Introduction
Everest has seen a significant increase in pollution resulting from human waste, climbers who die, and other litter. The pollution of Everest is extreme in areas where there is high human activity. Pollution has destroyed Everest’s view since climbers are not careful with the litter they carry up the mountain. If the issue is not adequately addressed soon, there is a likelihood that the tourist attraction site will be no more. This paper will highlight some of the practices that have been used in the past to address the pollution issue on Everest. It will also present a recommendation of policies and practices that can help to address the pollution of Everest. There is a need to address the pollution issue on Everest to ensure that the mountain retains its scenery and glory.
Suggested Practices and Policies
Guiding companies should identify responsible guides who will help to minimize the possibility of climbers littering the mountain. Guides should have adequate knowledge to ensure that all litter ends up in the perfect place and not the whole area (Jenkins). Guiding companies have to inform guides that their main responsibility is to eliminate the possibility of climbers and trekkers dumping waste wrongly. Responsible guides can also help keep track of the dead bodies on the mountain and aid in their retrieval. It would also be necessary to ensure that individuals allowed to climb the mountain have climbing skills. This will help enhance their climbing speed and limit the likelihood of deaths that also contribute to pollution.
A policy that can be put in place by Nepal to address the current state of pollution on Everest is limiting the number of climbers to the mountain. The glory of reaching the summit of Everest has acted as a motivator for people to climb the mountain in large numbers. The increase in the number of people climbing the mountain at a time has enhanced the pollution of the mountain. The high number of people enhances the likelihood of dead bodies due to congestion.
Limiting the number of climbers and trekkers will help to reduce waste and dead bodies on the mountain. The government of Nepal should emphasize the need for proper implementation of existing policies to address the pollution issue on Everest. This can be achieved through frequent monitoring of the mountain to check whether needed procedures and practices are followed (Francois 33). This can also help identify challenges and loopholes to create further improvements in waste management projects and policies. The government of Nepal should be at the forefront of managing the pollution problem on Everest.
Existing Practices and Policies
One of the practices in place to help address the pollution issue in Everest is the deposit initiative established by the Nepali government. Any person wanting to climb Everest has to deposit four thousand dollars which is refundable if they collect eight kilograms of waste in the process (National Geographic). The requirement specified for all climbers is estimated according to the average waste an individual can produce as they climb the mountain. The deposit specified for all climbers has motivated most of them to help in collecting the garbage dumped all over the mountain. Volunteers have also organized clean-up strategies to help collect garbage from the mountain in a defined period. The volunteers help retrieve cans, wrappings, plastics, and climbing gear by climbing the mountain to the highest level.
Bally, a Swiss luxury brand, has partnered with local Sherpas to clean the mountain and its base camps. According to Andrei, the partnership helped collect over two points two tons of waste material from Everest and the surrounding regions after forty-seven days. Climbers from Nepal and the Sherpas lead the garbage collection initiative to help preserve the mountain since they consider it to uphold spiritual and cultural heritage. The partnership between Bally, Nepali climbers, and the Sherpas has helped to reduce the garbage on the mountain.
The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) has also played a significant role in the cleanup of Everest and in raising awareness about the issue. SPCC has involved itself in the collection of litter on major trails and base camps. SPPC has also been in charge of installing seventy garbage collection bins and eliminating the importation of glass bottles. This has helped to reduce the waste that ends up on the mountain itself through proper disposal. The committee organizes annual clean-ups, and community training workshops and focuses on identifying new effective solutions that will help to address the issue adequately (Byers).
SPCC has also formed a partnership with Sagarmatha Nest, a non-profit organization that advocates for sustainable tourism activities. The partnership seeks to identify innovative approaches to waste management and recycling. Workshops have also been organized whereby artists use collected waste materials to make art. The initiatives started by SPCC have played a significant role in helping to reduce waste levels on Everest.
A biogas project has been established on Everest to help manage human waste on the mountain. The biogas project helps to eliminate human waste in a human-friendly way, thus positively impacting the environment. Human waste from the mountain was dumped before being treated hence a threat to the environment. This will help to reduce the impact of the mountain’s pollution on the population. The biogas digester is solar-powered and can work effectively even in high-altitude conditions.
It also has battery arrays that allow it to function even during the night when there is no sun. The biogas digester has its end product as methane that can be used in cooking, lighting, or even as fertilizer in farming activities (Scott). This shows that the digester will not only help to manage human waste on Everest but also has other benefits for those living near the mountain. The biogas digester has helped to address the issue of untreated human waste on the mountain.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is a need to address the pollution issue on Everest to ensure that the mountain retains its beautiful scenery and glory. It is necessary for guiding companies to ensure that guides are responsible enough to monitor and control the climbers to dump their waste appropriately. Guides can also help to keep track of and retrieve climbers who die on the mountain. The government of Nepal should also consider limiting the number of climbers on the mountain to reduce the rate of waste disposal.
The fewer the number of climbers, the easier it will be to manage waste materials. Currently, all climbers have to deposit a fee of four thousand dollars, which is refundable if one manages to collect eight kilograms of waste on their way up and down the mountain. A Swiss luxury brand has also partnered with Sherpas and climbers to clean up the mountain. SPCC has played a significant role in limiting pollution on Everest by collecting litter and installing garbage collection bins. A biogas digester has been established on the mountain to help manage untreated human waste.
Works Cited
Andrei, Mihai. “These Nepalese Climbers Spent 47 Days Cleaning 2.2 Tons of Trash from Himalaya’s Tallest Peaks.” ZME Science, 2021. Web.
Byers, Alton C. “Managing Everest’s Waste Problem.” Nepalitimes. 2021. Web.
Francois, Christine. “The Environmental and Social Impacts of Tourism in Nepal.” Johns Hopkins University, 2020. Web.
Jenkins, Mark. “How to Fix Everest.” Outside Online, 2019. Web.
National Geographic. “Trash and Overcrowding at the Top of the World.” National Geographic Society, 2019. Web.
‌ Scott, Katy. “The Human Impact on Everest.” CNN. 2018. Web.