Why decay radiation cannot be used (and eliminated) to produce energy?

Question

So the depleted nuclear fuel cannot be used to heat the reactor, but still has plenty of energy in the form of radiation. Why this radiation cannot be used or eliminated by trapping the neutrons from it and produce heat?

In: Physics

Answer 1

The answer is basically “treaties with the ussr”. We take 1% out of nuclear fuel then throw it away because using it more involves taking it through reactions that can be used to make nuclear bombs and everyone agreed to strict limits for that in civilian power generation. It’s not a technology limitation. We just do power generation wrong to not make weapons grade stuff