Issues at two of Australia's largest radioactive waste storage facilities have put a controversial government plan back under the spotlight.

For years the federal government has tried in vain to build a national dump for the country's nuclear waste.

A controversial government plan to build a national nuclear waste storage site has come back under the spotlight. Credit:Andrew Quilty

Staunch opposition from prospective locations has repeatedly stalled the project, which opponents believe is an environmental disaster waiting to happen.

Each year Australia produces about a shipping container full of low and intermediate-level waste through industrial, medical and research applications.