The Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR) has emphasized the urgent need to reclassify a significant amount of depleted uranium as radioactive waste. According to Andra, the national agency responsible for managing radioactive waste, the stockpile of this material reached 352 tons by the end of 2024 and is growing by about 10,000 tons each year. Depleted uranium, a byproduct of uranium enrichment, is currently classified as a radioactive material because it is used in the nuclear industry. It is often mixed with plutonium to create MOX (Mixed Oxide) fuel, which is used to power some reactors. However, the ASNR argues that the potential for reuse is insufficient to manage the growing quantities of this material. The authority pointed out that as early as 2020, the former Nuclear Safety Authority had already deemed the complete use of the entire stockpile "unrealistic over the course of the century." This means that the amount of depleted uranium is growing far faster than it can be used in reactors. If this material is reclassified as waste, it would need to be stored in appropriate facilities designed for radioactive waste. The ASNR has called on Andra to begin immediate studies on the volume and characteristics of the waste, as well as the facilities that could handle it. This reclassification faces significant challenges due to public opposition to radioactive waste storage. Similar issues have arisen in past projects such as the Cigéo waste repository in Meuse and the spent fuel pools at the La Hague facility in Manche, both of which have encountered resistance from local communities. As of now, the reclassification has not been implemented. The final decision will rest with the French government, which will determine the status of this material under the 6th National Plan for the Management of Radioactive Materials and Waste (PNGMDR), covering the years 2027 to 2030. In the meantime, the Tricastin nuclear power plant is currently authorized to use MOX fuel, which includes depleted uranium mixed with plutonium. This highlights the ongoing reliance on MOX in the nuclear industry, even as the long-term management of depleted uranium remains a pressing concern.