Vertical cores taken from the sediments have revealed micro-fossils of small plants which, together with chemical data, provide the information scientists need to understand the history of the climate of the lake basins and the evolution of the basins and the animals and plants that live in them. Working in Antarctica requires a major logistical operation, including the transport to Antarctica of a vast range of equipment, building materials, foods, cleaning and household supplies. The Australian Antarctic Division has in place a program of waste reduction which aims to supply in bulk where possible, so that packaging waste is reduced and containers are reusable. All waste in Antarctica is sorted into several categories, mainly for return to Australia where it joins the AAD's headquarters waste stream for recycling wherever possible. The only wastes disposed of at antarctic stations are sewage and wastes that may be hazardous to store for lengthy periods, such as kitchen, medical and biological wastes.
All Australian stations operate secondary sewage treatment plants which treat the station's sewage.
High temperature, two stage incinerators which minimise emissions, are used for the other waste. Australia is committed to cleaning up the wastes from past activities, and has embarked on an ambitious and long-term project to address the problems of the accumulated wastes of 20 years' occupancy of abandoned Wilkes station, adjacent to Casey. Wilkes operated in a time when the rubbish generated by station operations was dumped in rubbish tips, and as a result, the area around the station is in places heavily contaminated with petroleum products and other chemical residues, as well as many hundreds of cubic metres of solid wastes. Before cleanup operations can commence in earnest at Wilkes, the AAD is assessing the site to determine the nature and degree of contamination, methods to appropriately contain or remove the contaminants, and the heritage value of station buildings and artefacts. In searching for safer and cleaner energy sources, the Australian Antarctic Division is investigating ways of generating power for its antarctic and subantarctic stations which are less reliant on fossil fuels.