1. Pack With Intention: Bring only what you need. The most effective way to reduce MOOP is to not bring it at all. Unbox new gear at home (See Pre-cycling); strip away plastic wrap, peanuts, and cardboard before you pack. If it stays in your home waste stream, it never reaches the playa.
  2. Never Let It Hit The Ground! High winds and dust storms often happen without warning. Don’t leave anything—from paper plates, towels, and cardboard to cups, cans, and plastic bags—lying around where it can blow away and be buried by the dust. Even small bits like cigarette butts or food scraps become a recovery nightmare once covered. By being mindful that anything and everything can become MOOP in an instant, you ensure we Leave No Trace.
  3. If you see MOOP, pick it up! The dust quickly buries it, making it impossible to spot later. MOOP tends to attract more MOOP, so carry a personal MOOP bag or receptacle to grab any random Matter Out of Place you come across while walking or biking around BRC.
  4. 5-Minute Daily Camp MOOP Sweeps! Rally your campmates and line up, arms-width apart. Spend five minutes a day MOOP sweeping your camp boundary. Perform these sweeps before setup, throughout the week, and after teardown. Every bit you pick up daily is MOOP that won’t be buried later. Use rakes and magnet sweepers to easily sift through mounds of dust. Extra credit for making your own MOOP Map!
  5. The #1 Worst MOOP: Lag Bolts & Stakes! They are often lost in the dust and can be dangerous to tires and feet. Count every ground anchor in and out of the ground. Visibly tag each one with “marking whiskers” or flagging tape so they don’t vanish into the dust. Use a metal detector for a final check to ensure nothing is left behind.
  6. Wood is MOOP. Firewood bark, sawdust, and splinters leave a MOOPy trace on the playa. Always use a tarp under any wood storage or construction area.
  7. Manage Trash, Recycling, and Food Waste! Manage your waste daily. Sort your trash, crush your cans, and separate food waste into compost bags. Sort all recycling before you depart BRC for a fast, easy drop-off at collection centers on your way home. See the latest Leave Nevada Beautiful: Trash, Recycling, and RV Dump Locations.
  8. Protect the Potties: If It Wasn’t In Your Body, It Doesn’t Go In The Potty! Only single-ply toilet paper and human waste go in the potties. Anything else—tampons, trash, or baby wipes—will clog the vendor’s hose. Clogged hoses mean unserviced potties for everyone.
  9. The Playa is Not a Bathroom. NEVER use the playa or art as a toilet. It is gross, disrespectful, and a ticketable offense. Always use the porta-potties (look for the blue lights on top).

See the Playa Restoration 2026 Playbook for practical instructions from the Playa Restoration team, including proven tools, methods, and tips to help camps and art projects successfully pass their MOOP test and leave no trace.