A three day workshop on socio-economic issues and public involvement practices and approaches for developing and operating repositories for low and intermediate level waste took place in the IAEA headquarters on 9–11 November 2005. Twenty-six participants from 23 Member States shared their experience in dealing with public and other stakeholders. Description of both principles and practices applied in particular countries provides a useful overview of potential approaches in application of non-technical issues during a repository lifecycle. The final discussion concentrated on various aspects of application of incentives to local communities and on ways how to attract general public when developing or operating a waste disposal facility.