Since 2000, SPCC has been working in partnership with the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) to implement the Illegal Climbing Control Project in the Khumbu Region. As the authorized local institution, SPCC monitors climbing activities and waste management on NMA-registered peaks, including Island Peak (Imja Tse), Lobuche, Mera, and others. A dedicated check post is established at Island Peak Base Camp, where SPCC inspection officers verify climbing permits and oversee waste management. Climbers are required to carry their permits at all times, and those found climbing illegally are subject to legal action under Nepalese law. No cases of illegal climbing were reported during the current fiscal year.
For over three decades, the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) has been at the forefront of sustainable waste management in the Khumbu Region, home to Mount Everest. As the officially authorized local organization, we work closely with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA), Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, Sagarmatha National Park, Buffer Zone Management Committee and the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) to ensure the pristine beauty of this fragile Himalayan ecosystem is preserved for generations to come.
Mountaineering Waste Management: Our "Garbage Clearance" System
At SPCC, we've implemented a robust "Permit Registration, Garbage Declaration, and Clearance System" to manage waste generated by climbing expeditions. Here's how it works:
Before the Climb: All expedition teams are required to register their climbing permits with SPCC and submit detailed inventory lists of their equipment and supplies.
After the Expedition: To receive their garbage deposit refund, teams must submit all their waste to SPCC offices. Once cleared, a Garbage Clearance Certificate is issued.
We also meticulously oversee human waste management at Everest Base Camp, Island Peak Base Camp, and Lobuche Peak Base Camps, ensuring safe disposal practices to protect the delicate glaciers.
Settlement-Based Waste Management: A Community-Wide Effort
Beyond the peaks, SPCC has developed a comprehensive settlement-based waste management system to tackle the increasing volume of garbage from tourism-related businesses and households throughout Khumbu.
Door-to-Door Collection: We provide daily door-to-door waste collection in major villages like Namche and Lukla, currently serving over 180 businesses.
Community Partnerships: To foster local involvement, SPCC has partnered with over 30 Garbage Management Groups (GMGs), including dynamic youth and women’s groups, who lead local cleanup initiatives and oversee waste management in their communities.
Trekking Trail Garbage Management: A remarkable achievement has been the construction of 125 permanent garbage bins at major resting points along trekking trails. Each bin is designed for waste segregation, and our dedicated field staff continuously monitor for littering.
Promoting Recycling: Building a Sustainable Future
Our commitment extends to promoting recycling within the region. SPCC is actively building:
Environmental Stations (ES): These are the first waste collection points equipped with dedicated segregation compartments.
Material Recovery Facilities (MRF): These facilities will allow us to semi-process recyclables, increasing the efficiency of our recycling efforts.
These long-term initiatives underscore SPCC’s unwavering dedication to protecting the fragile Himalayan ecosystem and promoting environmental stewardship throughout the Everest region.
Since 2000, SPCC has been working in partnership with the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) to implement the Illegal Climbing Control Project in the Khumbu Region. As the authorized local institution, SPCC monitors climbing activities and waste management on NMA-registered peaks, including Island Peak (Imja Tse), Lobuche, Mera, and others. A dedicated check post is established at Island Peak Base Camp, where SPCC inspection officers verify climbing permits and oversee waste management. Climbers are required to carry their permits at all times, and those found climbing illegally are subject to legal action under Nepalese law. No cases of illegal climbing were reported during the current fiscal year.
Following the devastating Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Thame on August 16th, 2024, which severely impacted the Khumbu Valley, the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) initiated Project RISE to strengthen climate resilience and disaster preparedness in the region. With over 30 years of environmental stewardship experience, SPCC is expanding its focus beyond waste management to address broader climate challenges.
Project RISE will establish a collaborative Research Hub uniting researchers, academics, local authorities, and communities. This hub will facilitate data sharing, integrate local knowledge, and support ongoing monitoring efforts—especially in glacial lake surveillance and community-led disaster management. Key initiatives include installing early warning systems and promoting local community involvement to build a safer, more sustainable Everest Region for the future.
The Carry Me Back (CMB) project is a collaborative initiative by the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) and Sagarmatha Next, in collaboration with Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha National Park Buffer Zone Management Committee, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, Tara Air, Sita Air, and Blue Waste to Value.
This project enables trekkers, guides, and locals to voluntarily transport semi-processed recyclable waste—including aluminum cans, PET bottles, tins, and glass—from the upper Khumbu settlements like Namche and Pangboche to Lukla airport. From Lukla, the waste is airlifted to Kathmandu for proper recycling.
CMB was successfully tested in Autumn 2019. The project temporarily halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic was restarted in Spring 2022 and has been growing ever since.
Impact
Thanks to the support of Dell Reconnect, Bally Peak Outlook Foundation, and Kiehl’s, CMB has made a remarkable impact. As of 2024:
🚶♂️19,002 volunteers have participated.
♻️ 27,481 bags of recyclable waste have been transported from upper Khumbu to Lukla.
Together, we can keep the Everest region clean—one step at a time!
Since 1997, SPCC has been contracted by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) to establish and maintain the climbing route through the Khumbu Icefall. This challenging section, situated between Everest Base Camp and Camp II, passes over deep and perilous crevasses and is widely considered the most dangerous part of climbing Mt. Everest.
Every climbing season, SPCC recruits a team of eight highly skilled Icefall Doctors to set up and maintain the Khumbu Icefall Route used by mountaineers ascending Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, and Mt. Nuptse. The icefall doctors typically open the route in early April and close it at the end of May during the spring climbing season. Due to the constant instability of the icefall, the icefall doctors closely monitor and maintain the route throughout the climbing period.