Nepal Army to collect 35,000 kgs of garbage from the mountains

The Nepal Army is set to conduct the ‘Clean Mountain Campaign 2023’ in four major mountains, including Mount Sagarmatha, the highest peak in the world. The goal of the campaign is to collect a minimum of 35,000 kilogrammes of waste, both decomposable and non-decomposable, from Mount Everest, Lhotse, Barunche, and Annapurna. According to Krishna Prasad Bhandari, the spokesperson for the Nepal Army, the campaign aims to collect 10,000 kgs of garbage from Everest, 5,000 from Lhotse, and 10,000 kgs each from Barunche and Annapurna.

The Nepal Army has prioritized the government’s national initiative to maintain the cleanliness of the world’s highest mountains, and has been conducting the Clean Mountain campaign since 2019. The campaign not only helps to clean up the mountains but also raises awareness about the harmful effects of climate change and human-induced waste on the Himalayas. The Nepal Army is working in coordination and collaboration with various governmental and non-governmental organizations working in the sector.

The campaign is expected to contribute significantly to attract tourists and mountaineers while preserving the mountains for future generations. The Nepal Army will mobilize 13 personnel for Everest and Lhotse, 9 for Barunche, and 10 soldiers in Annapurna, along with Sherpa guides and helpers. The campaign will be conducted from March 28 to June 6.

In 2019, the Clean Mountain campaign collected 10,800 kilogrammes of decomposable and non-decomposable waste, as well as four human dead bodies from Everest. In 2021, 27,671 kilogrammes of garbage were collected from Everest, Lhotse, Pumari, Makalu, Dhaulagiri, and Amdablam mountains. According to the army, in 2022, two decomposed human bodies, 7,157 kgs of degradable and 33,877 kgs of non-degradable waste were collected from Mount Everest, Lhotse, Manaslu, and Kanchenjunga.

The campaign will be joined by various organizations, including the Department of Tourism and Environment, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu, Annapurna Rural Municipalities, Everest National Park Administration Office, Himalaya Rescue Association, Expedition Operators Association, Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal Mountaineering Association, Trekking Agents Association of Nepal, Everest Pollution Control Committee, Kanchenjunga and Manaslu Conservation Project, various provincial and local levels, international and national non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.

Recyclable waste collected under the campaign will be brought to Kathmandu for recycling, while decomposable waste will be managed in collaboration with local level governments. According to Bhandari, the Clean Mountain campaign has become a new feature in the field of nature and environment conservation and preservation in the country.