A large nuclear reactor produces 25–30 tons of spent fuel each year. It is primarily composed of unconverted uranium and about 3% of it is made of fission products. The unfissioned uranium, plutonium, and curium are responsible for the bulk of the long-term radioactivity, whereas the fission products are responsible for the bulk of the short term radioactivity.

As of 2007, the U.S. had accumulated more than 50,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel from nuclear reactors. After 10,000 years of radioactive decay, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards, the spent nuclear fuel will no longer pose a threat to public health and safety. Underground storage at Yucca Mountain was proposed as permanent storage and extensive geologic assessment of the site was conducted. Because of controversy over spending several decades and billions of dollars to build the Yucca Mountain facility, the Obama administration went on record to state that Yucca Mountain will not open as a high level radioactive waste repository.

In the United States, the nuclear power industry generates approximately 2,000 tons of solid waste annually. In comparison, coal fueled power plants produce 100,000,000 tons of ash and sludge annually and this waste is laced with dangerous substances also such as mercury and nitric oxide.