Rubbish galore on Everest

2005-06-08 13:47

Beijing - A team of volunteers has returned to Beijing after a 10-day clean up of Mount Everest bagged 10 tonnes of rubbish, state media reported on Wednesday.

The 33-man team of Chinese volunteers collected junk from up to 8 000 metres above sea level on the world's highest peak.

They brought back 400 bags of empty bottles, discarded oxygen containers, tents and even cigarette butts, Xinhua news agency said.

It was the second stage of a project to spruce up the mountain ahead of the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Organisers of the Games are planning for the Olympic torch to be taken up the southern side of Everest before being carried down along the northern slope to promote the event.

In the first stage of the project last year, a Tibetan team and 24 volunteers removed eight tonnes of trash.

It is estimated that there is a staggering 615 tonnes of waste on the 8 848-metre-high mountain left by past expeditions.

Since 1953, hundreds of mountaineers have conquered Everest, leaving behind tents, food bags and oxygen cylinders.

- AFP