Waste management has become a significant issue in Nepal’s mountain ranges. In 2023, the Nepal Army’s Mountain Clean-up Campaign collected 35,708 Kg of waste from various peaks. Soon, drones will help collect garbage from Mt. Everest, easing the job that Sherpas have done historically.
In April, the rural municipality of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu—situated in the Solukhumbu district of north-eastern Nepal – permitted Chinese drones to collect and transport climbers’ rubbish from the slopes of Mt. Everest. Until now, this job has been done bySherpas.
Two technicians were assigned to conduct the necessary testing, following safety protocols and guidelines. Commercial drones for transporting goods are not easy to fly, and it should still be determined at the time who would operate the clean-up drones if deployed.
The results were promising. A heavy drone, the DJI FlyCart 30, lifted almost 240 kg from Camp I in batches of 30 kg each, which took an hour. Carrying the same load back to Base Camp would cost a group of Sherpas at least six hours. The drone’s performance power weakens higher up. At Camp II, drones may pick up only 18 kg per trip.
Based on this success, the municipality will start deploying drones to transport garbage from Ama Dablam, Everest’s little sister, at 6,812 metres this autumn. This will be a world premiere and the first time an unmanned aerial vehicle works in Nepal’s high-altitude zone. The plan is to begin regular drone services on Everest in the spring of 2025.
Drones will then fly to Camp I (at 5,943 metres) to bring ropes and ladders for the Sherpas to prepare routes through the icefall and return with garbage to Base Camp (at 5,364 metres).
According to Jagat Bhusal, chief administration officer of the rural municipality that hosts Everest, drones will be used commercially in the Everest region. In August, a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, and Airlift Technology Pvt Ltd to use advanced drone technology to efficiently manage garbage in the mountains of the Khumbu region.
Sherpas must navigate a ‘river of ice’ flowing down the mountain, albeit very slowly.
A bonus to climbers
Questions have been raised regarding the safety of local people operating the new technology. However, stakeholders insist that there is nothing to worry about. Chhepal Sherpa, a climbing guide at Seven Summit Treks, believes the drones would benefit the Sherpa guides, catering for expeditions. “Now, they must carry waste by themselves. If drones are used, the guides will not have to do that. This could be a bonus, making the risky job somewhat easier,” he said.
Many officials and mountaineers see the deployment of drones as a blessing. Sherpas must cross the Khumbu icefall over 30 times a season to transport supplies such as oxygen bottles, gas canisters, tents, food, and ropes. They must navigate a ‘river of ice’ flowing down the mountain, albeit very slowly. This dangerous crossing is usually made early in the morning when the ice blocks and the hanging glaciers are stable and avalanche risks are low.
But accidents always lurk around the corner. In 2014, an avalanche buried sixteen (!) Sherpa guides. Last year, three Sherpa guides preparing routes were lost as well. Their bodies are yet to be recovered.
Others fear the loss of jobs. However, most insiders believe drones will not take away jobs, as their use will be limited. Drones will facilitate the local workers. “Yes, there are concerns that the machines may cut jobs. But our sole purpose is to reduce potential deaths in the Khumbu Icefall, the danger zone,” said Bhusal.
Poo bags
As Mt Everest has been grappling with pollution issues, the rural municipality has mandated the climbers to carry their excrement off the mountain in poo bags or biodegradable bags. The same is true for other mountain peaks.
According to Jagat Bhusal, climbers cannot urinate and defecate in the open, and every bag will be assigned a unique code. “Climbers must return the bags to receive a garbage clearance certificate. If they fail to return the bag, they will not get the garbage deposit refund (a loss of $4,000) and the prestigious Everest climbing certificate,” he asserted.
Mt Everest has been grappling with pollution issues
The waste management issue seems to be under control. However, there may be another glitch. Drone manufacturer DJI is under the microscope as US lawmakers push for a ban on Chinese drones amid deteriorating relations between the US and China, the world’s largest trading nations.
Sajira Shrestha is a writer/junior editor at Nepal Connect.
