Archive · 22 Dec 2025
Nepal's 5-Year Plan to Clean Everest
Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, is getting very dirty with lots of trash left by climbers.
Nepal has made a five-year plan to clean up the mountain.
The plan includes making climbers attend a cleanliness briefing, setting up waste collection centres, and using new technologies like drones and GPS to find trash and human remains.
The plan also wants to limit the number of climbers and maybe move the base camp to a less crowded place.
Some people think these rules are good for the environment, while others worry it might hurt the tourism industry.
The goal is to keep Everest clean and safe for everyone.
Nepal has introduced a five-year Everest Cleaning Action Plan to tackle waste and pollution on Mount Everest.
The plan includes mandatory clean mountain briefings, waste collection centres, and new technologies like drones and GPS tracking.
Climbers will be required to bring back a minimum amount of waste from higher camps and submit it at Camp 2.
The plan also proposes limiting the number of climbers and studying the feasibility of relocating the base camp.
Environmentalists support the measures, while the climbing industry expresses concerns about potential disruptions.
- Who
- Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, climbers, environmentalists, climbing industry
- What
- Nepal's five-year Everest Cleaning Action Plan to tackle waste and pollution on Mount Everest
- When
- Plan to run from 2025 to 2029
- Where
- Mount Everest and other high Himalayan peaks in Nepal
- Why
- To address growing waste and pollution issues, make climbing safer, and preserve the mountain's natural beauty
Environmentalists and Conservationists
Climbing Industry and Tour Operators
Climber Limits
Environmentalists and Conservationists
Support limiting the number of climbers to reduce environmental impact and congestion.
Climbing Industry and Tour Operators
Oppose strict limits, arguing it would harm the tourism industry and local economies.
Base Camp Relocation
Environmentalists and Conservationists
Advocate for relocating the base camp to reduce environmental damage and overcrowding.
Climbing Industry and Tour Operators
Express concerns about the feasibility and potential disruption to established climbing routes and operations.
- Mountain Height
- 8,849 metres
- Location
- Nepal-China border
- Key Pollution Areas
- Camp IV and higher camps
- Waste Types
- Plastic bags, food wrappers, torn clothing, abandoned tents, empty oxygen cylinders, human excreta
- Nepal's Measures
- Garbage deposit schemes, cleanup mandates for expeditions, mandatory clean mountain briefing, waste collection centres, GPS tracking system for human remains
- Waste Collected (2019 Campaign)
- 10,800 kilograms (10.8 tonnes)
- Total Waste Collected (Nepali Army)
- 119,056 kilograms
