Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain. A new rule says people climbing it will have to take their poo back to Base Camp. An increase in the number of climbers has led to the problem of human waste being left on the slopes. A local official told the BBC: "Our mountains have begun to stink." He added: "Human stools are visible on rocks, and some climbers are falling sick. This is not acceptable. It damages our image." Climbers must buy a bio-degradable "poop bag". They can throw the bag away when they come down from the mountain.
The problem of waste and litter on Everest has been growing for years. Climbers leave camping equipment and cans of oxygen on the slopes. An environmental group estimated that there was over three tons of human poo between Base Camp and the top of Everest. Much of this freezes. It does not degrade. The India Today website said the poop bags will help with the waste problem. It wrote: "This measure…will help restore the dignity of this iconic peak." It added that the waste bags would, "safeguard the health of both climbers and the local environment".
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Sources- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68237123
- https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3251452/mount-everest-climbers-must-now-buy-poop-bags-and-bring-their-waste-down-our-mountains-have-begun
- https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/mount-everests-poop-problem-heres-what-climbers-will-have-to-do-2499388-2024-02-08
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