Mount Everest human waste is threatening the pristine milieu of the world's highest peak. With decades of deposition of Mount Everest human waste, the problem scares spread of disease and pollution. This is what Nepal Mountaineering Association chief, Ang Tshering announced on Tuesday.
According to The Guardian, the accumulating Mount Everest human waste of urine and feces were caused by over 700 climbers and guides who spend almost two months on the slope of the mountain. Peak season for mountaineers begins this week until May so it is expected to see the same this year.
"Climbers usually dig holes in the snow for their toilet use and leave the human waste there," Tshering told reporters on Tuesday. "If there is too much waste in a single hole, the material cannot decompose properly."
It is very alarming now for Nepal government that the highest peak in the world is now endangered to be polluted. Aside from the Mount Everest human waste, tons of garbage including empty oxygen bottles, ropes, tents, and food wrappers left by the trekkers also causes trepidation on the immaculate mountain.
As mentioned by the CBS News, last year, the Nepali government started monitoring trekker's trash every time they go down from the mountain to start cleaning up the peak. Since then trekkers must bring with them around 18 pounds of garbage- the weight of trash a regular trekker disposes in a route.
Climbing teams who fail to bring Mount Everest human waste or comply with the rule must face the consequence of forfeiting their $4,000 deposit.
Dawa Steven Sherpa one of the men who leads the Mount Everest human waste cleanup since 2008 stated that some of the trekkers are bringing disposable travel toilet bags to dispose of the waste.
Tshering reminded that there are more porters, support staff and cooks at the Mount Everest base camp during the climbing season. Mount Everest human waste must not be a problem because there are toilet tents with drums where wastes can be stored. These drums are then brought to the lower area for proper dumping.
Eco Everest Expedition led by Ang Tshering started Mount Everest human waste cleanup since 2008 with the aim to spread international awareness on the impact of climate change in the Himalayas. Since then they started the team has taken out 12,000 kilos of trashes and 300 kilos of human waste for discarding.
Eco Everest Expedition had also recovered four human bodies that were also brought down for proper burial, the ExplorersWeb reports. Last year, 16 climbers died on Avalanche that caused closure of climbing Mt. Everest. From 1950 until today, 900 trekkers have died in the mountain.
When will people realize the effect of leaving Mount Everest human waste? More trashes and debris on the highest peak in the world means one thing, global warming indicates less snow and more danger.
