Waste

You’re the camp lead or just got voluntold to be the Leave No Trace (LNT) Lead—now what?

Use the checklists below and the resources linked throughout to minimize waste, ditch the MOOP, and level up your camp’s playa stewardship game.

Pre-Playa

Designate LNT Lead

Assign a dedicated LNT Lead to create and share an LNT Plan for your camp’s build, operation, and strike phases.

No Single-Use Items

Make it clear: no single-use items like water bottles, glow sticks, etc., and no MOOPy messes like glitter or any of the other MOOP culprits.

Host MOOP Meeting

Dedicate meeting to educate campmates on LNT principles to ensure comprehension.

DA leads MOOP meeting - Rich Van Every 2013

2nd-Hand Sourcing

Prioritize second-hand or high-quality items to reduce cost, consumption and creation of waste.

Zero Waste Foods

Opt for [zero waste foods] and remove packaging/stickers to remain compost compliant.

Pre-MOOP

Prefabricate off-playa to avoid on-playa MOOP. Remove packaging, and stickers from new items.

MOOP Station - Philippe Glade 2017

On-Playa

Waste Separation

Use clearly labeled bins for landfill, burnables, compost, recycling, lithium batteries and aluminum cans for Recycle Camp.

Ground Cover

Use durable ground cover in high-MOOP areas: kitchen, showers, and staging zones.

Compost

Pack out your scraps or pre-register to drop off semi-dried compost with playa-wide composting

Daily MOOP Sweeps

Conduct Daily MOOP Sweeps. After build and daily in high traffic areas and roads during Burn Week.

Wood Recycling

Starting Sunday, find drop-off stations near 3, 6, and 9 on the Esplanade, open 10am–9pm through Monday.

Accepted: full 2x4s, 4x4s, plywood, and re-usable non-liquid hardware (pipes, conduit, wiring, tools). No scraps, please! Got time post-Burn? Help sort and clean donations.

Plan ahead: design your camp for easy recycling. Stick to full lumber lengths, skip unnecessary cuts, and build with screws for easier disassembly.

Composting Toilets

If your camp wants to have personal toilets, explore DIY or rental composting toilet options.

Upcycled Art

Combine LNT with radical self-expression by crafting interactivity or art from upcycled materials.

 Post-Playa

Waste Disposal

Dispose of recycling, trash and RV pump outs at  authorized facilities or take your waste home. Don't leave at rest stops and skip unverified roadside services, as some mishandle waste.

Bag of MOOP left behind during exodus - Scott Williams 2014