Drones deployed for waste collection on Mount Everest

Kathmandu: Mount Everest (Sagarmatha), the world’s highest peak, has long showcased Nepal on the global stage. Beyond its touristic appeal, the mountain holds religious and economic significance. However, the increasing number of climbers and tourists has led to a growing waste problem at the summit.

To address this, drone technology is now being used to collect waste from the Everest region. Cimax Inc., the official distributor of BYD electric vehicles in Nepal, is leading the initiative in coordination with Nepali drone company Airlift Technologies.

The campaign aims to collect 1,000 kg of waste as part of BYD’s global initiative, “Cool the Earth by One Degree,” which promotes clean energy and zero carbon emissions to combat climate change.

Cimax CEO Sahil Shrestha said the company is participating in the campaign both economically and technically as part of its corporate social responsibility. Samir Shrestha, Cimax’s market head, noted that drones had already collected 286 kg of waste from Camp-1 last season, and additional collection is ongoing this season.

“The Airlift team had previously conducted waste collection in the Everest region,” he said. “This season, Cimax and Airlift Technologies are collaborating to collect 1,000 kg of waste together.”

Highlighting the role of technology, Shrestha added, “Drones have made waste collection much easier. After successfully using them for rope fixing, we have now applied the same technology for environmental cleanup.”