A scheme to encourage climbers to bring their waste down from Mount Everest is being scrapped - with Nepalese authorities telling the BBC it has been a failure. Climbers had been required to pay a deposit of $4,000 (£2964), which they would only get back if they brought at least 8kg (18lbs) of waste back down with them. It was hoped it would begin to tackle the rubbish problem on the world's highest peak, which is estimated to be covered in some 50 tonnes of waste.
But after 11 years - and with the rubbish still piling up - the scheme is being shelved because it 'failed to show a tangible result'. Himal Gautam, director at the tourism department, stated that not only had the garbage issue 'not gone away', but the deposit scheme itself had 'become an administrative burden'.
Tourism ministry and mountaineering department officials reported that most of the deposit money had been refunded over the years, suggesting climbers mostly complied with the scheme, bringing back trash primarily from lower camps. Higher camps, where the waste situation is worse, still see climbers leaving behind items like tents and food cans.
Authorities are now looking to introduce a new non-refundable clean-up fee aimed at setting up checkpoints and deploying mountain rangers to help monitor waste disposal. This move is part of a five-year mountain clean-up action plan designed to address the ongoing waste issues as the number of climbers increases annually.
But after 11 years - and with the rubbish still piling up - the scheme is being shelved because it 'failed to show a tangible result'. Himal Gautam, director at the tourism department, stated that not only had the garbage issue 'not gone away', but the deposit scheme itself had 'become an administrative burden'.
Tourism ministry and mountaineering department officials reported that most of the deposit money had been refunded over the years, suggesting climbers mostly complied with the scheme, bringing back trash primarily from lower camps. Higher camps, where the waste situation is worse, still see climbers leaving behind items like tents and food cans.
Authorities are now looking to introduce a new non-refundable clean-up fee aimed at setting up checkpoints and deploying mountain rangers to help monitor waste disposal. This move is part of a five-year mountain clean-up action plan designed to address the ongoing waste issues as the number of climbers increases annually.
