Waste Management Outlook for Mountain Regions

Impacts from mountaineering can vary depending on the

altitude. For instance, erosion and surface waste disposal are more

visible at lower elevations below the treeline compared to higher

elevation zones, where waste and pollution accumulate in water

bodies and glaciers (Pickering and Barros, 2015; Welling, Árnason

and Ólafsdottír, 2015). Furthermore, the extent and duration of

the impact on mountain environments depends on many factors,

including the number of visitiors and the seasonal and locally-

specific nature of mountain-based adventure tourism, which

tends to concentrate proportionaly large numbers of people into

specific areas or corridors during particular times of the year.

The most common forms of waste from mountaineering activities

are human waste (excreta and urine), other solid waste material

associated with equipment and supplies (for example, tin cans, glass

and plastic bottles, food packaging, oxygen bottles, batteries, plastic

bags, drums, discarded ropes and tents, pharmaceuticals, personal

and cleaning products such as detergents, etc.), and waste frompack

animals (UNEP, 2007). In particularly inaccessible mountain areas,

bodies of deceased mountaineers are also sometimes left behind.

Human waste is by far the most cited waste problem associated

withmountaineering; it is difficult to burywaste in exposed alpine

environments and the extreme climatic conditions slow down

decomposition (Pickering and Barros, 2015; Ells and Monz, 2011;

UNEP, 2007). For example, since 1970, over 34,000 people have

attempted to climb Denali (Mount McKinley, USA) via the west

buttress route, resulting in an estimated 66 metric tons of faeces

left in the glaciated environment (Goodwin, Loso and Braun,

2012). The bacteria, viruses and other pathogens associated with

such waste contaminate waterways and soil surfaces (Derlet et

al., 2008; Goodwin, Loso and Braun, 2012) and can persist in these

environments despite the extreme climatic conditions (Goodwin,

Loso and Braun, 2012).

These can pose immediate or short-term health risks, not

only for climbers. Cases of contaminated terminus meltwater

discharge have been reported also in Europe (Edwards, 2015;

Goodwin, Loso and Braun, 2012). Given that many of these areas

are the main headwaters for downstream users and dwellers,

contamination of water sources is of particular concern (Barros,

Monz and Pickering, 2015). Other types of solid waste are also an

issue – as much as 140,000 kg of rubbish still remains on Mount

Everest following 60 years of expeditions (Kelliher, 2014).

Waste from pack animals such as horses and mules also creates

stress in mountain environments. For instance, approximately 299

tons of manure and 65 m

of urine were produced by pack animals

during the 2011 climbing season on Mountain Aconcagua. This

was often deposited near water bodies in the low and intermediate

alpine zones (Barros, Pickering and Gudes, 2015). Coupled with

human waste, this results in an estimated 660 kg of nitrogen and

48 kg of potassium per season (Barros, Pickering and Gudes, 2015),

increasing the risk of eutrophication, algal growth and toxicity

of water bodies (Derlet et al., 2008). In parts of some mountain

destinations, such as in the Huascaran and Aconcagua National

Parks in Peru and Argentina, grazing and pastoralist activities are

also permitted, adding to the environmental stress andwaste issues.

299 000 kg

of manure

65 m³

of urine

574 m³

of black water

812 m³

of grey water

200 kg

of faeces

60 m³

of urine

600 kg

of Nitrogen

11 kg

48 kg

of Phosphate

released

nature

not

properly

disposed

via flush toilets

Source:

BARROS, A. & et al

(2015) “Desktop

analysis of potential

impacts of visitor

use.”

Journal of

Environmental

Management

number of visitors

number of pack animals

27 kg

Mt. Aconcagua

6961m

Vacas

2420m

Casa de Piedra

3240m

Mulas

4320m

Horcones

2920m

Plaza Guanaco

3760m

Aconcagua

Provincial

Park

CHILE

ARGENTINA

Alpine steppe vegetation

Black water: waste water and sewage from toilets ; Grey water: relatively clean waste water from baths, sinks, washing machines, and other kitchen appliances.

Tourist trail

Camp site

Environmental stress due to human actions

1 000 visitors

1 000 pack animals

10 km

TOURISM IMPACT ON ACONCAGUA PROVINCIAL PARK - ARGENTINA

(for the season 2010-2011)

HUMAN

& ANIMAL

WASTE