For many decades Everest, the tallest mountain on Earth, has drawn in numerous thrill-seekers and mountaineers eager to push their limits against the most daunting of obstacles. Unfortunately, it has also served as the final resting place for many. And for their waste.
Referred to as ‘Garbage Mountain’ in the year 2000, Everest now stands as a stark reminder of the toll humanity has taken on the environment, as indicated by officials in the region who express concerns about the current situation.
Mount Everest, once known as one of the most untouched and pristine places on Earth, has unfortunately transformed into an enormous dump.
This predicament arises from the mounting challenge of accommodating an ever-growing influx of climbers, a significant portion of whom neglect their responsibility to maintain cleanliness. The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that the air is now tainted with the stench of excrement as the snow begins to melt.
Mount Everest, standing at an impressive height of 29,032 feet, is situated on the border between Nepal and Tibet. The climbing season for this majestic mountain takes place in April and May, with a lesser-known two-month season in September. There are two base camps available for climbers, one accessed from the North Ridge and the other from the Southeast Ridge. Prior to reaching the summit, there are three additional camps: Camp 2 at 21,300 feet, Camp 3 at 23,950 feet, and Camp 4 at 26,000 feet.
Approximately 500 climbers undertake the challenging journey to reach the summit each year. In the year 2023, Nepal granted a total of 478 permits for climbers aiming to conquer Mount Everest. Out of the 209 permits allocated for April 2024, 44 were issued to climbers from the United States, 22 to climbers from China, 17 to climbers from Japan, 16 to climbers from Russia, and 13 to climbers from the United Kingdom.
Starting from this year, climbers from all over the globe who aim to conquer the renowned mountain will need to acquire a toilet bag at the base camp and transport it to the summit. Upon their descent, they are obligated to surrender the bag along with their waste.
The rural municipality, which has authority over Mount Everest, implemented a new regulation for climbers this year to maintain cleanliness on the mountain.
“Human waste, like urine and feces, has been causing pollution, so we are providing climbers with poo bags to protect Mount Everest and the surrounding Himalayan regions,” Mingma Chhiri Sherpa, chairperson of the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, has said.
The issue of human waste management in the Himalayas is escalating, particularly in the Everest region. With the surge in human activity, the accumulation of urine and feces becomes a persistent problem. During the 45-day climbing season, hundreds of individuals reside at Everest Base Camp without proper toilet facilities, exacerbating the challenge of waste disposal.
The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee has reported that during the spring season, approximately 350 climbers visit the base camp and leave behind 70 tons of waste. This waste includes 15-20 tons of human waste, 20-25 tons of plastic and paper, and 15-20 tons of degradable kitchen waste.
