A team of the Nepali Army collected 34,000 kilograms of garbage from four Mountains, including Mt. Everest(Sagarmatha). This collection occurred under the Clean Himalaya Campaign 2023, led by the Nepali Army team collaborating with Coca-Cola Foundation, the major donor. The campaign, which started on March 28th, is scheduled to conclude on June 5th.

Each year, during the ascent of the Himalayas by climbers, Sherpas, and porters, there has been a problem with the management of both biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste left behind on the trail, including oxygen canisters, abandoned tents, food containers, plastics, glasses, aluminum, and electronic gadgets. The team of 97 members, comprising mountaineers, Sherpas, medical officers, rescue operators, and local communities, faced extremely challenging weather conditions throughout the campaign.

The campaign received support from volunteers and organizations such as the Sherpa community, medical officers, rescue operators, local communities, and other assisting hands who actively collected waste from various regions, including roads and campsites. Once the waste was collected, efforts were made to enhance proper waste management. In addition, the campaign collaborated with recycling partners to transfer the collected waste, including recyclable materials, from Annapurna Himal and Baruntse Himal to recycling centers.

To raise awareness and engage the general public, the Clean Himalaya Campaign utilized digital screens in cities such as Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Pokhara, and Bharatpur to showcase their continuous efforts in Himalayan cleanliness. Upon collecting 35 tons of waste, the campaign plans to organize a closing ceremony in Kathmandu, celebrating the initiative's success on World Environment Day, which falls on June 5th. This event will also highlight the importance of collective efforts for environmental conservation in conjunction with the upcoming publication of a book on environmental protection.

Source: Solufm