KATHMANDU: The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), in collaboration with WWF Nepal, has launched the Swachya Sagarmatha: Sustainable Waste Management for Clean Himalaya project, a three-year initiative aimed at strengthening waste and e-waste management systems in the Everest region.

Formally initiated through a multi-stakeholder inception workshop held in Kathmandu, the project brings together government agencies, local authorities, conservation partners, community organizations and media. The initiative, with a total budget of Rs 80 million and funding support from the Thomas L. Kempner, Jr. Foundation, will be implemented by WWF Nepal in close partnership with SPCC, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, Sagarmatha National Park Office, the Buffer Zone Management Committee and community-based waste management groups.

Aligned with the rural municipality’s Environmental Pollution Control and Sustainable Waste Management Plan 2023, the project focuses on waste segregation at source, upgrading material recovery facilities, recycling, and establishing a structured system for the collection, packaging and safe transportation of electronic waste.

Sagarmatha National Park and its buffer zone—one of the world’s most iconic trekking destinations—have witnessed a sharp rise in visitors since the first ascent of Mount Everest in 1953. Tourist arrivals have increased from about 20,000 in 1998 to over 55,000 in 2024, boosting the local economy but also intensifying environmental pressure, particularly in waste management.

With tourism now the primary source of livelihood in the Khumbu region, the growth of lodges, restaurants, tea shops and other tourism-related businesses has led to the accumulation of glass bottles, cans, tins, paper products, PET bottles and organic waste, along with increasing volumes of electronic waste.

“For over three decades, SPCC has been at the forefront of waste management in the Everest region. But the scale and complexity of waste is growing rapidly,” said Tshering Sherpa, Chief Executive Officer of SPCC. “This project strengthens our community-led model by improving infrastructure, advancing recycling practices and empowering local people with the skills and knowledge they need to protect our mountains.”

Addressing the program, Chairperson of the Federalism Enablement and National Concerns Committee, Sonam Geljen Sherpa, said Sagarmatha represents Nepal’s national pride and a shared responsibility, stressing that lasting conservation is only possible through coordinated efforts among communities, government and development partners.

WWF Nepal Country Representative Dr Ghanashyam Gurung said the Everest region is both a symbol of Nepal’s natural heritage and a globally significant landscape. He noted that as tourism grows, so does the responsibility to protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem through practical, locally owned waste management systems.

The project area covers Sagarmatha National Park (1,148 sq km) and its buffer zone (275 sq km) in Solukhumbu district of Koshi Province, focusing on Wards 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality. Wards 4 and 5 lie within the park’s core area, while Wards 2 and 3 fall within the buffer zone.

It targets major settlements along the Everest Base Camp trekking corridor—from Lukla to Gorakshep—covering around 2,000 households situated at elevations ranging from 2,800 to 5,000 metres above sea level.

The Swachya Sagarmatha project focuses on four key areas: infrastructure support, capacity building, awareness raising and research. Stakeholders at the inception workshop committed to strengthening coordination to ensure the project remains inclusive, effective and grounded in local realities, contributing to cleaner mountains, resilient communities and sustainable tourism in the Everest region.