Green Daily

Perhaps inspired by this earlier clean up attempt that cleared 17 tons of trash, China announced that it is going to make a major effort to clean up their side of Everest in 2009.

The Chinese side is less busy than the Nepalese side, seeing only a fraction of the traffic. However, that's still a whooping 40,000 people! And authorities estimate that each tourist leaves six pounds of trash behind. I don't even want to try to do the math. How depressing!

Even worse, the garbage has accumulated for years, and much of it is non-biodegradable, like oxygen canisters, tents and backpacks. Not to mention the bodies, which decompose slowly, if at all, at the low temperatures and dry, high altitudes.

Nepal requires a $4,000 deposit that is forfeited by hikers and guides who fail to pack out their trash. China has yet to establish similar financial incentives for eco-friendly behavior. On the positive side, in addition to this trash collection initiative, they hope to reduced the number of hikers in 2009, and now forbid vehicles from driving directly to base camp. (Isn't that cheating anyway?)

China's environmental record is, um, patchy, but it's heartening to hear that they have some good intentions. It will be even better if there is some actual activity to accompany the announcement. Let's all hope that happens.