Nepal bans single-use plastic on Mount Everest

Posted on 29 August 2019

At 8,848 meters tall, Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, is one of the riskiest climbing destinations. Every year mountaineers risk their lives to reach the summit.

Mount Everest viewed from Tibet. Image credit: Göran Höglund (Kartläsarn)

Also read: China closes Everest base camp for rubbish clean-up

Everest is arguably the world’s most famous mountain and hundreds of climbers visit the mountain during climbing season in an attempt to summit. Thousands also hike to to base camp each year, reports The New York Times.

Climbers usually travel through Kathmandu in Nepal to reach Everest, but the mountain also borders Tibet.

In May this year, a volunteer team picked up 11 tons of litter on Mount Everest, according to the Smithsonian. The clean up took two weeks and consisted of discarded cans, food wrappers, plastic bottles and climbing equipment.

Now in an attempt to cut down on waste left behind by climbers, Nepalese authorities have banned single-use plastic in region.

According to the BBC, the ban will be implemented and take effect in the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu municipality from January next year and will apply to plastic bottles that are less than 30 microns thick.

A fine for violators has not been stipulated yet.

Also read: 8-year-old boy climbs to Everest Base Camp

 






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