Bronte Wells
Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, has become a popular destination for adventurers and hikers alike since it was first climbed in 1953. The surge in tourism has resulted in a pollution problem, with the fragile ecosystem being spoiled by various forms of waste, including human waste, litter, and microplastics. While there have been clean-up campaigns, the issue persists, and the mountain is fast becoming the world's highest dumping ground. This raises concerns about the environmental degradation of the region and the need for responsible and sustainable tourism practices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 8,848 metres (29,029 feet) above sea level |
| Location | Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu region of Nepal, Asia |
| Pollution | Microplastics, litter, human waste |
| Tourism | 58,000 tourists in 2019; 463 permits issued in 2023 |
| Clean-up Efforts | Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC); Nepali Army; Mount Everest Biogas Project |
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What You'll Learn
Microplastic pollution in snow and water
Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain, has been facing a pollution problem due to increased tourism. The fragile ecosystem of the region is being spoiled by various forms of pollution, including microplastic pollution in snow and water.
Microplastics have been detected in snow and stream water samples collected from multiple locations on Mount Everest, including near climbing paths and regions of high human presence. These plastic pieces are smaller than 5mm and were mainly polyester fibers, likely originating from climbers' clothing and equipment. The presence of microplastics in the snow and water highlights the impact of human activity even in the Earth's remotest areas.
The research conducted by Imogen Napper and her team in 2019 provides preliminary findings of microplastics on Mount Everest. They collected snow and stream water samples from several areas, including the Balcony, a resting point above 27,000 feet. All 11 snow samples from Everest contained microplastics, and plastics were also found in three out of eight stream water samples. The highest concentration of microplastics was found in a snow sample from 8,440 meters above sea level.
The discovery of microplastics in Mount Everest's snow and water is concerning as it indicates the far-reaching impact of plastic pollution. It also underscores the need for more sustainable practices and materials in the manufacturing of performance clothing and equipment used in extreme environments. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of responsible tourism and the proactive protection of the Everest region to preserve the livelihood of locals and the mountain tourism industry.
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Human waste and excrement
Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, has become a popular destination for adventurers since New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Tibetan Tenzing Norgay first reached its summit in 1953. The exponential rise in tourism has led to significant issues in the region, particularly concerning pollution.
Human waste is a pressing concern on Mount Everest. The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), a non-profit and non-governmental organisation responsible for waste management in the Everest trekking area, estimates that there are around three tonnes of human excrement between Camp One at the bottom of Everest and Camp Four, towards the summit. South Col, which is the base for climbers before their final ascent, has gained a reputation as an "open toilet". The human waste that accumulates in this area does not fully degrade due to extreme temperatures, leading to visible stools on the rocks and an unpleasant odour.
To address this issue, the Pasang Lhamu rural municipality, which covers most of the Everest region, has introduced a rule requiring climbers to purchase and use so-called "poo bags" to collect their waste. These bags have been successfully utilised on other mountains, such as Mount Denali, and are intended to be brought back to base camp for proper disposal. This initiative aims to reduce the amount of human waste left on the mountain, improving both the environmental and sanitary conditions for all visitors.
The Mount Everest Biogas Project is another initiative focused on addressing human waste pollution in the region. The project aims to redirect human waste from Gorak Shep, a village near Mount Everest, to an anaerobic digester system. This system uses microorganisms to break down organic waste, producing methane and other by-products that can be utilised for energy or other purposes.
While efforts are being made to mitigate the problem of human waste on Mount Everest, it remains a significant challenge. The sheer volume of waste generated by the increasing number of climbers, coupled with the extreme conditions that hinder degradation, makes managing human waste effectively a complex task.
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Rubbish and littering
Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, has been described as the "world's highest garbage dump". The mountain's fragile ecosystem has been affected by the growing popularity of Everest, with tourists and mountaineers visiting the region. The commercialisation of mountaineering has also contributed to the problem, with climbers paying fees to attempt the summit without necessarily having the required skills and endurance levels.
The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), a non-profit and non-governmental organisation, is responsible for waste management in the Everest region. In the spring of 2021, the SPCC received 60,039 kilograms of waste from expedition groups, including 55,676 kg from Everest Base Camp. The total waste collected by the Nepali Army as part of the Clean Mountain campaign has increased from 10 metric tons in 2019 to 34 metric tons in 2022. Despite these cleanup efforts, waste remains a significant issue, especially in the higher camps.
The waste on Everest includes human waste, leftover camping meals, beer and fuel cans, and discarded climbing equipment. There are an estimated three tonnes of human excrement between Camp One and Camp Four, with South Col gaining a reputation as an "open toilet". Due to extreme temperatures, human waste does not fully degrade, leading to complaints about visible stools and concerns about health risks.
In addition to larger items of rubbish, microplastic pollution has been discovered in snow and stream water samples on Mount Everest, with the highest concentration found at Base Camp. These microplastics, measuring less than 5mm, are likely coming from climbers' clothing, equipment, and tents. The presence of microplastics on Everest highlights the extent of human impact on the environment, even in remote areas.
While the trash problem on Everest is significant, there are efforts to address it. The Mount Everest Biogas Project aims to redirect human waste to an anaerobic digester system, breaking it down and producing methane. Some tourists have also returned to help clean up the park, and several non-governmental organisations are leading campaigns to educate climbers and local communities on waste management.
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Clean-up campaigns
Mount Everest has become increasingly popular with climbers since New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay first reached the summit in 1953. In 2019, over 58,000 tourists visited the mountain, and this number rose to a record high of 463 climbers in 2023. This exponential rise in tourism has led to significant issues in the region, particularly relating to pollution.
The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), a non-profit and non-governmental organisation, is responsible for waste management in the Everest trekking area and other parts of Nepal's Khumbu region. In the spring 2021 climbing season, the SPCC collected 60,039kg of waste from expedition groups, including 55,676kg from Everest Base Camp. The total waste collected by the SPCC from that season included 25,866kg of burnable garbage.
The Nepali government frequently mobilises its army to go on clean-up expeditions to Mount Everest. In 2019, the Nepali army collected over 2 tonnes of waste, and in 2023, the army-led Mountain Clean-up Campaign collected 35 tonnes of waste from four mountains, including Everest. Several non-governmental organisations and private companies are also leading and organising campaigns to clean up Everest and educate climbers and local communities on the importance of solid waste management.
One example of a clean-up campaign is the Mount Everest Biogas Project, which focuses on cleaning up Gorak Shep, a village near Mount Everest located at 17,000 feet (5,180m) elevation. The village can only be reached by a strenuous six-day hike from the nearest airport, and there are no electrical, sanitation, or water-supply systems in the town. All human waste from several base camps gets brought back to this village and placed in a landfill. The project aims to redirect human waste to an anaerobic digester system, where microorganisms feed on a mixture of water and bacteria found in organic waste, breaking down the waste and producing methane and other by-products.
Another initiative to combat pollution on Everest is the introduction of 'poo bags'. Climbers will now have to bring their own faeces back down the mountain and deposit it in barrels at base camp to be disposed of properly. This new rule has been implemented due to complaints that human stools are visible on rocks, and some climbers are falling sick as a result.
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Commercialisation of mountaineering
Mount Everest, located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas in Nepal, is the world's tallest mountain, reaching an elevation of 8,848 to 8,850 metres above sea level. Climbing Mount Everest has become a popular achievement since Sir Edmund Hillary first reached the peak in 1953. As of 2014, there had been 6,872 ascents of the mountain.
The commercialisation of mountaineering on Mount Everest has made it more accessible to wealthy and inexperienced climbers. Climbing Everest has become a potentially deadly activity, with life-threatening risks such as hypothermia, frostbite, avalanches, and deadly altitude sickness. However, with commercialisation, climbers who pay expedition fees ranging from $30,000 to $200,000 can attempt to reach the summit regardless of their skill level. This has led to an exponential rise in tourism, with a record-breaking 381 climbing permits issued in 2019, and 463 in 2023.
The surge in the number of tourists and mountaineers has resulted in various forms of pollution spoiling the fragile ecosystem of the region. Each person climbing Everest produces around 8 kg of trash, most of which stays on the mountain. The path to the summit is littered with discarded food containers, human waste, and abandoned equipment. As a result, Mount Everest has been called the "world's highest garbage dump". The increasing levels of pollution on the mountain have put the health of thousands of Nepalis who rely on the water coming from Mount Everest for their livelihood at serious risk.
Several governmental, non-governmental, and private organisations have launched projects to clean up the mountain. The Nepali government frequently mobilises its army for clean-up expeditions and has also started a deposit initiative, which has been running since 2014. Under this initiative, anyone visiting Mount Everest has to pay a $4,000 deposit, which is refunded if the person returns with eight kilograms of garbage. The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), established in 1991, is another organisation working to promote environmental sustainability and educate the local community on waste management.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, pollution is a significant issue on Mount Everest. The growing popularity of the mountain has resulted in various forms of pollution spoiling the fragile ecosystem of the region. This includes human waste, litter, and microplastic pollution.
Mount Everest suffers from both solid waste and human waste pollution. Solid waste includes litter from climbers, such as discarded climbing equipment, leftover camping meals, beer and fuel cans, and plastic pollution. There is also an issue with human waste, as the extreme temperatures on the mountain mean that excrement does not fully degrade.
Several initiatives are working to address the pollution on Mount Everest. The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), a non-profit and non-governmental organization, promotes environmental sustainability and waste management in the region. The Mount Everest Biogas Project aims to redirect human waste to an anaerobic digester system to produce methane. The Nepali government also frequently mobilizes its army to conduct clean-up expeditions, and various non-governmental organizations and private companies are leading campaigns to educate climbers and local communities on waste management.
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