If radioactive waste emits heat, why can’t we use it to produce energy?

Question

If radioactive waste emits heat, why can’t we use it to produce energy?

In: 132

Answer 1

You could, and we kinda do. We use [RTGs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_generator) in spacecraft and other more niche applications. Containment and contamination are always a concern, so you don’t see much of this type of tech in consumer applications besides some old 1st-gen pacemakers I think. I don’t know if the plutonium in those is actually from power plants however, so I’m not sure if RTG fuel is technically “waste” material.