POKHARA, May 20: Local community groups in Nepal’s Annapurna region have intensified efforts to collect and transport waste discarded by trekkers and tourists, as pollution along popular hiking routes increasingly becomes an environmental concern.
A few days ago, members affiliated with the Milijuli Tole Development Organization in Jomsom sent 1,079 kilograms of collected waste to Pokhara. Most of the waste consisted of glass materials, followed by plastic waste.
Earlier, another local organization, Namuna Tole Development Institution, transported 2,010 kilograms of waste collected from the Falyak and Jomsom areas of Mustang to Pokhara. Glass waste again made up the largest share.
Similar local groups are now being mobilized across the Annapurna region by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) to collect waste left behind by domestic and foreign trekkers.
Waste generated by tourists along trekking trails has increasingly become a challenge for local communities. As litter accumulated across the region, ACAP began transporting non-biodegradable waste to Pokhara for processing over the past two years.
According to ACAP Chief Rabin Kadariya, around 31,000 kilograms of waste were transported to Pokhara from several rural municipalities within the conservation area during the previous fiscal year alone.
In the first nine months of the current fiscal year, the volume has already reached 32,650 kilograms, with three months still remaining.
Trekking trails exploration, maintenance in TAAN priority
“We started collecting waste specifically from tourist areas,” Kadariya said. “Domestic and foreign trekkers were discarding waste carelessly, making trekking routes polluted and unpleasant.”
Most of the collected waste comes directly from trekking trails, he added. Glass bottles, plastic materials, and metal cans are separated locally before being transported to Pokhara. Although dustbins have been installed at several points, many tourists still throw waste along the trails.
According to ACAP, among the waste collected this fiscal year, glass materials alone accounted for 23,223 kilograms. Tin and can waste totaled 3,224 kilograms, while plastic waste reached 6,203 kilograms.
Kadariya said the collected waste is handed over in Pokhara to Green Road Waste Management for recycling and reuse.
Plastic waste is processed into raw materials used in road blacktopping, while glass and metal waste are recycled for further use.
“At present, ACAP only manages transportation and waste collection. We do not generate any income from the waste,” Kadariya said. “The objective is to keep the Himalayan region free from pollution.”
Until a few years ago, ACAP used to burn collected waste within the region itself. However, the practice has now been discontinued due to concerns about pollution and environmental impact.
“Burning waste created smoke that also affected trekkers,” Kadariya explained. “That is why the practice was stopped.”
He warned that if waste management is not addressed seriously, it could eventually damage the trekking experience and environmental sustainability of the Annapurna region, which is considered one of Nepal’s most important tourism and biodiversity zones.
According to the National Trust for Nature Conservation, around 34,000 kilograms of waste were collected last fiscal year from the Annapurna, Manaslu, and Gaurishankar conservation areas combined, with the majority coming from Annapurna due to its significantly higher tourist flow.
To tackle the growing challenge, ACAP has established 11 waste collection centers across different districts within the Annapurna region. Last year alone, it also organized 37 capacity-building programs and conducted 11 separate waste collection campaigns.
Local mothers’ groups, tourism management committees, and conservation groups are now actively involved in collecting litter from trekking trails and depositing it at nearby collection centers.
ACAP then arranges transportation of the waste to Pokhara.
Waste has also been transported down from the Annapurna Base Camp trekking route.
According to Kadariya, waste collection centers have been established in settlements and trekking areas, including Mustang, Manang, Ghandruk, and Sikles. Large dustbins have also been installed at multiple locations.
“The Annapurna region is rich in biodiversity, but waste left by trekkers is polluting the environment,” he said. “Biodegradable waste is manageable, but non-degradable materials like plastic bottles, glass containers, and metal cans are creating serious environmental challenges.”
ACAP data show that a total of 299,831 tourists visited the Annapurna region in 2025. In just the first four months of 2026, from January to April, the region had already received 152,486 foreign tourists.
