It's a question of aesthetics, of smell, but also of health.
Mountaineers tackling Mount Everest from the Nepalese side will soon have to carry their excrement in plastic bags, as reported by BFMTV, relaying a subject from the BBC.
With the increase in shipments to the roof of the world in recent years, waste tends to multiply.
In the upper part of the ascent of the 8849 m slope, organic remains such as stools are more and more numerous.
Between the first and fourth base camp of the climb, the quantity of residue would be estimated at… three tonnes.
However, the cold and snow pose several difficulties.
It is impossible to dig a hole to deposit droppings.
Visually, the result is not very happy.
But that is not the biggest difficulty.
Some climbers reportedly become ill from too close contact with fecal matter.
And this is where the cold plays an additional role.
Decomposition can last several weeks with sub-zero temperatures, which gives people plenty of time to be exposed to a health risk.
“Our mountains started to stink”
In addition, "our mountains have started to stink", estimates the municipality of Pasang Lhamu, at the origin of a project to regulate the disposal of remains and whose territory covers most of the climbing area, shared with the China.
“This is not acceptable and it erodes our image,” explains the mayor.
The municipality will now require the purchase, at base camp, of bags dedicated to human droppings.
Chemicals should prevent the smell from spreading.
The contents of the bags will even be... checked upon return.
For the next season which should start in March, the Pasang Lhamua town hall has placed an order for 8,000 bags, enough to cover the needs of the estimated 400 climbers and 800 guides.
These bags should be able to be used up to six times, knowing that each person spends an average of two weeks there.
Such bags have already been tested, in Antarctica for example.
The central government of Nepal has repeatedly tried to regulate different points regarding access to Everest.
The problem is the lack of controls, which results, for example, in unauthorized people making the climb.
The Pasang Lhamu municipality assures that it will carry out serious checks on the subject.