Hey folks, 

Charlie here again. Let’s talk trash. (Wait, don’t go! I didn’t mean about you!)

As the Event Operations Director, I attend many meetings with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In short, we’re doing ok with the trash situation on playa. We totally need to do better, but what we really need to improve is the off-playa put it in the right location trash situation.

So, I've got 16 pro-tips on how you can pre-green your Burn, and I’ll also share the ways you can properly dispose of your trash, recycling, and gray/black water after you leave Black Rock City. 

But first, a little background
As you’re probably aware, there are no trash cans, no dumpsters, and no garbage collection service in Black Rock City. While we’re proud that Burning Man is the largest "Leave No Trace" (LNT) event in the world, there is more to be done. Take a look at our annual MOOP (that’s “Matter Out Of Place”) Map:

The 2018 MOOP (Matter Out Of Place) Map (click to embiggen)

See all that yellow and red?

Plus, the BLM has issued an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that straight up tells us a primary concern is that we’re not disposing of our trash properly after we leave Black Rock City. That means we — you, me, everyone — need to step it up. Because if we don’t, we risk losing the event entirely and/or having so many rules imposed on us that, quite frankly, it’s going to suck. 

This is where you come in
For our event to continue, we need everyone to “pack out” every little thing you brought to the desert, and then dispose of it properly. And we need you to stop NOW and consider what you’re “packing in.” Less is best. It’s simple: Pack less in, pack less out. This is urgent.

Still here? Great! As promised, here are 16 solid ways you can Leave No Trace:

1. First, consider your impact. Because this is so important to our survival, we’ve brought back Burning Man communications wizard Will Chase to write an entire series about it.

2. Leave unnecessary packaging at home. Precycle, baby! Take off all paper and plastic before leaving for the desert. Remove sticker labels from fruit and other perishables.

3. Plan your playa meals now to reduce your food waste later. Whatever food waste you do make can be placed in a mesh bag to dry out in the sun. 

4. Pack reusable (instead of disposable) beverage containers, like mugs and cups. Pro-tip: If you’re heading to Center Camp Cafe, our volunteers will happily serve drinks in your reusable container.

5. If you must bring single-serving beverages, choose crushable aluminum cans over glass and plastic, always. On playa, you can bring those empty crushed cans to the good folks at Recycle Camp and they’ll, yes, recycle them for you. Proceeds go to local schools. They’re doing the Lord’s work, I tell ya!

6. Smokers: Bring a few small mint tins and keep one with you at all times. Yes, even ashes are MOOP.

7. Make sure everyone in your camp will be carrying around a MOOP bag wherever they go. And in camp, a simple, well-secured plastic milk jug is perfect for collecting group MOOP.

8. Choose costumes wisely, ones that aren’t going to shed into a MOOP-y mess. Feathers, glitter, sequins, beads, bindis, body gems, glued-on bits, and fake eyelashes are problematic.

10. Let’s talk about gifts. Yes, gifting is part of our culture. Yes, it’s one of our 10 Principles. But, it can conflict with LNT. There’s no reason to bring junk to the playa simply for the sake of having something to gift. Sometimes, the best kinds of gifts cannot be bought at the store, like a song, a smile, a compliment, or a (consensual) hug. A great experience is better than potential MOOP.

11. Your camp needs to have a gray water plan I know... this one can seem daunting. For inspiration, check out this Profiles in Dust video on “Mastering Gray Water” and read THIS.

12. Can I get a little personal here? Peeing on the playa is never ok. We have lots of porta-potties for you to use but it’s not such a bad idea to keep a “pee jug” next to your bed so you won’t have to stumble around at night.

13. Pack rakes, shovels, and magnet sweepers and organize regular line sweeps to remove MOOP. Your exit plan should include a major all-camp line sweep. Wait. What is a line sweep? 

I’m glad you asked. Here’s how it works: Everyone from your camp lines up at arm’s length from each other, then walks slowly through your camp in a straight line, looking at the ground and picking up every tiny little thing. Line sweeps work! Watch.

14. Include trash and recyclable sorting and removal in your camp’s plan. You’ll want to bring plenty of trash bags and also some waste containers with secure, tight-fitting lids. Separate wet trash from dry.  

Imagine your trash and recycling bags under that cargo net -- yasss!

15. If you’re driving to and from the event, pack a few cargo bungee nets to secure your trash to the top of your vehicle (or better yet, place it inside so there’s zero chance of it flying off). 

16. This is the big one. You absolutely, positively need to properly dispose of your trash.

Trash can NOT be left in a pile on the roadside of 447 or in the Paiute Nation; 

It can NOT be left at a rest stop or dumpster on I-80 or any other public highway; 

It can NOT be left in the trash behind a business in 

Reno, Sparks, Winnemucca, Nevada City, or Salt Lake City…

People, take out the trash.

Where can it be left? Take it all the way home with you. Or, check the 2019 Survival Guide and our Leave Nevada Beautiful page for info about designated places for disposing of your trash. Please ONLY use permitted operations, as unpermitted operations frequently fail and cause more problems!

The world is a Leave No Trace zone 
Remember, too, “leave no trace” isn’t confined to just your camp, or even to the limits of Black Rock City. Deep playa, Gerlach, Exodus, Reno, and THE ENTIRE WORLD are all “leave no trace” zones too. It’s a lifestyle, so bring a MOOP bag with you everywhere. Yes, even in the default world. I was camping just last weekend and we got a dozen kids MOOPing in camp, and they turned it into a competition about who could get the most trash — MOOPing can be fun!

Leaving no trace demonstrates our community’s commitment to the environment, on playa and off. Step it up, folks!

You got this,

Charlie “Louder!” Dolman

P.S. Also related to all this trash talk, we’ve just published a long-term Environmental Sustainability Roadmap. We’re deeply concerned about the global climate crisis and have taken the first steps to becoming regenerative and carbon negative. I hope you’ll give it a read.

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