From Sherpas to Drones: Nepal’s Innovative Approach to Waste Removal on Everest

The drones flying high above the Asian mountain range are part of a project that aims to prove that no place is immune to human pollution. For years, Nepalese authorities have relied on Sherpas and members of the army to remove waste from the dangerous Khumbu icefall, but this year they’re using drones instead.

The use of drones for waste removal is a first in Nepal and has been met with enthusiasm from locals. “We want to alleviate the burden on the Sherpas who risk their lives transporting garbage,” said administrative director Jagat Prasad Bhusal. “Even removing a small piece of chocolate can be a challenging task at those heights.”

The waste that accumulates each year on Everest has earned it the title of the world’s highest garbage dump. With more adventurers visiting every year, there’s an increasing amount of waste left behind. In 2014, the Nepalese government implemented strict rules to force climbers to descend with at least 8 kg of garbage or face losing a $4,000 deposit. The use of chips to locate climbers was also established, along with guidelines for collecting feces and bringing them back to base camp for processing.

Nepal reached an agreement with The NeverRest Project in 2023 to mobilize mountain specialists and climbers to clean up waste on Everest. However, several rules implemented by Nepal have not been properly enforced due to the absence of liaison officers on the ground. This has led experts like Juan Yamamoto from Peru and instructor at Elmer Faucett Higher Technological Institute believe that drones have immense potential for solving environmental challenges.

One such initiative is Ellipsis Earth, a British start-up that uses drones equipped with cameras to map out plastic pollution and collect data on its size and origin or brand. This information can be used to develop targeted solutions for cleaning up plastic waste in hard-to-reach places like Everest and other Himalayan peaks. Drone technology offers immense potential for solving environmental challenges because they are electric aircraft that can adapt better to altitude than unmanned vehicles powered by fossil fuels.