[Vision2020] Just FYI: Recycling in Antarctica

[Kenneth Marcy]

Recycling in Antarctica

By Maggie Koerth-Baker at 6:00 am Thursday, Nov 10 

When I recycle, I have to separate out metal, plastic, chipboard, glass, plain 
paper, glossy paper, and newsprint. That sounds like a lot of separating, 
until you compare it to the recycling protocol at McMurdo Scientific Research 
Station, Antarctica.

There is nothing at McMurdo that wasn't flown or shipped there from far away. 
That costs a lot money. And, almost as importantly, it costs space. A crate of 
Ramen means less room for people, scientific instruments, etc. Nothing arrives 
in Antarctica without a purpose.

On the flip side of that coin: Everything that is brought to McMurdo must 
leave, in one way or another. There aren't any landfills in Antarctica. All the 
trash produced must be either burned, reused there, or flown back to 
civilization.

More on the story, and pictures, at this link:

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/10/recycling-in-antarctica.html 


Ken