Drone technology takes waste collection to new heights on Everest: A solution to the age-old problem

Drone technology is being used for the first time in Nepal to collect waste from the Asian mountain range. This project aims to prove that there is no place on Earth that humans cannot contaminate, as the gigantic task of removing waste from these heights has traditionally fallen on Sherpas and members of the army. The use of drones will alleviate the burden on these brave individuals and make it safer for them to transport garbage.

In 2014, the Nepalese Government implemented strict rules to force climbers to descend Everest with at least 8 kg of garbage or lose a $4,000 deposit if they did not comply. The mandatory use of chips to locate climbers was also established, and recent guidelines stipulate that those on expeditions must collect their feces and bring them to the base camp for processing. Despite these rules, several have not been properly implemented due to the absence of liaison officers on the ground. Experts have turned to drones as a solution to this problem, as they can fly more easily than unmanned vehicles that use fossil fuels.

One company, Ellipsis Earth, has proposed an initiative using drones equipped with cameras to map the location of plastic pollution and collect information that could be key to ending waste. The British start-up uses computer and image recognition software that can identify the type and size of plastic and even the origin or brand of the trash. This technology has immense potential for solving environmental challenges.

Juan Yamamoto, an expert in unmanned vehicles in Peru and instructor at Elmer Faucett Higher Technological Institute, believes that civil use of drones has immense potential. In Peru, drone technology has transitioned from primitive to digital in the past decade, with diverse applications ranging from topography and mapping to construction inspections and disaster prevention. Using drones to lift trash on Everest seems like a great idea because they are electric aircraft that can adapt better to high altitudes than unmanned vehicles that use fossil fuels.