In just 4 years, 10 tons have been collected. Clean Everest has also set up a model for waste management that can be replicated on other trails leading to the peaks of the Himalayas, based on a clean mountain charter, as well as providing training and support for guides and other locals.

Yes, Mount Everest undergoes massive cleaning operations annually, but it remains a monumental task. In 2026, the Nepalese government has fully implemented its "Five-Year Himalayan Clean-Up Strategy." This initiative involves the Nepali Army and local Sherpa teams who venture into the "Death Zone" (above 8,000m) to retrieve abandoned tents, oxygen canisters, and even human remains. As of 2025/2026, all climbers are strictly required to pay a $4,000 deposit, which is only refunded if they bring down at least 8 kilograms of waste. To modernize the effort, authorities are now testing cargo drones to transport waste from high camps down to Base Camp, reducing the physical risk to Sherpas. Despite these efforts, climate change is melting glaciers and revealing decades-old trash and bodies, meaning that "cleaning Everest" has transformed from a seasonal chore into a year-round environmental emergency that requires international funding and cooperation.

That’s an excellent question, and the answer is yes, but it’s an enormous, complex, and ongoing challenge.

Mount Everest is not “cleaned” in the traditional sense like a city street. Instead, there are major cleanup expeditions, ongoing efforts by local communities and climbers, and strict new rules to tackle the massive problem of waste left on the mountain.

Here’s a breakdown of who cleans it, what they clean, and the challenges involved:

What Needs to Be Cleaned?

1. General Waste: Empty oxygen cylinders, discarded tents, broken climbing gear, food containers, and human trash. This is the most visible form of pollution.
2. Human Waste: Thousands of climbers and support staff spend weeks on the mountain each season. At high camps, there are no facilities. Waste is often left in crevasses or buried in the snow, contaminating the environment and water sources lower down.
3. Bodies of Deceased Climbers: Over 300 people have died on Everest. Many bodies remain on the mountain, as recovery is extremely dangerous and expensive. Some are respectfully retrieved during cleanup missions when possible.
4. Fossilized Feces: At the higher camps (especially Camp 4 on the South Col), the extreme cold prevents waste from decomposing. It has accumulated over decades into a frozen, hazardous layer.

Who Does the Cleaning?

1. Nepali Government and NGOs: The Government of Nepal, through its Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) and the Nepal Army, organizes and leads large-scale cleanup campaigns. For example, the Sagarmatha Clean-Up Campaign has removed tens of thousands of kilograms of waste.
2. Commercial Expeditions: New rules now require every foreign climber to bring down 8 kg (17.6 lbs) of trash (besides their own) or forfeit a $4