Archive · 17 Dec 2025
Nepal Plans to Limit Climbers to Clean Himalayan Mountains
Nepal is making a plan to keep its mountains clean.
They want to limit the number of people climbing and set rules for when they can climb.
This is because there's a lot of trash on the mountains, like Mount Everest.
Last year, they collected 83 metric tonnes of waste just from one season.
The plan includes having special teams to collect trash and making sure climbers bring back everything they take.
They also want to use things like drones to help clean up.
If they find too much trash at the base camp, they might even move it to a different place.
The goal is to keep the mountains clean for everyone.
Nepal introduces a five-year action plan to limit climbers and manage waste in the Himalayas.
The plan includes regulating the number of climbers and the timing of expeditions to prevent congestion.
Over 83 metric tonnes of waste were collected from Mount Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse during the Spring 2025 season.
The government will enforce standards for waste management, including mandatory registration of equipment and biodegradable items above base camps.
Feasibility studies will be conducted on using ropeways and drones for waste collection and potentially relocating Mount Everest Base Camp.
- Who
- Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC)
- What
- Introduction of a five-year action plan to limit climbers and manage waste in the Himalayas
- When
- Plan introduced in 2024, to be implemented from 2025-2029
- Where
- Himalayan mountains, including Mount Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse
- Why
- To address decades of waste accumulation and congestion on the mountains
- Waste Collected (Spring 2025)
- 83 metric tonnes
- Plan Duration
- 2025-2029
- Agency Involved
- Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC)
- Key Measures
- Limit climbers, regulate expedition timing, enforce waste management standards
- Biodegradable Requirements
- Banners, flags, prayer flags above base camp must be biodegradable
- Rope-Fixing Teams
- Must bring back all materials used
- Potential Relocation
- Feasibility study for relocating Mount Everest Base Camp