Burning Man Cleanup Faces Uphill Battle as Summer Storm Leaves Massive Mess Behind

After a summer storm left Burning Man attendees stranded in ankle-deep mud, organizers now face the challenge of cleaning up the remnants of the massive event. Burning Man is known for its principle of leaving no trace, meaning that all attendees are expected to pack out everything they brought and clean up their camps before leaving. However, the torrential rains and subsequent flooding have made clean-up efforts more difficult. The aftermath of the storm has left the Black Rock Desert dotted with abandoned vehicles, rugs, furniture, tents, and trash.

Many attendees have had to walk miles barefoot through the muck, and car washes have turned away vehicles too caked in mud and clay. Nearby grocery stores have even put up signs banning disposal of Burning Man-related trash and recycling in their bins. While many attendees are committed to the principle of leaving no trace and are willing to stay and clean up, some say that trash issues have gotten worse in recent years. The erosion of core principles may be due to a wave of newer attendees who are careless about the environment. Burning Man organizers, who are required by a permit from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to clear the area of debris, have not yet responded to questions about how the rain will impact the cleanup timeline.

Last year, after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Burning Man team narrowly passed its inspection for cleanup. The restoration team described the 2022 event as one of the messiest in recent history, with large amounts of debris left behind. The cleanup team collected over 1,000 tent stakes, which were deemed the most dangerous and abundant debris. Cleanup efforts involve smoothing out the dried lake bed with large rakes attached to trucks and picking up trash on frequented highways. Next month, federal employees and Burning Man organizers will conduct a site inspection, and event organizers will be responsible for any necessary repairs.

Despite the challenges presented by the storm, Burning Man organizers have been good partners in the past and are expected to meet the requirement to clean up. This year's festival saw the ceremonial burnings of a towering, faceless effigy and the temple delayed due to heavy rain. For many attendees, the burning of the temple is a centerpiece of the celebration, representing an intimate and spiritual tradition to commemorate departed loved ones.

Nevada U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, whose district includes Black Rock Desert, believes Burning Man is a positive event for the area and expects organizers to meet the cleanup requirement. Tow truck operators have already towed numerous vehicles stuck in the mud, and organizers have hired a road-grader to smooth ruts on the road from the festival site to the highway. The site itself is messier than in previous years, with more garbage left behind. Despite the challenges, festivalgoers who refer to themselves