Based on more than 10 years of research and development, vitrification and high level waste disposal have reached the status of demonstration projects in the Federal Republic of Germany: hot operation of the PAMELA vitrification plant is scheduled for october 1985, and a disposal test with 30 canisters of high active glass is being prepared in the ASSE salt mine. Safety studies for a model repository led to a good understanding of the relevant phenomena; they will continue using sitespezific parameters. Modelling and computer codes will be further developed in international cooperation. In addition to reprocessing, the technology for direct disposal of spent fuel will be developed and demonstrated in the next years.