Nuclear power plants produce radioactive waste in gas, liquid, and solid forms. Of these forms, a certain amount of gas waste and liquid waste is released into the environment, but there are stringent restrictions on the amount and density that can be released. These are strictly regulated to ensure that there are no adverse effects on the surrounding environment.

 Steam-condensed liquid waste and solid waste that have been reduced in size by incineration and compression are packed in drums. After these have been stored in the power plant for a predetermined period of time, they are shipped off to the Rokkasho Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Center in Aomori Prefecture.