Waste management is a high priority on the Ice and is practiced in accordance with Annex III to the Antarctic Treaty’s Environment Protocol which establishes procedures, planning, and clean-up of past activities.
Waste disposal in field camps (away from research stations) is particularly important to protecting the environment. No waste may be released into the soil. Everything — greywater (cleaning, cooking and bathing water), urine, solid waste, and garbage — are separately contained and returned to base by helicopter.