Latest news with #AirliftTechnology
South China Morning Post
05-07-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Nepal uses drones to clean up Mount Everest's trash-covered slopes
Human waste, empty oxygen cylinders, kitchen leftovers and discarded ladders. Sherpas working on Mount Everest carry all that and more – 20 kilograms (44 pounds) per person – navigating a four-hour hike that traverses crumbling glacial ice and treacherous crevasses to bring trash back to base camp. During the most recent climbing season, they had new help from two giant SZ DJI Technology Co. drones, which can complete the same journey in six minutes, sharing the task of clearing an expanding volume of refuse piling up on the world's highest peak. Drones have been deployed to haul garbage from Everest's Camp 1, which sits at 6,065 metres (19,898 feet) above sea level, down to base camp, about 700 metres below. After a DJI FlyCart 30 delivers supplies like ropes and ladders up the peak, Sherpas hook on a debris-filled garbage bag for the drone's return journey as it buzzes down the mountain, sounding like an oversized mosquito. Between mid-April and mid-May, the drones operated by Nepal-based firm Airlift Technology handled more than 280 kilograms of refuse, according to the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, a local non-profit that manages trash collection on Everest. The drones are part of a growing effort to clean the slopes of the mountain, which has become so trash-strewn it's been referred to as the 'world's highest garbage dump.' Enlisting robots can help not only speed up the process but also reduce the danger for the Sherpas carrying decades-worth of garbage down the treacherous peak.
NDTV
03-07-2025
- NDTV
Drones Clean "World's Highest Garbage Dump" At Mount Everest
Human waste, empty oxygen cylinders, kitchen leftovers and discarded ladders. Sherpas working on Mount Everest carry all that and more - 20 kilograms (44 pounds) per person - navigating a four-hour hike that traverses crumbling glacial ice and treacherous crevasses to bring trash back to base camp. During the most recent climbing season, they had new assistance from two giant SZ DJI Technology Co. drones, which can complete the same journey in six minutes, sharing the task of clearing an expanding volume of refuse piling up on the world's highest peak. Drones have been deployed to haul garbage from Everest's Camp 1, which sits at 6,065 meters (19,898 feet) above sea level down to base camp, about 700 meters below. After a DJI FlyCart 30 delivers supplies like ropes and ladders up the peak, Sherpas hook on a debris-filled garbage bag for the drone's return journey as it buzzes down the mountain, sounding like an oversized mosquito. Between mid-April and mid-May, the drones operated by Nepal-based firm Airlift Technology handled more than 280 kilograms of refuse, according to the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, a local non-profit that manages trash collection on Everest. The drones are part of a growing effort to clean the slopes of the mountain, which has become so trash-strewn, it's been referred to as the "world's highest garbage dump." Enlisting robots can help not only speed up the process but also reduce the danger for the Sherpas carrying decades-worth of garbage down the treacherous peak. "We're very happy," said Lhakpa Nuru Sherpa, a 33-year-old Sherpa at local expeditions firm Asian Trekking who has reached the summit of Everest 15 times. He estimates that about 70% of the garbage usually carted off the mountain by his team was transported by drone this year. "When you're coming down from Camp 1 and it's warm, you can smell the garbage," and that has caused respiratory problems for some Sherpas, he said. "We want more drones carrying heavier weights." The 8,849-meter Everest has seen an influx of trash since the 1990s, when visiting grew in popularity following multiple successful summit attempts. During climbing season, which typically lasts from late April until the end of May, tens of thousands of people trek to base camp, though only hundreds attempt to reach the top of the peak each year. Everest's garbage problem is worst at higher altitude campsites, which are also more challenging to clean given the logistical hurdles of reaching them. Since 2019, the Nepalese army and Sherpas have worked together to remove more than 100 tons of waste from the mountain and several surrounding peaks. In the last decade, the government has also implemented rules requiring climbers who venture above base camp to carry back at least 8 kilograms of trash each or risk forfeiting a $4,000 deposit that those visiting the mountain must pay. Climate change is only adding to the urgency to clean Everest. Snow and ice are melting, exposing decades-old garbage that can contaminate waterways fed by the runoff and that flow down to villages below. To combat the risks of human waste spreading diseases such as cholera, local officials last year put in place regulations compelling climbers to keep it in doggy bags to be brought back to base camp. At the same time, rising temperatures are making trash collection more dangerous. Ice is weakening, crevasses are widening and meltwater within the Khumbu Glacier - situated between base camp and Camp 1 - is causing ice blocks to collapse more quickly. At lower altitudes, the Khumbu Icefall at the head of the glacier "is by far the most dangerous part of the mountain, and towards the end of the season, it starts to melt," said Tenzing David Sherpa, a director at Asian Trekking, which employs about 30 Sherpas. "It is much safer for drones to bring down the waste." The Chinese drones, which cost $70,000 each, can fly in temperatures of minus-20C and brave wind speeds of more than 40 kmh. Asian Trekking said it would pay for Airlift's equipment and trash delivery services if the drone company decides to officially offer them commercially. Even so, there are limitations. Drones aren't able to reach higher campsites, where the air is too thin to fly. Weather at high altitude can also be erratic, and during a flight in April, a drone automatically deployed a parachute when wind speeds hit more than 60 kmh. The machine was then dragged and damaged by further gusts. The accident highlighted the need for specialized insurance before expanding the project, according to Tshering Sherpa, SPCC's chief executive officer. Such policies are not currently readily available and "if we don't have any insurance, it is a very high-risk project," he said. Airlift, which is working with Nepalese authorities, is planning to try more drone models on Everest and the country's other 8,000-meter peaks, said co-founder Milan Pandey. At least five drone manufacturers from the US and Europe have already reached out to Airlift offering their equipment for testing, Pandey said. At these altitudes, "we're the only company in the world doing this operation." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Straits Times
Mount Everest's trash-covered slopes are being cleaned by drones
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Drones have been deployed to haul garbage from Everest's Camp 1, which sits at 6,065m above sea level down to base camp, about 700m below. KATHMANDU – Human waste, empty oxygen cylinders, kitchen leftovers and discarded ladders. Sherpas working on Mount Everest carry all that and more – 20kg per person – navigating a four-hour hike that traverses crumbling glacial ice and treacherous crevasses to bring rubbish back to base camp. During the most recent climbing season, they had new assistance from two giant SZ DJI Technology Co drones, which can complete the same journey in six minutes, sharing the task of clearing an expanding volume of refuse piling up on the world's highest peak. Drones have been deployed to haul garbage from Everest's Camp 1, which sits at 6,065m above sea level down to base camp, about 700m below. After a DJI FlyCart 30 delivers supplies like ropes and ladders up the peak, Sherpas hook on a debris-filled garbage bag for the drone's return journey as it buzzes down the mountain, sounding like an oversized mosquito. Between mid-April and mid-May, the drones operated by Nepal-based firm Airlift Technology handled more than 280kg of refuse, according to the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, a local non-profit that manages trash collection on Everest. The drones are part of a growing effort to clean the slopes of the mountain, which has become so trash-strewn, it's been referred to as the 'world's highest garbage dump.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore and Cambodia to expand collaboration in renewable energy, carbon markets and agri-trade Asia US, India push for trade pact after Trump strikes deal with Vietnam: Sources Business Microsoft cutting 9,000 jobs companywide in second major wave of layoffs this year Opinion How Apple gave 'the gift of fire' to Chinese electronics firms Asia Malaysian nurses following the money abroad for more opportunities Life Sean 'Diddy' Combs to remain jailed ahead of sentencing, judge rules Singapore Granddaughter of Hin Leong founder O.K. Lim fails to keep 3 insurance policies from creditors' reach World Iran's nuclear programme degraded by up to two years, Pentagon says Enlisting robots can help not only speed up the process but also reduce the danger for the Sherpas carrying decades-worth of garbage down the treacherous peak. 'We're very happy,' said Mr Lhakpa Nuru Sherpa, a 33-year-old Sherpa at local expeditions firm Asian Trekking who has reached the summit of Everest 15 times. He estimates that about 70 per cent of the garbage usually carted off the mountain by his team was transported by drone in 2025. 'When you're coming down from Camp 1 and it's warm, you can smell the garbage,' and that has caused respiratory problems for some Sherpas, he said. 'We want more drones carrying heavier weights.' The 8,849m Everest has seen an influx of rubbish since the 1990s, when visiting grew in popularity following multiple successful summit attempts. During climbing season, which typically lasts from late April until the end of May, tens of thousands of people trek to base camp, though only hundreds attempt to reach the top of the peak each year. Everest's garbage problem is worst at higher altitude campsites, which are also more challenging to clean, given the logistical hurdles of reaching them. Since 2019, the Nepalese army and Sherpas have worked together to remove more than 100 tons of waste from the mountain and several surrounding peaks. In the last decade, the government has also implemented rules requiring climbers who venture above base camp to carry back at least 8kg of rubbish each or risk forfeiting a US$4,000 (S$5,090) deposit that those visiting the mountain must pay. Climate change is only adding to the urgency to clean Everest. Snow and ice are melting, exposing decades-old garbage that can contaminate waterways fed by the run-off and that flow down to villages below. To combat the risks of human waste spreading diseases such as cholera, local officials in 2024 put in place regulations compelling climbers to keep it in doggy bags to be brought back to base camp. At the same time, rising temperatures are making trash collection more dangerous. Ice is weakening, crevasses are widening and meltwater within the Khumbu Glacier – situated between base camp and Camp 1 – is causing ice blocks to collapse more quickly. At lower altitudes, the Khumbu Icefall at the head of the glacier 'is by far the most dangerous part of the mountain, and towards the end of the season, it starts to melt,' said Mr Tenzing David Sherpa, a director at Asian Trekking, which employs about 30 Sherpas. 'It is much safer for drones to bring down the waste.' The Chinese drones, which cost US$70,000 each, can fly in temperatures of minus 20 deg C and brave wind speeds of more than 40kmh. Asian Trekking said it would pay for Airlift's equipment and trash delivery services if the drone company decides to officially offer them commercially. Even so, there are limitations. Drones aren't able to reach higher campsites, where the air is too thin to fly. Weather at high altitude can also be erratic, and during a flight in April, a drone automatically deployed a parachute when wind speeds hit more than 60kmh. The machine was then dragged and damaged by further gusts. The accident highlighted the need for specialised insurance before expanding the project, according to Mr Tshering Sherpa, SPCC's chief executive officer. Such policies are not currently readily available and 'if we don't have any insurance, it is a very high-risk project,' he said. Airlift, which is working with Nepalese authorities, is planning to try more drone models on Everest and the country's other 8,000m peaks, said co-founder Milan Pandey. At least five drone manufacturers from the US and Europe have already reached out to Airlift offering their equipment for testing, Mr Pandey said. At these altitudes, 'we're the only company in the world doing this operation.' BLOOMBERG
GMA Network
26-06-2025
- GMA Network
Drones tackle Everest's trash crisis, hauling gear up and garbage down
It's often called the 'world's highest garbage dump.' Some estimate 50 metric tons of trash remain on Mount Everest due to decades of climbing and lax regulations. But these unmanned aerial vehicles are being utilized to try to clean up one of the world's most remote locations. Nepal-based Airlift Technology is addressing this crisis by deploying drones to deliver supplies up the mountain and then remove waste on the way down. After successful trials in 2024, the company estimates it removed over one metric ton of trash between March and May 2025. "The main intention, of course, was like bringing the garbage because tons and tons of garbage are on Mount Everest, which means, like, this was our main motive to have a drone delivery in Mount Everest," Milan Pandey, Airlift Technology co-founder, said. The drones, made by a Chinese manufacturer, are capable of quickly transporting up to 33 pounds of critical supplies, including oxygen bottles, ladders, and ropes. ''Because the interesting thing is, from Base Camp to Camp One, it takes 7 to 9 hours for climbers to reach. And our drone can reach over there within 3 minutes." That helps sherpas climb difficult sections of the mountain, such as the Khumbu Icefall, a perilous passage riddled with crevasses and icefall, without carrying large amounts of equipment. It's a welcome innovation for Nepalese mountaineer Nima Rinji Sherpa. ''I think this is very interesting and very good in a way, because it is humanly impossible to bring all the trash down by cutting through the Khumbu Icefall to the South Col. So I think, yes, right now we're using these drones by Airlift Technology, which is very innovative in a way that it also saves people's lives and it makes it easier for everyone to bring down the trash,'' he said. While other Everest cleanup operations are ongoing, Airlift Technology hopes drones will provide a new tool in efforts to tackle the mountain's trash scourge. — Reuters
Barnama
26-06-2025
- Barnama
Nepalese Start-Up Deploys Drones To Remove Rubbish From Mount Everest
ISTANBUL, June 26 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- A Nepalese start-up has begun deploying drones to remove rubbish from Mount Everest, Anadolu Ajansi reported. A drone successfully completed a delivery test at an altitude of over 6,000 metres (19,685 feet) while carrying a 15-kilogramme (33-pound) payload, according to Airlift Technology's website. "The maximum payload tested at Everest Base Camp was 32 kilogrammes (70.5 pounds)," the company said, adding the delivery of rubbish from Camp 1 to the base camp was also "tested and found to be successful." bootstrap slideshow The project is being conducted with the cooperation of the Khumbu Pasang Lamhu Rural Municipality, where Mount Everest is located, and China-based DJI, the world's largest drone manufacturer. Everest Base Camp and Camp 1 are separated by the Khumbu Icefall, "one of the most perilous stages of the ascent," DJI said in a statement, adding that "while helicopters can theoretically make the same journey, they are rarely used due to the significant dangers and costs." The Chinese company also said that each climber is estimated to leave 8 kilogrammes (17.6 pounds) of rubbish behind on Everest. The agreement that the Cimex BYD Charity Foundation (CBCF) and Airlift Technology have signed foresees the clean-up of more than 1,000 kilogrammes (2,204 pounds) of waste this season. The Nepalese government has been launching initiatives every year since 2019 to clean the mountain. By 2024, Nepal's efforts to clean Mount Everest and other Himalayan peaks resulted in the collection of 119 tonnes of waste and the recovery of 14 human bodies and several skeletons.
