this is a subject that the USA gov and China even agree on. It is such a shame westerners have such a negative reaction to nuclear energy. but it isn't as profitable as fossil fuels/selling new electric cars so :meow-shining:
https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/advantages-and-challenges-nuclear-energy
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202106/1227103.shtml
Depending on the type of reactor the waste can also be reused
We just don't do that because then it would allow basically any country on earth to "legally" produce the fractional products for nuclear weapons
Depends on your reactor once again. Heavy water reactors don't require any enrichment at any point. If anything it would take more processing than the uranium going in