Nepal is officially ending its long-running refundable deposit scheme for climbers attempting Mount Everest, admitting the policy has failed to curb the mountain's growing rubbish crisis.
A Decade of Disappointing Results
Introduced over ten years ago, the scheme required each climber to pay a $4,000 (approximately £2,960) deposit. This sum was refundable only if the climber brought back at least 8kg of waste from their expedition. Officials have now conceded the initiative did not significantly reduce the accumulation of trash, especially at the perilous higher altitudes.
The core problem lay in enforcement and access. Significant amounts of debris—including discarded tents, empty food containers, and used oxygen bottles—are routinely abandoned at high-altitude camps. Monitoring these areas and organising removal missions is both extremely dangerous and logistically challenging, rendering the old deposit system largely ineffective.
New Non-Refundable Fee and Action Plan
In a significant policy shift, the current refundable deposit will be replaced by a non-refundable $4,000 clean-up fee. This change, pending final parliamentary approval, is designed to create a dedicated fund for tackling the pollution problem head-on.
The new fee is a central component of a five-year mountain clean-up action plan. The revenue generated will finance critical measures, including:
- Establishing additional checkpoints on climbing routes.
- Funding specialised mountain rangers for enforcement and clean-up operations.
- Supporting broader waste management efforts across Nepal's major climbing peaks.
Mounting Pressure for a Cleaner Everest
The decision highlights the growing administrative burden and environmental pressure caused by commercial climbing on the world's highest peak. For years, campaigners and mountaineers have voiced alarm over the degrading conditions on Everest, often dubbed the "world's highest landfill."
By moving to a non-refundable system, Nepalese authorities aim to secure guaranteed funding for sustained clean-up efforts, rather than relying on climber compliance for a refund. The hope is that this financial model will provide the consistent resources needed for systematic waste management and conservation in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
The announcement was confirmed on Tuesday 30 December 2025, marking the end of an era for a well-intentioned but ultimately flawed environmental policy.
