ABSTRACTThe last 10–15 years have produced a considerable amount of research into the geological disposal of radioactive wastes. This has had some very beneficial spin‐offs for the geosciences. There are, however, a number of areas where it is difficult for earth scientists to provide quantitative information required for the types of long‐term safety assessment being performed at present. With the likely increased stringency with which we may begin to treat other industrial wastes, much is to be learned from the radioactive waste experience. This article reviews some of the geological issues in constraining long‐term predictions, discusses how geological data are used, and questions exactly what it is that we are trying to achieve in the management of these wastes and in the regulations concerning their d