KATHMANDU: Mount Everest, often celebrated as the world’s highest summit, is also carrying an unwanted title — the “highest dumpster in the world.” Decades of expeditions have left the mountain littered with tonnes of discarded climbing gear, empty gas canisters, bottles, and other debris. This climbing season, however, a new technological approach has been introduced to confront the growing waste crisis. A team of drone operators joined climbers and guides at Everest Base Camp, deploying heavy-duty drones designed to airlift garbage from the treacherous slopes.
Two DJI FC 30 heavy-lifter drones were successfully flown to Camp 1, situated at 6,065 meters (19,900 feet), where they carried down 300 kilograms (660 pounds) of accumulated waste during the spring climbing period that stretches from April to early June. Developed and operated by Nepal-based Airlift Technology, the system offers an alternative to traditional cleanup methods, which relied solely on manpower or costly helicopter trips. “The only options were helicopters and manpower, with no option in between,” said Raj Bikram Maharjan of Airlift Technology. “So, as a solution for this problem, we came up with a concept of using our heavy-lift drone to carry garbage.”
The project is not just about a single test run. After a successful pilot program on Everest last year, the team validated the technology further by removing 641 kilograms of waste from nearby Mount Ama Dablam. Authorities and local organizations are already praising the results. “This is a revolutionary drive in the mountains to make it cleaner and safer,” said Tashi Lhamu Sherpa, vice chairman of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu rural municipality, which oversees the Everest region. According to the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, drones have proven to be more efficient and cost-effective than any previous effort. “In just 10 minutes, a drone can carry as much garbage as 10 people would take six hours to carry,” said Tshering Sherpa, the committee’s chief. The drones, each costing around $20,000, were supplied by DJI to promote the cleanup operation while other expenses were covered by local authorities.
Beyond trash collection, the drones are playing an equally critical role in enhancing climber safety. Traditionally, Sherpa guides and porters make dangerous trips across the Khumbu Icefall, one of the most hazardous parts of Everest, to transport ladders, ropes, and oxygen cylinders. With drones now capable of carrying essential gear, those risks are being reduced. Record-holding climber Nima Rinji Sherpa, the youngest mountaineer to summit all 14 of the world’s highest peaks, emphasized the benefits for early “fixing” teams who set up the climbing routes. “They can simply just go by themselves and the drone will carry ladders or the oxygen and ropes for them. It saves a lot of time and energy,” he said.
The initiative has also drawn attention to the broader applications of drone technology. While drones are often associated with security or military uses, this project underscores their potential for environmental protection and humanitarian support. Next month, Airlift Technology plans to take the heavy-lift drones to Mount Manaslu, the world’s eighth-highest peak, to continue expanding their cleanup and safety mission. As Maharjan explained, “It’s not just in war that drones are useful. They can save lives and protect the environment. For climate and humanitarian work, this technology is going to be a game changer.”
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