Drones Just Hauled Over 3 Tons of Trash Off Mount Everest

Throughout the years, Mount Everest has not only become an incredibly popular, highly visited climbing destination for people all over the world, but it has also earned itself an unfortunate nickname — “the world’s highest garbage dump.” Now, an Everest drone cleanup effort led by DJI is starting to change that, using unmanned aircraft to shuttle supplies and garbage between Base Camp and Camp 1. Recently, the DJI FlyCart 100 completed three successful missions transporting and shuttling supplies and garbage back and forth between Base Camp and Camp 1.

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During the 2026 spring climbing season, on the Nepalese side of Everest, DJI worked with a local drone company, Airlift, moving a total of 10,073 kg (22,207 lbs) of supplies and waste. Of that, 7,215 kg (15,906 lbs) of climbing supplies such as oxygen tanks, ropes, and ladders were flown up to Camp 1 by drone. Additionally, they removed 2,858 kg (6,300 lbs) of trash and waste on the return trip back down. The use of drones helped to turn a previously perilous, six to eight hour trek for Sherpas through one of the most dangerous sections of the entire climb — the Khumbu Icefall — into an eight minute flying route for the FlyCart 100.

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Of course, flying in such an extreme mountain environment poses severe challenges and risks, as well. Typically, the FlyCart 100 has the ability to carry 100 kg (220 lbs) at sea level. However, at altitudes over 6,300 m (20,670 ft) with temperatures between -15°C to 5°C (5°F to 41°F), the load decreases to just 47 kg (103 lbs). Still, after these initial tests and successful first trips, it’s clear that DJI drones could continue to be used to help clean up Mount Everest in the foreseeable future.

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DJI isn’t new to pushing the limits of drone aviation on the worlds tallest mountain, either. Back in 2009, they tested out an unmanned helicopter equipped with its self-developed XP3.1 flight control system on Mount Everest. Then, just a year later, the DJI Ace One successfully operated above 4,700 m (15,420 ft). Fast forward to 2022, when a DJI Mavic 3 captured the first drone footage of the true summit at 8,848.86 m (29,031.69 feet). Years later, in 2024, the DJI FlyCart 30 completed the world’s first drone delivery from Base Camp to Camp 1. And lastly, most recently, a DJI Matrice 4E mapped out the Khumbu Icefall, allowing for safer route planning and real-time hazard data. Needless to say, the brand is heavily dedicated to making the worlds highest mountain safer and cleaner for Sherpas and mountaineers worldwide.

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With the inevitable issue of overcrowding, and the average person leaving behind 8 kg (17.6 lbs) of trash, Mount Everest desperately needs as much help as it can get. DJI successfully using a drone to remove 2,858 kg (6,300 lbs) of waste this spring season is definitely progress, and a ginormous step in the right direction.