Gearing up to climb the world’s highest mountain peak? You will now have to prepare for more than just the climbing and surviving the cold.

The government of the Himalayan nation has decided to clean up Mount Everest, every climber will have to collect trash along his/her way on an expedition. Decades of mountaineering have taken a toll on the Himalayas, which are now full of rubbish from past expeditions. One can see a lot of strewn trash such as oxygen cylinders, human waste and even climbers’ bodies. Now that is something no climber would want to collect!

Such waste does not decompose in the extreme cold, making it impossible to collect and throw away.

The major highlights of this environmental initiative are:

• Climbers on Mount Everest have to compulsorily bring back 8 kilograms (17.6 pounds) of garbage.
• Authorities would take legal action against climbers who fail to comply with the new rule.
• According to the new rules, Everest expeditions will have to take their trash to an office which will be set up next month at the base camp.
• The office will also offer medical aid and resolve conflicts.

The Nepal government had taken such steps earlier also, but they did not work very effectively. Hence, this time they have decided to impose high penalties on the climbers who fail to comply with the rules of this clean-up drive.

Hopefully this initiative to clean the Everest and the adjoining ranges will be a success and all expeditions can be carried out in a clean and healthy environment.

Just remember, not to litter along the way!