Drones help clean up 'highest dumpster in world'

A team of drone operators joined climbers and guides at Everest base camp this climbing season, armed with heavy-duty drones to help clear rubbish from the world's highest peak.

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Kathmandu - A team of drone operators joined climbers and guides at Everest base camp this climbing season, armed with heavy-duty drones to help clear rubbish from the world's highest peak.

Tons of trash - from empty cans and gas canisters, to bottles, plastic and discarded climbing gear - have earned once-pristine Everest the grim nickname of the "highest dumpster in the world".

Two DJI FC 30 heavy-lifter drones were flown to camp 1 at 6065m, where they airlifted 300kg of trash down during the spring climbing season, which usually lasts from April to early June.

"The only options were helicopters and manpower, with no option in between," said Raj Bikram Maharjan, of Nepal-based Airlift Technology, which developed the project.