The “Carry Me Back” (CMB) project was initiated by Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) and Sagarmatha Next in partnership with Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha National Park Buffer Zone Management Committee, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, Tara Air and Blue Waste to Value. The main aim of the program is to transport semi-processed recyclable wastes, such as aluminum cans, PET bottles, tins etc. from Namche to Kathmandu for recycling with voluntary support from trekkers and guides. The CMB project was successfully tested during the trekking season in Autumn 2019.  The CMB project was halted in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic and restarted in Spring 2022.

The project was supported by Dell Reconnect, Bally Peak Outlook Foundation and Kiehl's. Over 11 tons of recyclable garbage was transported from Namche to Lukla through the CMB program with support of over 5,800 amazing volunteers.

With the aim of building a more effective waste collection system along the Region’s trekking trails, SPCC has started to build permanent garbage bins along the trails since 2013. Each bin has segregation chambers to collect trash by categories so that these wastes will be properly treated and managed accordingly. SPCC built a total of 119 garbage bins and has been overseeing the maintenance and management of all garbage bins. A total of 109 garbage bins were built at various resting points along the trekking trails and 10 garbage bins were built at nine schools located within Khumbu Region. SPCC’s field staff and local partners continuously monitor littering of trash along the trekking trails and manage all garbage bins located along various trekking trails. 

Specific Engagement: SPCC constructs, installs, and manages a network of waste bins across the Everest region, particularly along popular trekking routes like those leading to Everest Base Camp.

Details: Waste bins are strategically placed in high-traffic areas, rest stops, trekking lodges, and villages, ensuring that trekkers and climbers have access to proper waste disposal facilities. SPCC also ensures that these bins are weather-resistant and can handle waste segregation (e.g., separating recyclables from non-recyclables) to facilitate responsible waste management.

Impact: This infrastructure reduces litter along trekking routes and helps keep the environment clean by encouraging trekkers and locals to dispose of waste responsibly.

Specific Engagement: SPCC mobilizes Social Mobilizer Teams to work directly with local women's groups, youth clubs, and schoolchildren to raise awareness and educate them on environmental issues, waste reduction, and sustainable practices.

Details: Social mobilizers conduct workshops, community outreach programs, and hands-on activities, teaching the importance of waste segregation, recycling, and minimizing plastic use. They work with youth clubs and local leaders to drive community-based environmental campaigns.

Impact: SPCC’s outreach efforts ensure that environmental education is integrated into daily life, fostering long-term behavioral change and developing local champions for waste management.

Specific Engagement: SPCC manages the ICEFALL DOCTOR team, a group of skilled Sherpas responsible for establishing and maintaining the climbing route through the Khumbu Icefall, one of the most dangerous sections of the Everest climb.

Details: The Icefall Doctors play a vital role in fixing ropes, setting ladders, and ensuring climbers can safely navigate the shifting ice and crevasses. Their work is essential for high-altitude expeditions to Camp 2 and beyond. SPCC not only coordinates this crucial team but also ensures that their safety and operational needs are met.

Impact: This engagement enhances the safety of mountaineers and climbers, reducing the risks of accidents while simultaneously ensuring that the region’s fragile environment is respected during the installation of climbing infrastructure.

Specific Engagement: SPCC organizes and leads regular clean-up campaigns in the Everest region, involving local communities, youth clubs, trekkers, and climbers to collect and properly dispose of waste that accumulates along trekking routes and at key sites such as Everest Base Camp.

Details: These clean-up drives take place before and after the peak trekking seasons, especially in areas like Namche Bazaar and Everest Base Camp. SPCC also coordinates the transportation of waste from higher-altitude camps back down to lower regions, where it can be properly disposed of or recycled.

Impact: These clean-up efforts significantly reduce the amount of waste left behind by visitors, helping maintain the pristine beauty of the region and mitigate the long-term impact of tourism on the environment.

Specific Engagement: SPCC advocates for sustainable tourism practices and works with local governments, NGOs, and international organizations to develop policies that protect the environment in the Everest region.

Details: SPCC collaborates with the Nepalese government and other stakeholders to promote eco-friendly trekking and climbing practices. This includes the enforcement of waste disposal regulations, reducing the use of single-use plastics, and promoting responsible tourism practices among trekkers and climbers. They also raise awareness at international forums about the environmental challenges faced by the region.

Impact: By influencing policy and promoting sustainable tourism, SPCC helps ensure that the growth of the tourism industry does not come at the expense of the Everest region’s fragile ecosystem, setting a precedent for responsible adventure tourism.