Radioactive wastes are stored so as to avoid any chance of radiation exposure to people, or any pollution.
The radioactivity of the wastes decays with time, providing a strong incentive to store high-level waste for about 50 years before disposal.
Disposal of low-level waste is straightforward and can be undertaken safely almost anywhere.
Storage of used fuel is normally under water for at least five years and then often in dry storage.
Deep geological disposal is widely agreed to be the best solution for final disposal of the most radioactive waste produced.