Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Most countries treat spent nuclear fuel like a ticking time bomb. But in France, it’s treated like a hidden energy mine. I went inside Orano’s nuclear recycling plant to see 110-ton transport casks, cooling pools packed with fuel, and the chemistry that separates uranium, plutonium, and deadly fission products. The shocking part: reactors throw away rods that still hold over 90% of their usable energy, yet recycling is rare because of cost, complexity, and the plutonium security risk. And the leftovers get locked in glass for centuries. #NuclearEnergy #NuclearWaste #Recycling #France #Science
Most countries treat spent nuclear fuel like a ticking time bomb. But in France, it’s treated like a hidden energy mine. I went inside Orano’s nuclear recycling plant to see 110-ton transport casks, cooling pools packed with fuel, and the chemistry that separates uranium, plutonium, and deadly fission products. The shocking part: reactors throw away rods that still hold over 90% of their usable energy, yet recycling is rare because of cost, complexity, and the plutonium security risk. And the leftovers get locked in glass for centuries. #NuclearEnergy #NuclearWaste #Recycling #France #Science
