The highest peak in the world Mount Everest Ascending climbers are required to bag their waste and bring it back to base camp.
Nepal The authorities finally took this step to address the problem of waste that climbers leave behind on the mountains.
The new regulation was introduced after growing complaints about the amount of human waste on mountain trails.
Due to the extremely low temperature, the waste on the mountain does not decompose naturally. The local municipality of Pasang Lahamu announced that climbers must purchase special waste bags from the base camp which will be ‘checked upon their return.’
This rule will apply to climbers of Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse, which are connected to Everest via the South Col mountain pass.
The problem of human waste has been a concern for Nepalese authorities for years as more and more mountaineering permits are issued each year, increasing the number of people on the mountain.
Such regulations have already been successfully implemented on other mountains, such as Mount Denali in Alaska, and have reportedly been welcomed by expedition organizers on Everest.
Officials say the new law will be introduced before the start of the mountaineering season in Nepal this year. The season starts in March and continues till May.
“We are receiving complaints that human waste is visible on the rocks and some climbers are falling ill,” Mangma Sherpa, chairman of the Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, told the BBC. This is not acceptable. It tarnishes our reputation.’
He added: ‘Our mountains are starting to stink.’
According to the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, it is estimated that about three tonnes of human waste is scattered between Base Camp One at the foot of Everest and Camp Four near the summit.
According to the committee’s chief executive, Cherang Sherpa: ‘Half of this waste is believed to be at South Coal, also known as Camp Four.’
‘Waste is still a big problem. Especially in high altitude camps where you can’t reach.’
The problem of overcrowding is still something that the authorities have to deal with. Last year, Nepal issued a record 478 permits to climb the mountain, resulting in more than 1,500 climbers, guides and support staff in the area.
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The previous record was 409 permits in 2021.
The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee is reportedly buying around 8,000 bags from the US for waste. These bags will be distributed among climbers, Sherpas and support staff. Each person will be given two reusable bags.
These bags contain chemicals that solidify human waste and significantly reduce its odor.
Jonathan Reilly, director of the British expedition company, which organizes trips to Everest Base Camp, told the Telegraph newspaper: ‘The presence of waste on Mount Everest is ridiculous.
‘My question is, are climbers going to bring the waste bags back down the mountain or are they going to throw them away? Just like dog walkers throw away plastic bags full of their waste? This will be worse than the current situation as these bags will make the natural disposal of waste impossible.
‘I suspect there will be some climbers who will use the bags and then throw them away instead of bringing them down the mountain.’
But others have shown hope. Dambar Prajoli, president of the Exhibition Operators Association of Nepal, told the BBC: ‘It is definitely a positive thing and we will be happy to do our part to make it a success.’
Nepal has eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks. According to Nepal’s Ministry of Tourism, as of May 14 last year, the government earned $5.8 million from mountain tourism and $5 million from Everest alone.
Last year also marked the 70th anniversary of the first ascent of Mount Everest by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Edmund Hillary.
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2024-08-12 04:29:40