1. Don’t bring it to the playa! Do you really need that strip of LED lights when you have 10 others already packed? Consider what you’ll actually use. More importantly, if you buy something new to bring the playa, take a few minutes to unbox and discard all of the packing material (plastic bags, packing peanuts, styrofoam, user manual, etc.) in the proper waste stream at home before packing up and heading to the playa. It can’t become MOOP if it never comes to Burning Man!
  2. Never let it hit the ground! Don’t leave cigarette butts, paper towels, cardboard, bottles or cans lying around where they can blow away. High winds and dust storms are common, and often happen without warning. By being mindful, you can significantly lower the chances of anything turning into MOOP.
  3. If you see MOOP, pick it up — the dust quickly buries MOOP and makes it hard to spot. MOOP attracts more MOOP. Always carry a small bag to collect any MOOP you find while walking or biking around BRC.
  4. MOOP Sweeps: Gather your campmates and line up, arms-width apart, along your camp boundary. Walk together from one side of camp to the other, picking up any MOOP you find along the way. Perform sweeps before setting up camp, throughout the event, and after teardown. Use cleanup tools like reacher/grabbers (MOOP sticks), rakes, metal shovels, trash cans, and magnet sweepers to make the job easier. MOOP sweeps are a blast, but you can add even more fun by giving a prize or reward to the camper who finds the most MOOP!
  5. Account for and remove all of your tent stakes/rebar/lag bolts/spikes. Stakes and lag bolts have taken the new number one position as the most MOOP! Not only are these difficult to find in playa dunes, but are dangerous to shins and tires. Be sure you’ve removed every stake you put into the ground! Keep a count of how many stakes/bolts you put in the ground and be sure that the same number come out at the end of the event. Attaching markers to lag bolts before installation can prevent them from being obscured by dust or mud, ensuring they are easily found and removed later.
  6. Wood is MOOP! Despite being “organic,” wood debris is still a MOOP issue in Black Rock City, where the dry environment prevents biodegradation. Sawdust, splinters, and firewood bark pose a major MOOP problem. Lay down a tarp or rug under your firewood storage areas and wood-cutting stations.
  7. Manage waste throughout the event. Sort your trash. Crush your cans. Separate food waste and dry it in a mesh bag in the sun.
  8. Sort trash and recycling before you depart BRC for easy drop off at collection centers on your way home. See Leave Nevada Beautiful: Trash, Recycling, and RV Dump Locations.
  9. Only single-ply toilet paper and human waste go in the potties. Anything else — tampons, trash or baby wipes — will clog the toilet vendor’s hose, resulting in unserviced potties. 
  10. The playa is not a bathroom. NEVER use the playa as a toilet! You can (and should) be ticketed. And absolutely do not use the artwork as a toilet. It’s gross AND disrespectful. Carry a pee bottle and keep one near your bed, or visit the porta-potties on the open playa (marked by blue lights) instead.
  11. Remove ALL Tent Stakes & Lag Bolts: Use an impact driver for quick and efficient removal. If one isn’t available, vise grips or a multi-tool can help loosen stubborn stakes. To prevent loss in dust or mud, mark stakes with bright-colored tape or flags when installing, and always account for every stake before leaving.