Nuclear fuel recycling, also known as reprocessing, is the chemical separation of valuable fissile materials from spent nuclear fuel. While spent fuel is often considered waste, it still contains a significant amount of reusable material, including uranium and plutonium, which can be used to create new fuel. The primary goal of recycling is to reduce the volume and long-term radioactivity of high-level waste while recovering valuable resources.

The process typically involves a series of chemical steps to dissolve the spent fuel and separate the various components. The most common method is PUREX, which is used to recover uranium and plutonium for reuse. The recovered plutonium can be blended with fresh uranium to create Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel, which can then be used in existing nuclear reactors. While not all countries engage in recycling due to economic and security concerns, nations like France and Russia have a long history of reprocessing. The recycling of nuclear fuel is seen by some as a key to a more sustainable and efficient nuclear energy cycle, as it reduces the need for new uranium mining and minimizes the volume of waste that requires long-term disposal.