Cutting-Edge Drones Clean Up Everest’s Trash
Nepal and China’s largest drone manufacturer, Da Jiang Innovations, have signed an agreement to supply heavy lift drones to help clear trash from Mount Everest. These drones will be operated by Sherpas, who have long been responsible for removing waste from the mountain. The drones will allow them to access dangerous areas without risking their lives.
The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu rural municipality have agreed to use these drones commercially after a successful test in April. The SPCC works to remove trash and bodies from Everest’s slopes, requiring climbers to carry down a certain amount of garbage or forfeit a $4,000 deposit.
The Khumbu Icefall, a particularly dangerous part of the climb, has claimed the lives of nearly 50 Sherpas between 1953 and 2023. The use of drones aims to reduce fatalities in this area. While there are concerns about job loss, the priority is safety. Sherpas will be trained to operate the drones, which cannot function at higher altitudes.
The drones have a load capacity of 30 kg at Camp I, but this decreases to 18 kg at Camp II, 6,400 meters above sea level. The SPCC is committed to removing trash and bodies, especially as warmer temperatures uncover old waste, threatening to pollute the water sources in the region.