Nepal to Scrap ‘Failed’ Mount Everest Waste Deposit Scheme
A significant shift in management is underway as Nepal prepares to scrap its controversial waste deposit scheme aimed at tackling the growing garbage issue on Mount Everest. Officials from Nepalese authorities have acknowledged that the initiative has not delivered the intended results.
The Waste Challenge on Mount Everest
– Climbers were previously required to pay a deposit of $4,000 (£2,964), refundable only if they returned with a minimum of 8kg (18lbs) of waste.
– The initiative aimed to address the alarming 50 tonnes of waste estimated to be littering the world’s highest peak.
– After 11 years of implementation, the scheme has been deemed a failure due to its inability to produce measurable outcomes.
Insights from Officials
Himal Gautam, director at the tourism department, highlighted that the garbage issue has not diminished over time. He noted that the deposit scheme had inadvertently turned into an administrative burden. While most of the deposit money has been returned to climbers—indicating that some did adhere to waste removal—most of the waste collected was from lower camps, where the issue is less severe.
– Tshering Sherpa, CEO of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, pointed out that climbers typically return only with oxygen bottles, leaving behind the bulk of abandoned waste, such as tents and food packaging, at higher elevations.
Issues with the Current Scheme
Mountaineers on Everest generate an estimated 12kg (26lbs) of waste during their climbs, compounded by an average climbing duration of six weeks. The existing scheme faced several obstacles:
– Climbers were required to return less waste than they generated, a clear flaw in the policy.
– A significant lack of monitoring made enforcement challenging, with only one checkpoint located above the Khumbu Icefall.
A New Approach to Everest Waste Management
In response to these persistent issues, Nepalese authorities have announced plans to introduce a more effective system. The proposed changes include:
– A non-refundable clean-up fee, likely set at $4,000 per climber, which will fund new initiatives for waste management.
– Establishment of checkpoints at Camp Two and the deployment of mountain rangers to ensure compliance in waste removal at higher elevations.
Mingma Sherpa, chairperson of the Pasang Lhamu rural municipality, emphasized the need for this transition, stating that the Sherpa community has long questioned the efficacy of the previous scheme. The new fee model aims to create a dedicated fund for sustainable clean-up efforts, transforming a long-standing issue.
A Comprehensive Action Plan
The non-refundable fee is part of a newly introduced five-year mountain clean-up action plan. Jaynarayan Acarya, spokesperson at the ministry of tourism, explained that the plan is designed to tackle the urgent waste problem on Nepal’s mountains.
Although no comprehensive study exists to quantify the exact amount of waste on Everest, it is acknowledged that the number includes tons of human waste that does not decompose in colder climates. As climbing numbers continue to rise—averaging around 400 climbers annually, along with many support staff—the sustainability of mountaineering practices remains a pressing concern.
As Nepal discards the ‘failed’ waste deposit scheme, the focus shifts toward a more effective strategy to preserve the integrity of Mount Everest for future generations.