A scheme to encourage climbers to bring rubbish down from Mount Everest has been scrapped, after dishonest mountaineers found ways to cheat the system. It was hoped the scheme would help to clear up rubbish left by previous mountaineerers – including oxygen cylinders and human waste. To understand the issue, this shocking map reveals the true scale of waste on Mount Everest. But, a 2020 paper predicted that there may be 50 tonnes of solid waste left on Everest in the last 60 years. Pictured: rubbish scattered around Camp 4 of Mount EverestHow much waste is on Mount Everest?

Source: Daily Mail December 31, 2025 13:37 UTC