Every footprint left behind on the trails of Nepal tells a story of adventure, discovery, and a deep connection to nature and culture. For centuries, these trails have offered opportunities for new experiences and adventure. However, today, the authenticity is slowly being buried beneath piles of trash, such as plastic wrappers, empty bottles, used gear, and, surprisingly, even human waste.
Notably, tourism in Nepal is growing fast. In 2024 alone, over one million tourists have been recorded to visit Nepal, a 13% increase from last year. Hence, with so many visitors, it is worth asking, “What are we leaving behind in Nepal?”
Sadly, it is not just memories and photos. Tourists leave harmful waste like plastics, batteries, cigarette buds, and sanitary products. If they ever do, Many of these items take hundreds of years to break down. Even Human waste in freezing mountain conditions does not decompose at all and just piles up. On average, a single trekker leaves around three to eight kilograms of non-biodegradable waste behind. Mount Everest has even earned the nickname “the world’s highest garbage dump,” as described by the Guardian in a 2013 article highlighting the severity of the waste. Another popular trail, like the Annapurna Circuit, faces the same problem with trash scattered from Thorung Pass to Tilicho Lake.
“The mountains are not only a heritage for trekkers, they are our home. We need to protect them,” says Chiring Tamang, a local guide from Lukla. Waste disposal in these remote areas is complicated. The rough terrain and insufficient road infrastructure make recycling or trash collection logistically difficult. While teahouses have dustbins, on the trekking trails, they are few and far between, which leads many to leave litter behind. Much of the collected waste is burned, which increases air pollution and long-term respiratory illness.
We must recognise that these mountains are more than just a tourist destination. They are habitat, heritage, and lifelines for locals. If we do not act now, every footprint we leave could be damaging and irreversible.
Harsh reality of trash in the Himalayas
Despite bans and clean-up efforts, plastic and garbage pollution in Nepal’s Himalayas is getting increasingly worse yearly.
Since 2020, Khumbu Rural Municipality has banned plastics of less than 30 microns, such as plastic bottles. However, the enforcement has been weak, and plastic garbage remains a major issue. The Himalayan Cleanup Campaign 2024 found that over 80% of plastic garbage in the Himalayan range is single-use food and drink packaging. Shockingly, 70% of it is non-recyclable multilayer plastic, which makes it nearly impossible to process through the conventional recycling methods. Nepal’s waste management follows a linear “collect and dump” system, where most waste is in open landfills or rivers. Municipalities are responsible, but especially in urban and mountain regions, the system is inefficient.
Nepal generates an average of 0.223 kg of waste per person per day, and in the Everest region alone, nearly 400 kg of waste is produced every day, including plastic, cans, food waste, and even human waste.
To address this crisis, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality introduced a new law in 2024 to protect the fragile Himalayan environment from waste. According to the regulation, climbers on Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse must bring back at least 8 kgs of garbage to base camp, while those on Amadablam must carry back a minimum of 3 kilograms of waste. In addition, climbers are required to use poop bags or biodegradable bags above base camp for proper disposal of human waste. All garbage from above the base camp must be sorted, and climbers are required to pay waste management fees to the Rural Municipality or authorised organisations, based on the Polluter Pays principle.
Mingma, a local from Everest, shared, “I feel bad to see mountains like this. I grew up thinking that Everest… was sacred. But now I see plastic bottles, cans, and used tissues frozen into the ice. It is like watching a holy temple become a dumpster.”
The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) states that the waste picked up from Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam in the 2022/2023 period had the following statistics: 27,043 kg of plastic waste, 21,736 kg of human waste, 10,605 kg of kitchen waste, 6,686 kg of tin cans, 1,131 gas bottles, and 303 batteries.
Everest high camps, such as Camp II and IV, lack a proper waste management station. In the year 2022 alone, over 1,17,93 kg of human waste was reported left behind on Everest.
Generally, people attempt to remove waste at the end of their expedition, but actually, only 60% is removed. The others are buried under snow, blown away by winds, or show up after decades because of climate change and the melting of glaciers, revealing decades of trash.
In 2023, over 1.2 million tourists visited Nepal. Each trekker produced 3–5 kg of non-biodegradable waste during a 10-day trek. When multiplied by hundreds of thousands, the cumulative environmental impact becomes alarming.
Carry me bag: A sustainable solution for trekkers
You might be shocked to discover that something as small as a bag could contribute to saving Nepal’s beautiful mountains. In the remote trekking regions of Nepal, waste management is logistically complicated, socially difficult, and poorly understood. But the “Carry me bag” Initiative program is providing a solution that directly involves trekkers to combat mountain pollution in a simple yet powerful way.
The carry me bag is an idea aimed at reducing waste accumulation in remote trekking regions, particularly where transportation and recycling infrastructure are limited. This program started in the Everest region, where trekkers and locals were provided with lightweight, reusable dry sack bags, usually with a 1 kg capacity, available at pickup points such as Namche Bazaar. These bags are used for collecting non-biodegradable waste on the trail, like shredded plastics, aluminium, and wrappers. The trash carried down is discarded either at exit points (Lukla Airport, Pokhara) or brought back to Kathmandu to be recycled properly.
This system is an eco-friendly and feasible alternative to current waste disposal methods in the high Himalayas, where garbage is routinely burned or dumped, causing serious environmental degradation. By motivating trekkers to carry their trash, the program reduces trail litter, increases recycling rates, and protects the fragile Himalayan environment.
With the growing concerns of tourism’s impact on the environment, a few responsible trekking agencies have started implementing the carry me bag program.
Responsible travel isn’t a trend, it’s a necessity now!
Responsible travel in Nepal is more like a necessity now. As Nepal tries to become a top trekking destination through campaigns like Nepal Tourism Decade (2023-2032) and Special Tourism Year 2025, the need for responsible tourism will only grow more important with this rise.
Traditional linear waste management must be urgently addressed. The circular method should be emphasised, even in remote regions. A circular economy is designed to minimise waste and pollution by keeping resources in use for as long as possible.
Regions like Sagarmatha have already taken initiative with programs like Sagarmatha Next. Now is the time for all remote areas to follow this example and adopt sustainable circular practices.
These days, tourists are looking for more genuine, environmentally responsible, and low-impact travel experiences that help the locals and preserve the destinations they visit. But it’s crucial to watch out for greenwashing, which occurs when businesses claim to be environmentally conscious but aren’t. Choosing eco-friendly travel spots gives tourists a better experience and helps manage the number of visitors well, while also boosting Nepal’s image as a top travel destination.
What will we leave behind for the next generation?
The legacy we leave behind is our choice; will it be littered trails that scar the landscape or clean paths that show commitment, care, and responsibility towards Mother Nature?
If we start practising sustainability today, we can protect the trails for future generations. It is never too late to practice simple actions like carrying out our trash, avoiding single-use plastics, and respecting local waste rules.
Whether it be a trekker, travel agency, local government, or even an international visitor, everyone should start respecting the trails. These trails are not disposable. Treat them with the respect they deserve.
