Method and apparatus for dismantling, shearing and compacting a fuel assembly frame skeleton. A frame is provided which can be placed into the transfer canal of a fuel-handling building for severing a bottom nozzle from the thimble tubes and grids of the frame skeleton, compacting the remainder of the skeleton, and then further severing the thimble tubes and grids into shorter longitudinal lengths, and placing the shortened compacted severed pieces into a container for off-site shipment or on-site storage.