yes, nuclear reprocessing is actually a fairly old technology and it closes the nuclear fuel cycle, leaving only short lived byproducts.
It is currently illegal in America because reprocessing spent nuclear fuel produces weapons grade plutonium which is a proliferation risk. The economics are not great either since it's cheaper to just mine more uranium and pay to store the (5% used) fuel.
France and Russia have a few plants that do it though.
It is currently illegal in America because reprocessing spent nuclear fuel produces weapons grade plutonium which is a proliferation risk. The economics are not great either since it's cheaper to just mine more uranium and pay to store the (5% used) fuel.
France and Russia have a few plants that do it though.