Mount Everest was scaled for the first time ever in 1953 by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary. It represents the pinnacle of human achievement at that point in time. Fast forward to the present, the mountain reflects our unsightly disposition. Fluorescent tents, climbing equipment, empty gas canisters and even human excrement litters the route to the summit of the 8,848-meter peak (Lucy, 2015). The seemingly reason for this is there are no bins or toilets on Everest beyond the base camp, so many expeditions simply discard their rubbish and waste on the mountain without many thoughts on its impact on the local environment (Dundurk, 2020). 

These litters are especially an issue around the area of the base camps; people often restock their supplies, rest and have their meals here, often leaving behind wrappers and human waste when they move on. These human wastes present the biggest problem for the locals; as the snow and ice melt on the mountain, contaminants are flushed along with the melted water (Lucy, 2015). As a result, locals who are dependent on the water are facing issues going about their daily lives. 

 

Tackling the problem 

Nepal implemented a $4,000 (£3,000) rubbish deposit per team that would be refunded if each climber brought down at least eight kilograms (18 pounds) of waste. On the Tibet side of the Himalayan mountain, they are required to bring down the same amount and are fined $100 (£75) per kilogram if they don’t (Phoebe, 2018). In 2017 climbers in Nepal brought down nearly 25 tonnes of trash and 15 tonnes of human waste – the equivalent of three double-decker buses – according to the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC). 

Forward-Looking 

Currently, there is still plenty of work that is required to reverse the damage left behind from decades of neglect, but these efforts have begun to pay off. From multiple accounts, Everest and its ridges are in a better state than it is before (Kraig, 2021). With the rule in place set for the next years, we can only hope that the world’s highest peak will return to its former glory. 

 

 

 

References 

Dundruk, K. (2020). Environmental Issues on Mt. Everest. Retrieved August 28, 2020, from https://www.tibettravel.org/tibet-everest-base-camp-tour/everest-environmental-issues.html 

Kraig, B. (2021). Nepali Army to clean Trash on Everest, 5 other Peaks. Retrieved from: https://adventureblog.net/2021/03/nepali-army-to-clean-trash-on-everest-5-other-peaks.html 

Phoebe, W (2018). The highest rubbish dump in the world: How big-spending climbers have turned Mount Everest into a ‘disgusting eyesore’ littered with discarded equipment and excrement. Retrieved from: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5852843/Mount-Everest-high-altitude-rubbish-dump.html 

Lucy, R (2015). The Secret of Mount Everest’s Human Faeces Litter Problem. Retrieved from: https://www.forgerecycling.co.uk/blog/mount-everest-human-faeces-litter/