Nepal Ends Everest Waste Deposit Scheme, Introduces New Cleanup Fee
Nepal has announced the end of its 11-year Everest waste deposit scheme, citing its failure to deliver tangible results amid an estimated 50 tonnes of waste remaining on the mountain. The previous scheme required climbers to pay a $4,000 deposit refundable only if they brought back at least 8 kg of waste. While most deposits have been refunded, significant waste, including tents, cans, packaging, and non-decaying human excrement, continues to accumulate, particularly at higher camps above the Khumbu Icefall checkpoint where monitoring has been limited.
Officials noted that while climbers mainly return oxygen bottles, waste from tents and other trash remains a serious issue. The lack of penalties for not returning trash and absence of a dedicated cleanup fund were concerns raised by local Sherpa communities, who have actively lobbied for change.
In response, Nepal plans to replace the refundable deposit with a non-refundable clean-up fee, likely set at $4,000 pending parliamentary approval. This fee will establish a mountain clean-up fund as part of a five-year action plan focused on immediate waste management. The plan includes the creation of a Camp Two checkpoint and deployment of mountain rangers to monitor and enforce waste disposal at higher altitudes.
Everest sees around 400 climbers annually in addition to support staff, contributing to ongoing sustainability challenges due to accumulated trash and human waste at high elevations.
