Wiederaufbereitung

Wiederaufbereitung is a German term describing processes that restore, refurbish, or recover materials and components from used products or waste. It covers refurbishment of equipment and components to extend life, as well as the recovery of materials through recycling.

In industry, refurbishment includes cleaning, repairing, replacing worn parts, and testing to meet original specifications for resale or continued use. In recycling, materials are sorted, cleaned, and processed to recover metals, plastics, glass, and other fractions, reducing resource extraction and waste.

In the nuclear sector, Wiederaufbereitung refers to chemical processing of spent nuclear fuel to separate usable uranium and plutonium from fission products, for reuse as fuel or other products. It requires specialized facilities and strict safety, radiological, and environmental controls and regulation.

Economically and environmentally, Wiederaufbereitung supports the circular economy by reducing raw material demand, saving energy, and limiting waste. It involves high capital costs, energy use, technical challenges, and regulatory hurdles; policy and public acceptance influence its deployment.

In everyday usage, the term is used for reconditioning, refurbishment, or recycling, varying by context and industry.