Human Waste Management in the Himalayas

Dawa Steven Sherpa

Solid Waste Problems in Nepal

Primarily an urban problem but growing due to rising urbanization.In Kathmandu there is only one waste water treatment plant, and that only functions partiallyTraditionally, urban homes used to store solid waste and sell it as fertilizerRural settlements still use solid waste as fertilizer

Himalayan BiodiversityThe Himalayas cover three fourths of the land in NepalHome for many species of flora and fauna118 species of birds and 26 species of butterflies are found just in the Sagarmatha National ParkThese include endangered animals like musk deer, wild yak, red panda, snow leopard and Himalayan black bear

Tourism- Government generates revenue from mountain royalties and services - Local businesses and economies benefit from Mountaineering and

Tourism

Employment generationWater source for drinking, irrigation and industry HydropowerInstant recognition around the worldTimber and non-timber forest products

Economic Benefits of the Himalayas to the people of Nepal

Impacts of human activities in the Himalayan Region

Mountaineering Expeditions and Trekking Groups have in the past left a huge amount of waste on the mountainsGarbage and human waste not only destroy the beauty of the mountains but also deteriorate the mountain environmentDrinking water sources have been contaminated due to seepage

The SPCCThe Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) is an NGO that is run entirely by the locals in the Everest regionThey are authorized by the Government of Nepal to collect fees for rope and ladder fixing on the Everest Icefall routeThe funds saved from route fixing are used to keep the Everest region clean

The SPCC is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the use of blue barrels at base camp 60 Rupees (85 cents) is charged per kiloThe human waste is buried in a pit near Gorakshep

The SPCC’s work at Everest Base Camp

HOWEVER, no regulations nor infrastructure exists to remove human waste above base camp

Eco Everest Expeditions

Activities– Take the climate change

message to the top of Mt. Everest

– Be a model of an eco-sensitive climbing expedition, including garbage clean-ups and human waste removal

Creating international awareness about the impact of climate change on the Himalayas and the mountain communities since 2008

Collect, bring down and properly dispose of garbage and debris generated by the Eco Everest Expedition and from previous expeditions

Effectively manage the containment and removal of human waste from the mountain produced during the Eco Everest Expedition

Encourage Expeditions to use toilet bags and CMCs for managing human waste

Human Waste Management Goals

Keeps in the odour as well as the waste providing a user-friendly and convenient means to pack out solid wasteAfter use, the bags are sealed and storedEach climber is responsible to bring their own bag back downAt Base Camp, the bags are dumped in a blue barrel and the SPCC carries them off to a pit These are becoming very popular

RESTOP BAGS

Clean Mountain Can (CMC)

Thanks to Roger for sponsoring the use of 3 CMCs in 2008

The CMC is a plastic bucket with a lid that can be tightly sealed and is used like a regular western toilet

CMCs are too bulky and heavy to be taken above Camp 2 (6500m)

The Benefits of Managing Waste to the Climbing Party

Safety and Convenience

Quality ServiceClean Drinking Water

At Base Camp the human waste is collected by the SPCC and transported off the glacier to Gorakshep for proper disposal

Left in the open, it takes more than 3 years for the waste to decompose. Packed in the plastics bags it will take longer

An effort needs to be made to open these bags once in the pit to allow for faster decomposition

Silver bags are found thrown in crevasses and littering the camps. Better briefing needs to be provided.

Problems still needing to be addressed

Eco Everest Expedition 2008

• 965 Kgs of garbage brought down from Mt. Everest and its Base Camp

• Approx 75 Kgs of human waste properly disposed of• Supported by ICIMOD, UNEP

Eco Everest Expedition 2009“CASH FOR TRASH” program

• A program which offered cash in exchange of garbage to Sherpas who brought down garbage from Mt. Everest

• 6000 Kgs of garbage brought down including wreckage parts of Italian Army Helicopter crashed in 1973 between Camp I and C II

• Approx. 115 Kgs of human waste properly disposed of

Eco Everest Expedition 2010

CASH FOR TRASH• Invited and involved all

Sherpas and climbers for this “Cash for Trash” program

• Eco Everest Expedition 2010 collected 4805 Kgs of Garbage from higher altitude

• Supplied other expeditions at Everest base camp with Restop Bags

Base Camp BakeryProvides a great point of contact to disseminate information and raise funds for local projects

Provide toilets for the trekkers visiting Base Camp

The Future of Managing Human Waste in the Nepal Himalaya

NMA will be distributing free waste bags at the time of permit issuance

NMA together with the SPCC are maintaining public toilets in the Everest Region

New NMA information boards will contain information on safe disposal of human waste

The Future of Managing Human Waste in the Nepal HimalayaNMA has asked permission from the Department of National Parks to build new public toilets on the busy trails

Proposed to build Bakery - SPCC will receive all profits for their activities

The Ministry of Tourism is very keen to make the use of human waste bags mandatory on all expedition peaks

ConclusionManagement of human waste is one of the easiest ways in which people can help in the preservation of the mountain environment

Education detailing proper waste management techniques for climbers, trekkers and local people

New waste disposal projects to be implement

Enforcement of baseline sanitation standards by local authorities

THANK YOU