Poo Bags and Trackers: New Rules for Climbers Above Base Camp
| Event date | Announced March 2024, applied from the spring 2024 season |
|---|---|
| Location | Everest and Lhotse, above Base Camp |
| Type | Regulation; environment and waste |
| Issued by | Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality with the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee |
| Verification | Verified |
| Status | In force; tightened for 2026 (see the 2026 season entry) |
The local government for the Khumbu, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, made it compulsory from spring 2024 for climbers on Everest and neighbouring Lhotse to carry their own human waste back down in special bags rather than leaving it on the mountain. The bags contain a gel that solidifies waste and cuts the smell. Around 8,000 were to be issued for the first season, with checks at Base Camp on the way back.
The reason is simple chemistry: at the temperatures found above Base Camp, waste does not break down, and decades of it had accumulated at the higher camps, especially the South Col. Climbers were also told to carry tracking devices during the same season, so they could be located more quickly in an emergency.
It was one of a series of attempts to reduce the mountain’s environmental load that also includes Nepal’s long-standing refundable garbage deposit and, from 2024, trials of drones to carry rubbish down from Camp I.
Sources
- CNN — "Everest climbers will have to take their poop away with them"
- France 24 / AFP — "Poo bags and trackers: Nepal orders new Everest rules"
- The Himalayan Times — "Khumbu sets new regulations to effectively manage Everest climbing"
- The Kathmandu Post — drones to carry garbage from Everest
Last reviewed 29 September 2026. Written in Merolog’s own words from the sources listed; where sources disagree, each figure is attributed rather than merged. Spotted an error or a newer figure? Leave a comment on this entry.