovakia 

Slovenia 

Spain 

Sweden 

UK 

- 

- 

- 

0.02346 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2289.056 

3700 

1505.28 

426 

4685 

6296 

- 

516 

5424 

7500 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

6600 

2289 

673 

6679 

9500 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0.3105 

0.4255 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

10600 

14300 

20400.55 / 2080 

- 

829 

6679 

11000 

3380 

900 

6679 

4000 

- 

- 

0 / 2090 

- 

5329 

- 

- 

- 

- 

11772/ long-term 
(Date not 
available) 

33 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Table I.3. Spent fuel stored outside European Union territory 

SF in Storage outside EU territory, tHM 

2013 

2020 

2030 

2040 

2050 

Other (volume/date) 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

Austria 

Belgium 

Bulgaria 

Croatia 

Cyprus 

- 

- 

838 

- 

- 

Czech Republic 

0.36 

Denmark 

Estonia 

Finland 

France 

Germany 

Greece 

Hungary 

Ireland 

Italy 

Latvia 

Lithuania 

Luxembourg 

Malta 

The Netherlands 

Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

Slovakia 

Slovenia 

Spain 

Sweden 

UK 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

0 

0 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

- 

- 

0 

- 

34 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table I.4. Radioactive waste stored on Member States’ territory 

Volume as disposed (m3) 

2013 

2020 

2030 

2040 

2050 

Other 
(volume/date) 

Austria 

VLLW 

- 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Belgium 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

2240 

60 

- 

- 

16067 

5371 

285 

Bulgaria 

VLLW 

4700 

23000 

10 

0 

- 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Croatia 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Cyprus 

VLLW 

Czech 
Republic 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Denmark 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

- 

2781 

63 

- 

- 

- 

3120 

3660 

3710 

68 

71 

74 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

12.5 

113.75 

1546.25 

1548.75 

4561.25 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2746.2 

30 t 

- 

- 

1200 

846 t 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

41 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2600 

35 t 

2600 

45 t 

2600 

55 t 

2600 

65 t 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

35 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

70500 / 
Unknown 

11100 / 
Unknown 

4500 / 
Unknown 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Estonia 

VLLW 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1550.9 

1552.8 

1555.5 

1558.2 

1560.9 

374.6 

375 

375.6 

376.2 

376.8 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Finland 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

- 

- 

403.7 

1473.2 

- 

France 

VLLW 

190000 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

70000 

135000 

3200 

Germany 

VLLW 

- 

- 

- 

470 

965.8 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

370 

270 

270 

515.8 

265.8 

155.8 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

140207 

157400 

151600 

84900 

15400 

15590 

17500 

17600 

10200 

568 

700 

700 

700 

Greece 

VLLW 

29.344 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Hungary 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Ireland 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

21.202 

- 

- 

- 

7560 

3240 

201 

0 

< 30 

0 

0 

Italy 

VLLW 

5311 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

30545 

5540 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

5966 

2557 

266 

0 

< 30 

0 

0 

10036 

38087 

5911 

2500 

700 

62.344 

23.602 

0.5 

- 

- 

140 

60 

610 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2268 

972 

400 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

140 

60 

523 

0 

< 30 

< 30 

< 30 

0 

0 

7753 

22511 

0 

0 

2189 

1635 

0 

0 

1557 

1684 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

< 30 

0 

0 

0 / 2065 

0 / 2065 

11463 

13713 

13713 

13713 / 2065 

0 

38.1 

38.1 

38.1 

38.1 / 2065 

36 

 
 
 
 
Latvia 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

0 

55 

17.5 

0 

Lithuania 

VLLW 

20000 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

30377 

500 

0 

Luxembourg  VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Malta 

VLLW 

The 
Netherlands 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Poland 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Portugal* 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Romania 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

11000 

43.9 

41.7 

51 

905 

429 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

330 

672 

4.5 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

1055 

27.5 

0 

18000 

35816 

1000 

0 

75 

0 

95 

32.5 

37.5 

0 

2000 

15000 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

9000 

12000 

12000 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

50 

900 

480 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

50 

900 

510 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

50 

900 

540 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

50 

900 

450 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1100 

60 

0 

37 

2000 

285 

0 

1800 

960 

0 

1600 

1075 

0 

950 / 2060 

1075 / 2060 

0 / 2060 

 
 
 
 
Slovakia 

VLLW 

5246 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Slovenia 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Spain 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Sweden 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

1804.4 

24.813 

- 

- 

2306 

37.6 

- 

8412 

8221 

31 

12 

2058 

6958 

4000 

- 

UK 

VLLW 

1170 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

69900 

153000 

1550 

* All waste declared as disposed of.  

1000 

2000 

150 

- 

- 

0 

1600 

1200 

- 

- 

0 

1400 

1900 

- 

- 

0 

1000 

1900 

- 

- 

2562 

1519 

1885 

2021 

40 

- 

6191 

9810 

31 

12 

- 

7000 

5000 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2 

- 

1986 

3294 

45 

12 

2000 

7000 

6 

- 

29923 

18377 

365 

12 

- 

7000 

0 

- 

0 

0 

365 

12 

2000 

7000 

12000 

15500 

10000 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 / 2090 

0 / 2090 

0 / 2090 

0 / 2090 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

38 

 
 
 
 
Table I.5. Radioactive waste stored outside European Union territory  
(to be returned to Member States) 

Volume as disposed (m3) 

Current 

2020 

2030 

2040  2050 

Other (volume/date) 

Austria 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Belgium 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Bulgaria 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Croatia 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Cyprus 

VLLW 

Czech 
Republic 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Denmark 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Estonia 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1100 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0.5 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

39 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume as disposed (m3) 

Current 

2020 

2030 

2040  2050 

Other (volume/date) 

Finland 

HLW 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

France 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Germany 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Greece 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Hungary 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Ireland 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Italy 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Latvia 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

40 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume as disposed (m3) 

Current 

2020 

2030 

2040  2050 

Other (volume/date) 

Lithuania 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Luxembourg  VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Malta 

VLLW 

The 
Netherlands 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Poland 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Portugal 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Romania 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Slovakia 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

41 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Slovenia 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Spain 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Sweden 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

UK 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

42 

 
 
 
 
 
Table I.6. Disposed of radioactive waste on Member States’ territory 

Volume as disposed (m3) 

Current 

2020 

2030 

2040 

2050 

Other 
(volume/date) 

Austria 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Belgium 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Bulgaria 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Croatia 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Cyprus 

VLLW 

Czech 
Republic 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Denmark 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Estonia 

VLLW 

LLW 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

10834 

13864 

19559 

24959 

30359 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

43 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

138200/2086 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

5000 - 10000 

- 

- 

 
 
 
 
 
 
ILW 

HLW 

Finland 

VLLW 

- 

- 

- 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

5999.8 

1948 

0 

France 

VLLW 

250000 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Germany 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Greece 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Hungary 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Ireland 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Italy 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Volume as disposed (m3) 

Current 

2020 

2030 

2040 

2050 

Other 
(volume/date) 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

65590/2100 

28110/2100 

1019/2100 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

7191 

3561 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

15013 

31435 

33057 

9486 

12441 

12696 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

75378 

147400 

237400 

327400 

8375 

16400 

26400 

36400 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

810000 

0 

0 

- 

75378 

8375 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

3915 

1678 

5983 

2564 

11739 

16183 

5031 

6936 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

10117 

26416 

- 

- 

44 

20278 

20910 

22467/2065 

52944 

54595 

58659/2065 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Latvia 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Lithuania 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Luxembourg  VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Malta 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

0 

803 

15 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

The 
Netherlands 

VLLW 

- ** 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Poland 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Portugal 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Romania 

VLLW 

- 

- 

- 

793 

1208 

401 

0 

- 

234 

31 

- 

- 

0 

803 

15 

0 

8000 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

970 

1350 

400 

- 

- 

269 

56 

- 

- 

0 

0 

1803 

1803 

15 

0 

15 

0 

40000 

51130 

60000 

60000 

96130 

96130 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

0 

12000/after 
2067 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1230 

3900 

400 

- 

- 

339 

106 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1490 

1800 

13300 

22830 

400 

400 

- 

- 

423 

160 

- 

- 

- 

- 

493 

210 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

2130 

2660 

5670 

10930 

15430 

19930/2060 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

45 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Slovakia 

VLLW 

265 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Slovenia 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

11595 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

Spain 

VLLW 

8365 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

Sweden 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

UK 

VLLW 

30260 

- 

- 

19659 

34953 

0 

0 

- 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

1037600 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

- 

20032 

34562 

- 

- 

- 

12726 

21558 

29000 

36912 

29000 

29000 

40494 

43644 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1452 

1452 

2187 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

42032 

52562 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

72032 

101955 

101955/2090 

67562 

85939 

85939/2090 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

365/2090 

12/2090 

- 

50000 

90000 

110000 

150000 

157000/2076 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

5500 

15500/2076 

200* 

4000* 

8000* 

12600*/2076 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

* Spent fuel disposed of (Mass of heavy metal, tHM) 

** Not registered. 

46 

 
 
 
Table I.7. Other radioactive waste on Member States’ territory 

Austria 

Belgium 

Bulgaria 

Croatia 

Cyprus 

Czech Republic 

Denmark 

Estonia 

Finland 

France 

Germany 

Greece 

Hungary 

Waste type 

DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
Radium extracting 
waste (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (tons) 
Tailings and ore 
(tons) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (tons) 
Uranium 
conversion 
treatment residues 
(m3) 
Products remaining 
after extraction of 
the uranium 
contained by the ore 
(tons) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 

Amount 

2030 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
1250 t 

- 

- 
30.7 
- 
- 
- 

2020 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
750 t 

- 

- 
26.7 
- 
- 
- 

2013 
- 
- 
- 
- 

85 000 

- 
- 
- 
- 
365 
- 
33119 
- 
- 
450 t 

4800 t 

- 
23.7 
- 
- 
2300000 
50000000 t 

690000 

635000 

688000 

2040 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
1750 t 

- 

- 
34.7 
- 
- 
- 

- 

- 

2050 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
37251 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
41001 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
44751 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
48501 
- 

50000000 t 

- 
- 
6564 
100 
35376 
- 

47 

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
< 50 
- 
- 
- 
0 
0 
80000 
67 
- 

< 50 
- 
- 
- 
0 
0 
80000 
67 
< 2 m3 

< 50 
- 
- 
- 
0 
0 
50000 
67 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
250 
- 
- 
- 

- 

< 50 
- 
- 
- 
0 
0 
80000 
67 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
350 
- 
- 
- 

- 

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
450 
- 
- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 
1614443 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
1614443 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
1614443 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
550 
- 
- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

Ireland 

Italy 

Latvia 

Lithuania 

Luxembourg 

Malta 

DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (GBq) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
Contaminated 
material (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
Uranium salts (kg) 
Thorium salts (kg) 

The Netherlands  DSRS (number) 

Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

Slovakia 

Slovenia 

Spain 

Sweden 

UK 

NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
Other (m3) 
Sterile and 
radioactive rock (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 
DSRS (number) 
NORM (m3) 

26 
- 
1135464 
- 
0 
0 
45000 
67 
0.1 m3 

0.1 

15 
- 
2.23 kg 
0.125 kg 
- 
17000 
- 
- 
- 
200 
- 
2679900 
25135 

7072525 

2266 
- 
- 
1614443 
2376 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

48 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table I.8. Radioactive waste disposed of at sea13 

Austria 

Belgium 

Bulgaria 

Croatia 

Cyprus 

Czech Republic 

Denmark 

Estonia 

Finland 

France 

Germany 

Greece 

Hungary 

Ireland 

Italy 

Latvia 

Lithuania 

Luxembourg 

Malta 

Activity, GBq 

- 

29 730.5 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

354 000 

203.5 

- 

- 

- 

185 

- 

- 

- 

- 

The Netherlands 

340 000 

Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

Slovakia 

Slovenia 

Spain 

Sweden 

UK 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

3255 

35 109 397 

13 The London Convention that entered into force in 1975 prohibits such practices and promotes the effective control    
of all sources of pollution of the marine environment. 

49 

 
 
 
 
                                                 
Table I.9. Comparison of global European Union radioactive wastes in disposal (m3, rounded to thousands) 

6th report3  
(2004*) 

1 856 000  
(1 851 000) 

34 000 

1 822 000 
(1 817 000) 

0 

0 

7th report4 
(2007*) 

2 083 000 
(2 045 000) 

105 000 

1 977 000 
(1 940 000) 

0 

0 

Total waste 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

EC internal data 
(2010*) 

2 214 000 
(2 188 000) 

197 000 

2 017 000 

2013 

2020** 

2030** 

2040** 

2050** 

2 316 000 

271 000 

617 000 

934 000 

1 130 000 

279 000 

42 000 

122 000 

183 000 

214 000 

(1 991 000) 

2 025 000 

214 000 

464 000 

705 000 

862 000 

0 

0 

12 000 

15 000 

31 000 

46 000 

55 000 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

* Reviewed and updated data 

** Not all Member States reported such information, thus the values given do not represent the overall EU situation 

50 

 
 
 
 
 
Table I.10. Comparison of global European Union spent fuel and radioactive wastes in storage (m3, rounded to thousands) 

Total SF 

Total 
radioactive 
waste 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

6th report3 
(2004*) 

38 000 

800 000 

(798 000) 

176 000 

401 000 
(411 000) 

217 000 
(206 000) 

6 000 

(5 000) 

7th report4 
(2007*) 

45 000 

546 000 
(962 000) 

33 000 
(175 000) 

222 000 
(495 000) 

287 000 
(288 000) 

EC internal data 
(2010*) 

53 000 

585 000 
(909 000) 

32 000 
(217 000) 

133 000 
(365 000) 

415 000 
(321 000) 

2013 

54 000 

2020** 

2030** 

2040** 

2050** 

49 000 

64 000 

50 000 

51 000 

997 000 

339 000 

286 000 

217 000 

91 000 

237 000 

35 000 

14 000 

32 000 

4 000 

428 000 

269 000 

217 000 

128 000 

43 000 

326 000 

34 000 

54 000 

56 000 

43 000 

4 000 

5 000 

6 000 

1 000 

1 000 

1 000 

1 000 

* Reviewed and updated data (Significant changes are mainly due to inclusion of missing data for France and review of UK data) 

** Not all Member States reported such information, thus the values given do not represent overall EU situation 

51 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Table I.11. Comparison of global European Union spent fuel and radioactive wastes (m3, rounded to thousands) 

6th report3 
(2004*) 

38 000 

2 655 000 

(2 649 000*) 

210 000 

2 223 000 
(2 228 000*) 

217 000 
(206 000*) 

6 000 

(5 000*) 

Total SF 

Total 
radioactive 
waste 

VLLW 

LLW 

ILW 

HLW 

7th report4 

(2007*) 

45 000 

2 628 000 
(3 007 000*) 

138 000 
(280 000*) 

2 199 000 
(2 435 000*) 

287 000 
(288 000*) 

EC internal data 
(2010*) 

53 000 

2 799 000 
(3 097 000*) 

229 000 
(414 000*) 

2 150 000 
(2 356 000*) 

415 000 
(321 000*) 

2013 

54 000 

2020** 

49 000 

2030** 

64 000 

3 313 000 

610 000 

903 000 

516 000 

77 000 

136 000 

2 453 000 

483 000 

681 000 

338 000 

49 000 

85 000 

4 000 

5 000 

6 000 

1 000 

1 000 

* Reviewed and updated data (Significant changes are mainly due to inclusion of missing data for France and review of UK data) 

** For 2020 and 2030 UK did not provide data thus the values given do not represent overall EU situation 

52