The World’s Highest Garbage Dump... Shocking Reality at 7,900m on Everest

Video Reveals Abandoned Climbing Gear Piling Up at South Col Camp
11 to 12 Tons of Human Waste Discharged Annually

Mount Everest, once known as 'the highest place on Earth,' is now facing growing concerns that it may soon be labeled 'the world’s highest garbage dump.'

Tents set up by Everest climbers at the base camp in Solukhumbu district, eastern Nepal. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to reports from the UK’s Daily Mail, India’s NDTV, and other foreign media outlets, the climbing information account ‘Everest Today’ recently released a video revealing the severe pollution at Everest’s South Col Camp IV. South Col Camp IV is the final campsite located just below the 8,000-meter mark, an area often referred to as the ‘Death Zone.’

The footage shows worn-out tents flapping in strong winds, empty oxygen tanks, torn climbing gear, and canned food scattered across the snowfields. In some areas, even human waste that has not been collected remains. Everest Today pointed out, “One of the most extraordinary places on Earth has become the ugliest face of Everest’s commercialization,” and added, “the highest camp in the world is turning into a graveyard for climbing equipment.”

Experts analyze that the recent surge in climbers flocking to Everest is exacerbating the problem. During the spring season this year, 274 people reached the summit from the Nepal side in a single day, setting a new daily record. The total number of successful ascents for the entire season also reportedly approached an all-time high.

The issue of trash on Everest has been repeating for decades. While the Nepalese government and Sherpas conduct large-scale cleanup operations every year, the results have been limited. In 2024, a cleanup team composed of Nepalese soldiers and Sherpas collected 11 tons of waste and recovered four bodies from the Everest area. Some of the debris found at that time was confirmed to date back to expeditions from the 1950s.

The problem of human waste is also severe. The local environmental group Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) estimates that 11 to 12 tons of human feces are discharged annually in the Everest region. Since there are effectively no toilet facilities at the high-altitude camps, many climbers relieve themselves directly in the snow. In 2018, CNN reported that “decades’ worth of accumulated feces has reached saturation point.” There are also concerns that this waste could flow into rivers and contaminate drinking water sources.

A worker is disposing of garbage collected from Mount Everest at a processing facility in Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

In response, since 2024, Nepalese authorities have made it mandatory for climbers on Everest and nearby Lhotse to use feces collection bags. Climbers must purchase designated bags at base camp and return the used bags afterward.

However, waste collection policies have not been as effective as hoped. According to the BBC, the Nepalese government abolished the 'waste deposit scheme' last year, a policy that had been in place since 2014. Under this scheme, climbers deposited 4,000 dollars upon entry and received it back if they brought down a certain amount of trash, but in reality, almost none of the waste from the severely polluted high-altitude areas was recovered.

Within the mountaineering community, some criticize Everest’s excessive commercialization as the fundamental cause. Increasingly, people are coming to the mountain not for the climb itself, but to create content for social media platforms. There are also concerns that the growing number of ill-prepared climbers is increasing the safety burden on Sherpas.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.