Mount Everest climbers would now be required to return to base with their human waste

Climbing Mount Everest could be a whole lot different now. According to reports, climbers on the Tibetan side are now required to carry all their waste back down, and this includes your own excreta.
Mount Everest, the highest mountain on the Earth is a coveted climb for many climbers from across the world. Even though the news may come as a shock to many, Mount Everest is not the first destination that is demanding such a measure. Many popular places around the world requires climbers to gather their waste (including human waste), in a bag, and bring it back down with them. Yosemite’s El Capitan has this rule in place, and so does Mount Rainer of Washington.


According to reports by Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, which is a local NGO, porters had schlepped 28,000 pounds of human waste from the Everest last year. Trekkers dump waste matter at Gorak Shep, which is a frozen lakebed, located 17000 ft above sea level. This runs the risk of contaminating the water supply system after all that waste leaks into the river.
Nepal had, in fact, started charging $4000 garbage disposal deposits, which is refunded to climbers if they return with a minimum of 18 pounds of trash.

According to reports, the rule was announced by Ci Luo, Director Chinese Mountaineering Association. China had also recently cut down on the number of permits it issues to climbers, bringing it down to 300.