Nestlé launches recycling initiative at K2 base camp Askole

ASKOLE, GILGIT-BALTISTAN – In a significant step towards environmental sustainability, Nestlé Pakistan has extended its Clean Gilgit-Baltistan Project (CGBP) to Askole – Zero Point, a critical gateway to K2 and other major peaks. Situated nearly 10,000 feet above sea level, Askole generates around 40,000 kg of plastic waste annually, which will now be recycled using a compressing and baling machine donated by Nestlé.

The machine, handed over to the Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP), will compress plastic and paper waste into bales for transport and recycling in partnership with the Gilgit Baltistan Waste Management Company (GBWMC).

Raja Nasir, Gilgit-Baltistan’s Minister for Planning, praised the effort:

“Nestlé’s initiative at Askole, a fragile ecological zone near the Baltoro and Biafo glaciers, is a commendable step toward a waste-free future.”

Jason Avanceña, CEO of Nestlé Pakistan, reaffirmed the company’s global commitment:

“We aim to ensure that none of our packaging, including plastic, ends up in landfills or water bodies. Tackling packaging waste requires strong public-private partnerships.”

Previously, Nestlé installed similar machines in Gilgit, Hunza, and Skardu, facilitating the management of over 6,800 tons of plastic waste in the past five years. The company also distributed 15,000 reusable bags, placed 225 recycled plastic benches, and installed 100 waste bins across 16 key tourist locations in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Commissioner Baltistan Kamal Khan and other officials applauded the initiative, highlighting its alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals 12 and 17 on responsible consumption and global partnerships.

Askole serves as a staging point for mountaineering expeditions to K2, Gasherbrum I, and other iconic peaks. The project is expected to significantly reduce environmental damage in one of the world’s most sensitive mountain ecosystems.