Nepal Implements New Rules for Everest Climbers to manage Waste
As climbers gear up for the Everest expedition, they face a new requirement to carry their waste down from the mountain. Nepal's initiative aims to combat the escalating pollution issues at the renowned peak.
Climbers preparing to conquer Everest now have an additional item to add to their packing list - poop bags. This new rule requires climbers to bring their waste back down from the mountain in an effort to address pollution.
Most people who attempt to climb the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) Mount Everest do so via Nepal, paying $11,000 apiece just for the climbing permit.
Mountaineers' tents at Camp 2 of Everest on May 8, 2021
Mountaineers' tents at Camp 2 of Everest on May 8, 2021
Pemba Dorje Sherpa/AFP/Getty Images
Taking on the mountain can be quite costly, with expenses for gear, food, supplemental oxygen, Sherpa guides, and more totaling over $35,000.
Unfortunately, the world's highest peak is facing a poop problem due to the high number of visitors and the harsh conditions on the mountain that slow down the natural degradation process.
"The issue of human waste on Everest was extremely problematic," shared Diwas Pokhrel, the first vice president of Everest Summiteers Association, in an interview with CNN. He emphasized that the waste at the highest points of the mountain was causing pollution in the mountain environment.
This photograph taken on May 31, 2021 shows mountaineers lined up as they climb a slope during their ascend to summit Mount Everest.
This photograph taken on May 31, 2021 shows mountaineers lined up as they climb a slope during their ascend to summit Mount Everest.
Lakpa Sherpa/AFP/Getty Images/File
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Without the implementation of the new rules, the issue of waste on Mount Everest was expected to worsen. In the previous year, Nepal issued a record number of 478 climbing permits for the peak. Unfortunately, twelve climbers lost their lives on the mountain, with an additional five individuals still officially listed as missing.
According to Jinesh Sindurakar from the Nepal Mountaineering Association, it is projected that around 1,200 individuals will be present on Everest during this season.
Sindurakar explained that each person produces 250 grams (8.8 ounces) of excrement daily and will spend 2 weeks on the higher camps for the summit push. Each climber will receive two poop bags, which can each be used up to six times.
According to Sindurakar, the bags are equipped with chemicals to solidify human waste and eliminate any odor. This season, Nepal's Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality plans to distribute around 8,000 bags to climbers.
Efforts to minimize the impact of tourism on the Himalayas have increased. The Nepali Army led an initiative that resulted in the removal of 35,708 kilograms of waste and plastics from peaks such as Everest, Lhotse, Annapurna, and Baruntse, as reported by the Himalayan Times. CNN’s Lilit Marcus provided additional reporting on this initiative.
Editor's P/S:
The new rule requiring climbers to pack out their waste from Mount Everest is a welcome step towards addressing the pollution problem on the world's highest peak. The sheer number of visitors to Everest, combined with the harsh conditions that slow down natural degradation, has created a significant waste problem. Human waste, in particular, has been a major concern, causing pollution in the mountain environment.
The new rule, which provides climbers with poop bags equipped with chemicals to solidify waste and eliminate odor, is a practical solution that will help to reduce the environmental impact of Everest tourism. It is also a reminder of the importance of responsible tourism practices in all natural environments. Visitors to national parks, wilderness areas, and other sensitive ecosystems should always be mindful of their impact on the environment and take steps to minimize their waste and pollution.
