KATHMANDU - Mountaineering expedition organizers in Nepal are sending huge trash bags with climbers on Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest in the West, during the spring climbing season to collect trash that then can be winched by helicopters back to the base camp.

Dambar Parajuli of the Expedition Operators Association of Nepal said on Wednesday that bags have already been sent to the base camp to be carried by climbers, guides and porters to higher elevations.

Each bag can hold up to 80 kilograms of trash and can be hooked to helicopters at Camp 2 to be flown back to the base camp. The helicopters after dropping off supplies and equipment at the camp located at 6,400 meters generally fly back empty.