The 2024 Himalayan mountaineering season has kicked off, marking the start of a new initiative to clean up trash on Mount Everest. Since 2019, the Mountain Cleanup Campaign has collected over 110 tons of waste from the mountain, and this year, the Nepali army, in partnership with Unilever, will lead the effort once again.
Twelve military personnel and 18 Sherpas will begin the cleanup on April 14 at Everest Base Camp. Their goal is to remove ten tons of garbage and bring down the remains of five climbers who tragically lost their lives on the mountain. Overcrowding and littering have been significant challenges for Everest in recent years, with twelve climbers dying on the mountain in 2023 and five still missing.
The Nepali government issued a record 478 hiking permits last year, which contributed significantly to the congestion and trash problem on the mountain. One major environmental concern has been human waste, prompting the government to require climbers to use poop bags and bring their waste down with them from higher camps. However, despite these efforts, trash continues to accumulate on Mount Everest at an alarming rate.
To address both environmental and safety concerns associated with climbing Everest, new measures are being introduced during this season. Tracking chips will be required for all climbers during this season to enhance search and rescue efforts on the mountain. This new initiative aims to ensure that all climbers are accounted for and can be quickly located if necessary.
CNN’s Esha Mitra and Amy Woodyatt contributed to this report on how Nepal is taking action to address some of Everest’s most pressing issues through its latest climbing season.
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