The idea of reprocessing nuclear waste is a good one. However, the reprocessed material is highly fissile and therefore perfect for making high yield nuclear bombs. While there is a significant amount of complexity in making a bomb with this material, gun type devices will not work due to the neutron generating potential of plutonium. The idea that proliferation of nuclear warhead capable material is a bad thing argues strongly against reprocessing plants. Not to mention the cost of setting up reprocessing greatly surpasses the cost of mining and enriching (increasing the U235 content to 3-6%), natural uranium.
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The idea of reprocessing nuclear waste is a good one. However, the reprocessed material is highly fissile and therefore perfect for making high yield nuclear bombs. While there is a significant amount of complexity in making a bomb with this material, gun type devices will not work due to the neutron generating potential of plutonium. The idea that proliferation of nuclear warhead capable material is a bad thing argues strongly against reprocessing plants. Not to mention the cost of setting up reprocessing greatly surpasses the cost of mining and enriching (increasing the U235 content to 3-6%), natural uranium.