Drones Tackle Everest’s Trash Problem, Making Cleanup Safer and Faster
Everest, once celebrated for its pristine beauty, has earned the grim nickname “the highest dumpster in the world” due to tonnes of trash left behind by climbers. This season, a team of drone operators joined climbers at Everest Base Camp, using heavy-duty drones to help clear rubbish from the world’s highest peak.
High-Tech Cleanup Efforts
Two DJI FC 30 heavy-lifter drones were deployed to Camp 1 at 6,065 meters (19,900 feet), airlifting 300 kilograms (660 pounds) of trash during the spring climbing season, which runs from April to early June. Trash included empty cans, gas canisters, bottles, plastic, and discarded climbing gear.
Raj Bikram Maharjan of Airlift Technology, which developed the project, explained, “The only options were helicopters and manpower, with no option in between. So we used heavy-lift drones to carry garbage.”
After a successful pilot last year, the system was also tested on Mount Ama Dablam, where it removed 641 kilograms of waste.
Efficiency and Safety Boost
Tshering Sherpa, chief of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, highlighted the efficiency of drones: “In just 10 minutes, a drone can carry as much garbage as 10 people would take six hours to carry.”
The drones, costing around $20,000 each, were supplied by the manufacturer to support cleanup efforts. Local authorities covered additional costs.
Beyond trash removal, the drones are also used to deliver essential climbing gear such as oxygen cylinders, ladders, and ropes, reducing dangerous trips across the Khumbu Icefall, one of Everest’s deadliest sections. Record-holding climber Nima Rinji Sherpa praised the drones, noting they save time and energy for climbing teams.
Looking Ahead
Next month, Airlift Technology plans to deploy drones on Mount Manaslu, the world’s eighth-highest peak. Maharjan said, “Drones can save lives and protect the environment. For climate and humanitarian work, this technology is going to be a game changer.”
