Nepal Launches Five-Year Everest Cleaning Plan

Nepal has launched a five-year Everest Cleaning Action Plan to deal with the growing
problem of waste on Mount Everest and other high Himalayan peaks. The move comes
after criticism that the world’s highest mountain was becoming a dumping ground.

The plan has been prepared by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation
and will be implemented from 2025 to 2029. Its aim is to keep Nepal’s mountains
clean and make climbing safer for mountaineers.

Japanese climber Ken Noguchi told the Kathmandu Post that before visiting Everest,
he had only seen beautiful images of the mountain on television. However, when he
reached there, he was shocked to find litter scattered across the area.

As part of the new plan, all climbing teams will have to attend a compulsory briefing
on keeping the mountains clean before every expedition. This will help raise awareness
about responsible climbing.

All climbers and expedition teams must bring back a fixed minimum amount of
waste from the higher camps and hand it over at Camp 2. This is meant to reduce
the trash left on the mountain.