The Himachal Pradesh High Court has proposed that the state government require tourists to carry garbage bags to manage waste during their visits. This suggestion came from Justices Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Sushil Kukreja, who recommended that Himachal Pradesh adopt similar measures to those implemented in Goa and Sikkim to promote sustainable tourism.

In a July 19 order, the court advised the state to implement a system where tourists are required to carry large garbage bags in their vehicles. This initiative would be managed by tour operators, travel agencies, and vehicle drivers, ensuring that tourists are informed about the necessity of waste collection and disposal.

The court's recommendations were part of its review of petitions concerning environmental issues in Himachal Pradesh. The order also included several directives for improving waste management, such as:

• Auditing waste carried by trekkers and charging user fees to support waste management and environmental conservation.
• Establishing small dry waste storage facilities at checkpoints for temporary waste storage until it can be transported to central facilities.
• Creating committees with representatives from local panchayats, the Tourism Development Corporation (TDC), Ecotourism Society, and NGOs to oversee waste management and conservation efforts.
• Ensuring transparent management of user fees collected at checkpoints for waste management and conservation activities.

Additionally, the court instructed the state government to implement training programs for panchayats and urban local bodies on waste segregation and material recovery, in collaboration with relevant NGOs.