Thanks. I've been doing a Google search on the Web to refresh my memory and found tons of stuff. It seems that nuclear fuel recycling or reprocessing research was quite active until Jimmy Carter killed it due to "fears" over proliferation. Then, even though Reagan lifted the ban, the industry hasn't pursued it since the virgin-fuel itself is so cheap. So it seems that all the high-level "waste" (spent fuel) to be eventually buried at Yucca mountain could actually be recycled NOW if we want! (Please correct me if this rings a bell and you know different.)
Also came across what looks like another promising technology: The Integral Fast Reactor (IFR)
Needless to say, its another one that the dunderhead Congress killed when it was on the verge of demonstrating successful operation.
There are no technoligical peoblems. France, Japan and the UK are doing it. For power reactors, it is really a matter of economics. Uranium prices are so low now that it is cheaper to make new than to recycle the old. That could change, but that is the market now.
That does not address the issue of weapons grade stuff which never comes from or is used in a power reactor. Some sort of recycle is necessary to make it 'non weapons grade' but the Luddites won't listen to logic. Nunn -Luger was supposed buy a lot of the Russian weapons grade stuff that bin Laden & Co. have been trying to get and use a recylicing process to turn it into a power reactor fuel to eliminate it. I don't where the issue stands now, but the last I heard, the Luddites didn't want any part of it. I guess they just want it laying around so Osama or Saddam can have their chance at greatness.