The project, which existed for 11 years, was suspended due to a lack of tangible results. Waste continues to accumulate on the world's highest mountain, where it is estimated that about 50 tons of various debris are present.
According to Himal Gautam, head of Nepal's tourism department, the deposit system has become an "administrative burden," and the waste problem has not only remained unresolved but has worsened. Representatives of the ministry told the BBC that most of the deposit funds were returned to climbers, indicating that they brought their waste down with them.
However, officials noted that the problem is that the waste climbers take down mainly comes from the lower camps, while the situation at higher altitudes remains critical. Tsering Sherpa, head of the environmental pollution control committee of Sagarmatha National Park, explained that in high-altitude camps, climbers usually only take down oxygen tanks, while tents and food packaging are left behind.
On average, each climber leaves behind 12 kg of waste during the acclimatization process, which lasts about six weeks.
The main issue, aside from the ineffective program, is the lack of oversight of climbers' actions, local authorities claim. "No inspections are conducted except at the checkpoint above the Khumbu Glacier," Mr. Sherpa said.
Nepalese authorities hope that the new initiative will be more effective. According to the new rules, climbers will be charged a non-refundable waste cleanup fee, which will be used to organize the checkpoint at Camp 2 and to maintain mountain rangers who will monitor compliance with the rules in the highlands.
The new fee is expected to be the same $4,000 as the previous deposit and will be implemented after parliamentary approval. Local Sherpa communities have long advocated for changes to the system.
Mingma Sherpa, head of the Pasang Lhamu municipality, expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the deposit system, noting that no one has ever been fined for non-compliance with the rules. He hopes that the new regulations will help create a fund for cleaning up Everest.
Although exact data on the amount of waste on Everest is lacking, it is believed that there is a significant amount, including human waste, which does not decompose due to low temperatures.
Every year, the number of climbers aiming to conquer Everest continues to grow, raising increasing concern among local authorities.
