The Grossest Job in Antarctica | NOVA | PBS
What happens to all the waste—including human waste—in Antarctica?
Originally published in 2020 on @pbsterra 🇦🇶
Under the Antarctic Treaty System, an international agreement to protect the continent, waste of any kind—garbage, human poop, you name it—can’t be left on the continent. So what happens to it? To find out, Caitlin and Arlo embark on their most peculiar Antarctic quest yet.
At McMurdo Station, as Caitlin discovers the surprisingly scientific methods of treating sewage with Lead Waste Water Operator and biologist Yubecca Bragg, Arlo meets with Waste Program Manager James VanMatre to find out what happens to all of the outpost’s other trash. Under the guidance of these waste enthusiasts, Caitlin and Arlo meet microscopic bristle worms, water bears, the “Muffin Monster,” and a quirky fleet of forklifts nicknamed “Pickles”—and they learn that dealing with Antarctica’s trash is as rewarding as it is important.
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@berbudy
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Turns out there are still a lot of things that need improvement
@lil----lil
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Everyday billions of wild animals POOP in the ocean, forest and in the wildness and NOTHING bad ever happens. But as soon as we "humans" do it; it is now an emergency. It fouls the land , the air that we breath and breeds dangerous bacteria that can kill us all.
@aaroncrawford8123
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
That was incredibly educational!!!…. although I did literally throw up at 3:20 🤣
@karmakazi219
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Why can no one pronounce the name of this continent? Or should I call it a coninen?
@bradbrown8759
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
5:04 Yikes! Don’t touch your face while wearing poop gloves.
@chaosking911
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
5:33 that was sooo forced and unnecessary.
@Undistracted_Liv
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Ah so this is what Tony Soprano does…
@taylorlindseth8811
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Reminds me of the movie "Centipede"…
@jamsohnson8579
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
THE Three Rules of a Plumber:
Sh^t flows downhill.
Payday's on Friday.
Don't bite your fingernails.
@Yourmission9
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
I love that they wear PPE while handling the $h**ter box😂
@trinathebookworm8977
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
They burn it.
@shawnrinkel8377
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Or…. Or…. HEAR ME OUT….. just don’t do a bathroom crap scene…!
@WysteriaGuitar
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Soylent Green is people…
@lexmerrill9295
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Excellent and humorous video for 5 year olds
@samuelbridgeland7740
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
McTurdo station
@annshimak1172
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
❤
@Eltoca21
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Surely any tomatoes that may sprout would be fit for human consumption? If not, why not?
@barelyafloatfarm809
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
If it's turned into soil why not eat the tomatoes
@LouAss-td9et
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
They get an amazing retirement benefits and it’s well safe of a job from both recession / AI or any external circumstances
@bobnomura2068
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Wait – sewage pipes above ground ? don't they freeze up ? Thanks for showing the "solids" at the end. Thank goodness for the "bug". Why is the woman in the poop facility and the men at the cardboard facility ? I'm a guy and this all seems unfair.
@j1rosdream
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
3:29 Why did the host wear the nicest whitest sweater in preparation for touring the brown water park 😭
@aprils6589
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
I'm sitting here thinking about the ending of a 1969 movie called The Magic Christian with Peter Sellars and Ringo Starr. If you've seen the movie you know what I mean.
@0o0ification
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
no rock left unturned 😆
@kidmohair8151
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
so. i'm going to ask this question. how much oil and gas is used to maintain McMurdo station…ie what is its per capita carbon footprint?
this was triggered by the revelation of perhaps the most absurd thing in this segment; that the organics are shipped to Cali to be incinerated.
@markperry4536
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Why don’t they recycle rather incinerate?
@markperry4536
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Poop pipes💩
@WbN2K
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Waste management is amazing
@ChrisG1392
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Half of the world doesn't treat their sewage and it just gets flushed into the rivers and ocean
@SB-qm5wg
July 9, 2026 at 4:43 pm
I had no idea 900 people lived at McMurdo. I thought it was a dozen or less.
Comments are closed.