Nuclear Waste Management Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast Segmented By Waste Type (Low Level Waste, Intermediate Level Waste, High Level Waste), By Reactor Type (Pressurized Water Reactor, Boiling Water Reactor, Gas Cooled Reactor, Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor), By Disposal Method (Incineration, Storage, Deep Geological Disposal, Others), By Region, Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 6.06 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	4.05%
Fastest Growing Segment	High Level Waste
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 7.69 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Nuclear Waste Management Market will grow from USD 6.06 Billion in 2025 to USD 7.69 Billion by 2031 at a 4.05% CAGR. The Global Nuclear Waste Management Market encompasses the systematic collection, treatment, packaging, transportation, and long-term disposal of radioactive materials generated by nuclear power plants, medical facilities, and defense activities. The primary driver supporting market growth is the global resurgence of nuclear energy as a pivotal low-carbon power source to meet escalating electricity demands and achieve climate neutrality goals. This renewed reliance on nuclear infrastructure necessitates robust solutions for handling both spent fuel and legacy waste from decommissioning projects. According to the World Nuclear Association, in 2024, nuclear reactors worldwide generated a record 2667 TWh of electricity, underscoring the intensified operational scale that directly necessitates expanded waste management capacities.

Despite these favorable growth metrics, the market encounters a significant challenge regarding the establishment of permanent deep geological repositories for high-level waste. The complex interplay of stringent regulatory approvals and public opposition to repository siting creates substantial delays in project implementation and increases capital expenditures. This bottleneck in finalizing long-term disposal sites complicates the full lifecycle management of radioactive inventory and could potentially impede the streamlined expansion of the sector.

Key Market Drivers

The Expansion of Global Nuclear Power Generation Capacity acts as a primary catalyst for the market as nations aggressively prioritize energy security and low-carbon transitions. This resurgence in new reactor construction directly correlates with increased volumes of spent fuel and operational waste that require immediate and sophisticated management strategies. Such growth extends beyond traditional markets into emerging economies and necessitates the rapid development of disposal infrastructure and regulatory compliance mechanisms. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, November 2025, in the 'Six Global Trends in Nuclear Power You Should Know' article, there are 63 reactors currently under construction globally which will add approximately 66.2 GW of capacity once completed. This surge ensures a sustained influx of radioactive materials entering the waste stream and drives demand for advanced storage containers and reprocessing facilities.

Simultaneously, the Accelerated Decommissioning of Aging Nuclear Infrastructure creates a massive and immediate requirement for complex remediation services. As first-generation reactors reach the end of their operational lifecycles, operators face the critical task of dismantling facilities and managing legacy waste which constitutes a major portion of the market value. The financial scale of these obligations is enormous, as evidenced by the fact that according to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, in 2024, the discounted best estimate for the future costs of the UK decommissioning mission alone stood at £105.3 billion. Governments are consequently allocating substantial funding to address these liabilities. For instance, according to the Department of Energy, March 2024, in the 'FY 2025 Budget in Brief', the US administration allocated $8.23 billion specifically for the Environmental Management program to accelerate the cleanup of nuclear sites. This dual pressure of processing new fuel from expanding fleets while remediating legacy sites defines the current market trajectory.

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Key Market Challenges

The establishment of permanent deep geological repositories for high-level waste presents a significant barrier to the progress of the Global Nuclear Waste Management Market. This difficulty arises from stringent regulatory requirements and sustained public resistance regarding site selection, which collectively delay project approval and construction. Such delays extend the industry's reliance on interim storage facilities, thereby increasing long-term maintenance costs and preventing the implementation of a complete lifecycle solution for radioactive materials.

This inability to secure long-term disposal sites results in a growing inventory of hazardous material that lacks a defined endpoint, creating logistical and financial unpredictability for industry stakeholders. The continuous accumulation of waste without a permanent destination underscores the severity of this infrastructure gap. According to the World Nuclear Association, in 2024, commercial nuclear reactors globally discharged approximately 12,000 tonnes of heavy metal in used fuel. This ongoing influx of material, paired with the bottleneck in repository availability, directly restricts the market’s ability to streamline operations and capitalize on revenue from final disposal contracts.

Key Market Trends

The Transition from Wet Storage to Modular Dry Cask Storage Systems represents a critical evolution in the management of spent nuclear fuel, driven by the saturation of on-site cooling pools and the continued unavailability of permanent deep geological repositories. Operators are increasingly adopting modular dry storage solutions which offer passive cooling capabilities and robust, scalable infrastructure that can be deployed incrementally at reactor sites. This shift significantly reduces the operational risks associated with active liquid cooling systems and provides a licensed, secure interim solution for long-term fuel retention while permanent disposal routes are finalized. Highlighting this operational shift, according to the Orano Group, April 2025, in the 'Orano Awarded Contract to Perform Transfer of Used Nuclear Fuel' press release, the company secured a strategic agreement to transfer spent fuel assemblies from wet storage pools into 14 vertical dry storage systems at a nuclear facility in the southern United States.

Simultaneously, the Integration of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Waste Operations is transforming how high-activity radioactive materials are handled, sorted, and packaged. This trend focuses on minimizing human exposure to hazardous environments by deploying autonomous systems capable of performing complex characterization and segregation tasks with greater precision than manual methods. These technologies are particularly vital for legacy cleanup projects where waste composition is heterogeneous and dangerous, allowing for remote operations that enhance safety standards and processing speed. Underscoring this commitment to technological advancement, according to the UK Government, June 2025, in the 'NDA launches pioneering robotics partnership to manage nuclear waste' announcement, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority committed to investing up to £9.5 million over four years to develop and deploy autonomous sorting technology specifically for segregating radioactive waste at its sites.

Segmental Insights

High Level Waste is identified as the fastest-growing segment in the Global Nuclear Waste Management Market driven by the accumulating inventory of spent nuclear fuel from operational reactors. This growth is accelerated by the decommissioning of aging facilities which necessitates the rigorous handling of highly radioactive materials. Additionally, compliance with stringent safety standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency compels operators to transition from temporary storage to permanent disposal solutions such as deep geological repositories. Consequently, the urgent requirement for secure long-term containment strategies propels the rapid expansion of this market segment.

Regional Insights

The Asia Pacific region dominates the Global Nuclear Waste Management Market, driven by the aggressive expansion of nuclear power fleets in major economies such as China and India. This leadership is sustained by the substantial increase in reactor construction to meet rising energy demands, which significantly boosts the volume of waste requiring treatment. Additionally, regional governments are actively developing long-term disposal infrastructure to adhere to rigorous safety standards established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). These strategic developments, combined with decommissioning activities in mature markets like Japan, firmly establish Asia Pacific as the leading territory in the global sector.

Recent Developments

• In December 2025, Deep Isolation Nuclear, Inc. announced the completion of a project to manufacture and validate a disposal-ready universal canister system for high-level radioactive waste. This three-year initiative, supported by a grant from the Department of Energy, involved physical testing of the prototype in simulated geologic conditions to ensure mechanical integrity. The company reported that the new canister design meets safety requirements for both borehole and mined repository options, offering greater flexibility for future waste disposition. This product launch represented a key technical foundation intended to support regulatory engagement and the commercial deployment of advanced nuclear waste disposal solutions.
• In June 2025, Moltex Energy unveiled significant research breakthroughs regarding its proprietary Waste-to-Stable-Salt process at a technical conference. The company presented data from real-world testing conducted in collaboration with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, which demonstrated the successful extraction of over 77% of transuranics from used reactor fuel. This development was described as a major milestone in redefining how nuclear waste is managed, potentially turning spent fuel into a valuable resource for clean energy generation. The organization highlighted that this process could sharply reduce the volume of long-term waste repositories and decrease surface dose levels, thereby enhancing the sustainability of nuclear power.
• In May 2024, Jacobs was selected by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority to participate in a multi-supplier Engineering Design Services framework. This four-year contract, valued at up to £9 million, appointed the company to deliver a range of technical services, including specialist nuclear support ranging from laboratory research to decommissioning and waste management. The agreement enabled the firm to work collaboratively with the authority and its supply chain to address complex engineering challenges. This selection reinforced the company's role in supporting the development of industrial capabilities for fusion energy research and the broader management of nuclear materials.
• In February 2024, Orano signed a memorandum of understanding with SHINE Technologies to cooperate on the development of a pilot plant in the United States. This facility was intended to utilize commercial-scale technology for recycling used nuclear fuel from light-water reactors. The collaboration aimed to validate an innovative recycling process that combines proven nuclear materials separation technology with operational expertise from existing reprocessing sites. The companies stated that this initiative could lead to a significant reduction in the volume of long-lived radioactive waste requiring disposal while recovering valuable nuclear material for reuse in advanced and existing reactor designs.

Key Market Players

• Veolia Environnement S.A.
• Bechtel Corporation
• Waste Control Specialists LLC
• Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.
• Jacobs Solutions Inc.
• EnergySolutions, LLC
• Studsvik AB
• SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.
• Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation
• Augean PLC

By Waste Type	By Reactor Type	By Disposal Method	By Region
Low Level Waste Intermediate Level Waste High Level Waste	Pressurized Water Reactor Boiling Water Reactor Gas Cooled Reactor Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor	Incineration Storage Deep Geological Disposal Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Nuclear Waste Management Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Nuclear Waste Management Market, By Waste Type:

• Low Level Waste
• Intermediate Level Waste
• High Level Waste

• Nuclear Waste Management Market, By Reactor Type:

• Pressurized Water Reactor
• Boiling Water Reactor
• Gas Cooled Reactor
• Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor

• Nuclear Waste Management Market, By Disposal Method:

• Incineration
• Storage
• Deep Geological Disposal
• Others

• Nuclear Waste Management Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE