There is no nuclear waste, only different kinds of nuclear fuel. We _could_ have started building reactors that can extract power from that fuel decades ago.
Considering that we still haven't exactly perfected U-238 technology in 70+ years, when exactly do you think we'll be able to separate and use things like Np-237 or Tc-99? Is there even anyone seriously working on that? There's a reason so many people are actively working on better containment technologies, and I don't think it's because they're dumber than a bunch of HN dilettantes.
You don't need isotope separation or enrichment. What is needed is chemical separation of transuranics. The only real expense there is just the care that must be exersized when dealing with radioactive elements.
