As of: February 13, 2024, 6:14 a.m
By: Julia Stanton
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3 tons of human feces are said to be on Mount Everest.
That causes problems.
From now on, mountaineers should clean up their own droppings.
Mount Everest — Environmental pollution is an increasing problem in many parts of the world. This is also the case in the Himalayan mountains in Nepal.
The extent of pollution there has reached problematic proportions in recent years.
“Our mountains have started to stink,” Mingma Sherpa, chairman of the affected Pasang Lhamu community, told the
BBC
.
Videos on platform X (Twitter) show how garbage and feces are piling up on site.
“Open toilet”: Garbage and feces are becoming a bigger problem on the Himalayas
“Waste is still a big problem, especially in the higher camps that are inaccessible,” says Chhiring Sherpa, managing director of the non-governmental organization Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC).
It is estimated that about three tons of human feces are spread between the first camp at the base of Mount Everest and the fourth camp at the summit.
The South Col of the Himalayas even has the reputation of being an “open toilet”.
The reason for this is the few disposal options on site.
There are still separate tents at the base camp that serve as toilets, but once the climbers begin their journey things get more complicated.
There is little snow at high altitudes, so athletes have no opportunity to bury their droppings.
In addition, the excrement does not decompose completely due to the extreme temperatures.
“We receive complaints that human feces are visible on the rocks and some climbers are getting sick.
This is unacceptable and damages our image,” Mingma said in the interview.
In June 2023, a helper discovered a helpless climber on Mount Everest and saved his life.
New measure against garbage and feces problems in the Himalayas: feces bags should help
In order to counteract this development, the community has now introduced a new measure: mountaineers who climb Mount Everest must now clean up their own excrement, bring it back to the base camp and then dispose of it there themselves.
To do this, you have to buy special poop bags at the base camp.
These contain certain chemicals and powders that solidify human waste and make it largely odorless.
Mountaineers are already using these bags in other mountains and in Antarctica.
The Nepalese government has repeatedly tried to tackle the waste problem in the past.
However, in vain.
Since there were no local administrative authorities, many rules were not followed.
This should now be over: “We will set up a contact office and ensure that our new measures are implemented,” said Mingma.
A two-year-old recently set a controversial world record in the Himalayas.
(jus)