French energy company EDF plans to recycle low-level radioactive metals from decommissioned nuclear plants into everyday items like forks and door handles, pending public approval.
Ruth Wright and Juliette Laffont report for Euronews.
In short:
- EDF proposes a 15-hectare recycling plant near the closed Fessenheim nuclear site to process 500,000 tonnes of low-level radioactive metal over 40 years.
- Metals would be “cleaned” and repurposed as cast iron or steel, following practices already in use in Sweden, Germany, and the U.S.
- Public concerns center on the health risks, as anti-nuclear activists argue that no amount of radiation is safe for human exposure.
Why this matters:
While recycling nuclear waste could reduce environmental burdens, public health concerns remain over potential exposure risks, especially with products made from radioactive materials potentially entering homes.
Related: Sellafield: Europe's most hazardous nuclear facility and its economic impact
