We haven't even come close to seeing the downside of nuclear waste. All we've seen is countries fumbling trying to find solutions for nuclear waste.
It's already hard to find a safe solution for waste that'll survive for millennia. Simply because predicting what might happen over those time scales is hard.
Now factor in that it'll be paid for by humans with a lifespan left of 50 years, and usually a decision horizon of 4 years (i.e. politicians).
The chances off getting it wrong technically are non zero. The chances of getting it wrong for budgetary reasons are even bigger. Incentives do not line up.
It's already hard to find a safe solution for waste that'll survive for millennia. Simply because predicting what might happen over those time scales is hard.
Now factor in that it'll be paid for by humans with a lifespan left of 50 years, and usually a decision horizon of 4 years (i.e. politicians).
The chances off getting it wrong technically are non zero. The chances of getting it wrong for budgetary reasons are even bigger. Incentives do not line up.