Drones tackle Everest's trash crisis, hauling gear up and garbage down
:: Mount Everest, Nepal
Some estimate 50 metric tonnes of trash remain on the Mt Everest due to decades of climbing and lax regulations.
:: Airlift Technology
But these unmanned aerial vehicles are being utilized to try clean up one of the world's most remote locations.
:: This Earth
:: Everest Base Camp, Nepal
Nepal-based Airlift Technology is addressing this crisis by deploying drones to deliver both supplies up the mountain, and then remove waste on the way down.
After successful trials in 2024, the company estimates it removed over one metric tonne of trash between March and May 2025.
Here's co-founder Milan Pandey.
:: Milan Pandey, Airlift Technology Co-Founder
"...the main intention, of course, was like bringing the garbage because tonnes and tonnes of garbage are on Mount Everest (WHITE FLASH) which means, like this was our main motive to to have a drone delivery in Mount Everest."
:: Airlift Technology
The drones, made by a Chinese manufacturer, are capable of quickly transporting up to 33 lbs of critical supplies, including oxygen bottles, ladders and ropes.
''Because the interesting thing is, so from Base Camp camp to Camp One, it takes 7 to 9 hours for climbers to reach. And our drone can reach over there within 3 minutes."
That helps sherpa's climb difficult sections of the mountain, such as the Khumbu Icefall, a perilous passage riddled with crevasses and icefall, without carrying large amounts of equipment.
:: Airlift Technology
It's a welcome innovation for Nepalese mountaineer Nima Rinji Sherpa.
:: Nima Rinji Sherpa, Mountaineer
''I think this is very interesting and very good in a way, because it is humanly impossible to bring all the trash down by cutting through the Khumbu Icefall to the South Col. So I think, yes, right now we're using these drones by Airlift Technology which is very innovative in a way that it also saves people's life and it makes everyone easier to bring down the trash."
While other Everest clean-up operations are on-going, Airlift Technology hopes drones will provide a new tool in efforts to tackle the mountain's trash scourge.
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