Be environmentally friendly
Solid waste
- Litter looks bad and is a pollutant. All litter that you and your support team produce should be separated each day and treated properly.
- Bury biodegradable waste where there is not proper composting but remember that at high altitude, nothing decomposes.
- Carry a waterproof bag to take non-biodegradable waste to official waste disposal sites along the route or in their absence, take your waste back to Kathmandu. Batteries cannot be recycled in Nepal so try to take them back to your home country.
- Remember, cigarette butts are non-biodegradable. Smokers should carry a light portable ashtray.
- Cleaning up trekking trails doesn’t require an organized effort; pick up as you walk, at lunch and overnight stops.
- Never buy plastic bottles of water. Buy a water bottle and use water purification methods – like iodine or Biox - instead.
Water pollution
- Avoid bathing or washing clothes directly in streams.
- Wash in a pan/bucket and toss the water away from streams.
- Use biodegradable soap if possible (but even this adds unnatural substances to the water.)
Toilet techniques
- Make sure your toilet is set up at least 50 meters (150 ft) away from any water source.
- Holes should be dug at least 45cm (18’) deep. If possible, keep a single dirt or sod piece for recovering the hole. Sprinkle some dirt in the hole after every use to keep away flies. See that your toilet is properly buried when you leave camp.
Erosion
- When trekking, stick to main trails and bypass steep short cuts which cut in-between trails - these contribute to erosion. Don’t create multiple trails across meadows. Try to preserve the natural experience for others.
- The mountain environment is fragile. Loss of vegetation contributes to erosion so don’t walk thorough shrubs no matter how hardy they appear.
Fuel
- Bring adequate warm clothes so as not to depend on fires for warmth. See that staff and porters are properly outfitted.
- Discourage campfires and blazing hearths which accelerate deforestation.
- Be self-sufficient in your fuel supply and provide for the needs of your support staff.
- Give preferences to lodges and trekking companies that use solar power or kerosene and encourage their efforts to conserve the environment.
- When ordering food, choose meals that require less fuel like dal bhat, which is nutritious and a good source of energy. Order the same meals as others in your group as often there is only one stove in use in the kitchen. This not only saves fuel but means you get your dinner quicker!
- Take hot showers only when the water is heated by non-wood or fuel saving stoves. Solar power is best. Wash clothes in cold water.
Trail etiquette
- Choose established campsites wherever possible rather than disturbing new grounds, even if it means sharing a site with another group. Avoid trenching around tents.
- Please don’t collect flowers, plants or seeds as this disturbs the plant lifecycle.
- Wildlife is threatened by loss of habitat in many places. Give space to wild animals and avoid making unnecessary loud sounds.
- No one appreciates seeing graffiti scrawled on rocks or carved into wood; do your best to discourage it.