KATHMANDU– The Himalayas are drowning in trekker’s waste. Local government legislation was passed in April 2014 stating that every trekker should bring back at least 8 kgs of waste per person including their own. Even still, other than expeditions, almost no one is even aware of the legislation and waste lies in dumpsites on mountain villages and to the sides of the mountain treks all over the Himalayas.

Following in the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary, Green Stars Founder, Alan Bywaters has decided to launch ‘Guardians of the Himalayas’ programme in an effort to engage everyone involved in the trekking and expedition industry to continue the great social and environmental work Sir Edmund Hillary began back in June 1961 and become protectors of the mountains instead of waste producers.

According to Bywaters, there are many stakeholders involved who rely on the tourism coming to the Himalayan Region, while the trekkers don’t want to see trash on the mountainsides too.

“On expeditions, we’re only thinking of the goal and not considering the impact we have along the way. We have the energy to muster when we go on these expeditions, but for some reason, we don’t want to hassle or care for our waste. This is strange behaviour as everyone wants a clean and green planet. It’s time to make expeditions for the sake of picking up the waste or what we’re calling ‘CleanTreks’. Sure I’d rather be climbing the mountain peak but saving the planet is the call of the hour,” said Alan Bywaters.

Alan is calling for ‘Green Stars’ who can be part of the ‘Clean Trek’ Drive and take 8kgs of waste back with them for upcycling. For all the trekkers that do, there is a surprise waiting for them.

To fund this huge task, Alan is offering past expeditions to sponsor 8 kgs a head at $2/kg and they will receive a letter of ‘collection and recycling’ to show their negative impact has been minimised.

Green Stars are launching 'Guardians of the Himalayas' Program for World Environment Day on June 5. The team will meet tours and travel organisations of Thamel and then travel to Annapurna Base Camp on 6th 'CleanTrek' to educate locals on the value of plastic waste and to clean up waste off the mountains. These plastics will be upclyced into plastic bricks used for earthquake resistant buildings.

"We hope that this will inspire locals to stop throwing and burning waste but take the opportunity of cash revenue this program offers," Bywaters said, “If anyone can pick up more waste than I can I will give them my speaking slot at Tedx Akshardham in Delhi July this year,”