[dsfyu404ed]

>We're talking about substances that will remain toxic for thousands of years

Most substances are toxic forever. If you bury mercury or lead in a hole a dig it up in a few million years it will be just as toxic. Radioactive substances are an anomaly in that they become less toxic over time.

[labawi]

To be fair, many substances in the nuclear industry, including the fuel, are quite toxic even chemically.