Nepal’s government announced late last year that it had ended the 11-year “waste deposit scheme” on Mount Everest, admitting it failed to curb the mountain’s growing trash problem. Under the scheme, climbers were required to pay a US$4,000 deposit, which was refundable only if they carried down 8kg of waste. The policy was meant to facilitate the removal of rubbish from the mountain.
In practice, however, most waste was collected from lower camps, while trash at higher altitudes remained untouched. With Everest estimated to contain around 50 tons of waste, the rule proved to be little more than an administrative burden.
Under a new plan, climbers will pay a non-refundable US$4,000 clean-up fee, which *Sherpa leaders say will create a dedicated fund for clean-up work and enforcement as part of a five-year action plan.
Photo: Ivy English I 照片: 常春藤解析英語
*Sherpa 表「雪巴人」，是喜馬拉雅山脈的一個部族，常受僱為登山者當嚮導。
尼泊爾政府於去年底宣布已終止在聖母峰實施長達十一年的垃圾押金制度，坦承該政策未能遏止該山區日益嚴重的垃圾問題。在該制度下，登山者必須支付一筆四千美元的押金，只有在下山時攜帶八公斤的垃圾返程才能退還。該政策旨在促進山上垃圾的清除。
然而在實際執行上，多數垃圾皆從較低的營地收集來，較高海拔地區的垃圾則仍未被處理。由於估計聖母峰上約累積有五十噸垃圾，這項規定最終被證明不過是一項行政負擔。
在新計畫下，登山者將支付一筆不可退還的四千美元清理費，雪巴族領袖表示，這筆費用將作為五年行動計畫的一部分，建立一個專款專用的基金，用於清理工作與執法。
What Did You Learn?
Under what condition could climbers get their deposit back?
參考答案 :
If they carried down 8kg of waste.
Words in Use
1. deposit n. 押金；訂金
Aaron paid a deposit to reserve the apartment before signing the contract.
亞倫在簽約前先付了一筆訂金來保留那間公寓。
2. announce vt. 宣布，公布
The singer smiled as the host announced her as the winner.
當主持人宣布這位歌手為得獎者時，她露出了微笑。
3. facilitate vt. 促進
Fiona designed the schedule to facilitate smoother daily operations.
費歐娜設計了行程表，以利日常運作更加順暢。
4. estimate vt. 估計 be estimated to V 據估（有）∕預估（要）……
The total cost is estimated to exceed one million US dollars.
總成本估計將超過一百萬美元。
5. dedicated a. 專用的，專門的
Laura set up a dedicated workspace at home so that she could concentrate better.
蘿拉在家中設立一個專門的工作空間，好讓自己能更專心工作。
Practical Phrases
1. in practice 實際上
In practice, Bella realized that the plan required more time and resources than expected.
在實際上，貝拉意識到這項計畫需要的時間與資源比預期更多。
2. be little more than. . . 只不過是……
Without sufficient planning, the proposal turned out to be little more than a short-term solution.
在缺乏充分規畫的情況下，這項提案結果只不過是一個短期解方。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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