Nepalese authorities have scrapped the waste deposit program for Mount Everest due to its ineffectiveness. After 11 years, the programme, requiring climbers to deposit $4,000 (฿144,800) refundable upon returning with 8 kg of waste, has been deemed a failure. Despite the initiative, around 50 tonnes of rubbish still litter the iconic peak.

 

The scheme was introduced to tackle the increasing waste problem caused by climbers. Many climbers received their deposit back, implying compliance, yet waste from higher camps remains a significant issue. Tshering Sherpa from the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee pointed out that climbers mostly brought back oxygen bottles, leaving tents and cans behind.

 

Himal Gautam from the tourism department mentioned the scheme "failed to show a tangible result" and created an administrative burden. Authorities aim to implement a new model involving a non-refundable clean-up fee, expected to be $4,000 (฿144,800) per climber, which will fund better monitoring and clean-up efforts.

 

Mingma Sherpa highlighted the long-standing community concerns about the old scheme's effectiveness. The new approach plans to use the funds for checkpoints and mountain rangers to ensure thorough waste management. The fee will contribute to a five-year clean-up initiative to tackle the persistent waste problem, reported the BBC.

 

 

Key Takeaways:

• Nepal's $4,000 deposit for waste on Everest was scrapped due to inefficiency.
• A non-refundable fee will fund new checkpoints and mountain rangers.
• An estimated 50 tonnes of rubbish currently plague Mount Everest.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-12-30

 

 

 

How about you take the 4K and pay local people to take the trash off the mountain?!

I’m not surprised that there’s still tons of waste in the higher camps because when climbers come back down from the summit they’re utterly spent. They can barely take themselves back to camp IV. How do you expect them to carry 8 kilos of waste?

Just introduce a mandatory non-refundable fee of maybe 2000 per climber and hire locals to get the trash! They’ll have a stable income, the mountain is clean and everyone is happy! Case closed!

The whole everest situation is a joke now. If you dont mind stepping over dead bodies to make your dream come true......

Have at it.