• Uranium3006@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    nuclear waste, by definition of being radioactive, is the only wast that goes away on it’s own if you leave it sit for long enough

    • Knusper@feddit.deOP
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      1 year ago

      I was considering whether this is just a shitpost, but your other comments suggest that you’re completely serious. It does not go away. Radioactive decay causes multiple transitions between radioactive elements until it ends up as lead, which does not decay further.

      Of course, it should also be said that it’s better to have no waste than waste that eventually turns into lead.
      And that it’s still better to have waste than waste which also happens to be toxic.

      • Xavienth@lemmygrad.ml
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        1 year ago

        Worth noting that solar panels are not without toxic waste. If left in landfills they risk leaching lead, cadmium and other toxic chemicals. The issue of recycling them at scale is not being seriously tackled.

      • Uranium3006@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        right, but when it lands at lead it’s no longer radioactive waste, which is the part everyone’s scared of. chemical waste doesn’t just go away like that.