What To Do Before & After Burning Man
Every crew has a ritual of sorts developed over the years to make sure everything goes smoothly going in and out of the desert. Depending on how far away you are traveling, whether alone or with a group, some things will vary, of course. Here are some tips and tricks that we have found helpful along the way, whether you are coming from abroad or coming in from the States.
Before you go...
Acquire missing gear from hardware stores, camp outlets, and thrift shops.
Test your bikes if you are not renting or picking them up before heading to Black Rock City.
Test your gear, tent, lights, etc.
Check your gear list and make sure everything is packed.
Buy groceries, water, and personal care products.
Precook meals and freeze them so they are easy to heat up on the playa.
Check your maps and download your route before you lose reliable cell service.
Fill up with gas and check your tires, brake fluid, oil, coolant, spare tire, etc.
Cover your car/RV interior with second-hand sheets if you want to protect it from playa dust.
Have a good dinner.
Get a good night's sleep — you don't want to fall asleep at the wheel driving in.
The day before — actually, a couple of days before — is when we start. Depending on how much you still need to get, give yourself some extra time to find it. We make sure that we have all the gear on our checklist. Usually, we have to replace, fix, or upgrade something, so we pick up anything we might be missing at the hardware store or camp outlet. Thrift shops are a great place to pick up sheets, costumes, furniture, and other decorations to make a camp nice.
Grocery Tips
You will need to make sure you get enough food and water for the trip. If you wait until the last grocery store before Gerlach, you may find a lot of essential items missing from the shelves. Other Burners have been there before you. Make sure to get your groceries at least the day before you go. You can probably find some last-minute items along the way, but better safe than sorry.
Here's a tip: if you're staying in Reno or somewhere along the way, rent an Airbnb or other place with a kitchen and precook some of your meals. Then freeze them and place them in coolers to be heated up on the playa. Pasta, soups, chili, and similar meals are good examples.
Lost on the road?
As you begin to get closer to the burn, you will notice the man on different vans and caravans. An art car on a trailer is a good giveaway. Usually these folks know where they are going...
Fill Up The Gas
If you are driving in, make sure to fill up your gas tank before heading toward Black Rock City.
More than one Burner has run low on gas on the way back from the Burn. Hours of waiting in Gate or Exodus traffic with the AC running can use more fuel than you might expect.
You don't want to be sitting in the desert with no gas.
SAFEWAY TIP
There are Safeway stores in the Reno area, and if you already use Safeway's rewards program, grocery purchases can earn fuel rewards.
But don't depend on one particular Reno grocery store for everything you need. Thousands of Burners may be shopping at the same stores during Burn Week, so get the bulk of your supplies before the final stretch of the trip.
When You Come Back From Burning Man...
There are a number of chores to do after you return from the Burn. Here is a short list to help you check.
Waste Disposal — See below for current information.
Grey Water Disposal — See below for current information.
Recycle — Separate recyclables and use authorized locations.
Gear Cleanup — Find a car wash, get some coins, and get spraying.
RV / Car Cleanup — Make sure to clean your vehicle after the Burn. Playa dust gets everywhere. Here are tips on how to clean your RV or car.
Laundry — While some are washing the gear, others can use the laundromat to wash clothes.
Storage — If you are putting your gear into storage, make sure it is all dry and clean before you do. You don't want dusty or moldy gear sitting for a year.
Shower — All your gear is clean; now it's time to get you clean. It's amazing how much dust you will find. Pack a set of clean clothes before the Burn in a sealed bag. Put these on when you are back and you will feel a lot better.
Stuff your face with food — Nothing like getting back, getting clean, and getting food to tie a group together. Sparks has the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook Off during Labor Day week. In 2026, it runs September 2–7. Not exactly the top choice for vegetarians or vegans...
Get a mani-pedi — Yes, your poor feet and hands will thank you. Make sure to give a good tip to whoever has to deal with your broken toes and fingers.
Find a Local Decompression — There is an adjustment for a lot of people going back to the old world. There are parties and get-togethers that local Burners organize to "decompress." Go join one of these events and connect with the community some more.
Waste Disposal
Make sure to keep your waste separated into recyclables as much as possible. Use separate garbage bags or containers for cans, cardboard, food waste, plastic, and general trash where practical. This makes waste disposal much more effective.
Do not throw your garbage into a dumpster behind a store. Do not leave it at a rest stop, hotel, gas station, or on the side of the road.
Every year some Burners dump garbage along the highway or in dumpsters that aren't meant for event waste. It gives Burners a bad name, does not follow the Leave No Trace principle of Burning Man, and is illegal.
Burning Man now maintains an official Leave Nevada Beautiful list of Burner-friendly trash, recycling, and RV dump locations. Use the current official list because locations, prices, and operating hours can change from year to year.
Whole Foods Market - Trash-Recycling
6139 South Virginia St, Reno, NV
Open 6am – Midnight Sept. 3 – Sept. 7
$5 per 35 gallon trash bag
Free Recycling Clean, sort, and unbag recyclables before depositing – Hazardous waste prohibited
Nixon Gas Station & Store - accepts trash only
State Rt 447 corner of State Rt 446, Nixon NV
24 hours from Aug. 24th to Sept. 6
$5 bag
Waste Management: Fernley/Churchill Transfer Station - accepts trash & recycling
1100 US Hwy 95a S. Fernley NV
24 hours Sept 3 - Sept. 5 • 8am-4:30pm Sept. 6 – Sept 10 • Closed Lunch 12-12:30pm
$16 minimum for land ll, per cubic yard – Free Recycling
Waste Management in Stead - accepts trash and recycling
13890 Mt Anderson St. in Reno
775-329-8822
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Prices not available
SaveMart - accepts trash and recycling from Sept. 2 to Sept. 6
525 Keystone Ave in Reno
775-786-2150
24-hours from Sept. 2 to Sept. 6 for disposal and recycling
$10 for a 35-pound bag; recycling is free
Rabbit Traxx Store - accepts trash-recycling
580 Patterson Way, Cedarville CA
24 hours Sept. 3 – Sept 7
$5 per 35gal trash bag • Free Recycling
Hazardous Waste Prohibited – Clean, sort, and unbag recyclables before depositing
Waste Management in Reno - accepts trash and recycling
1392 E. Commercial Row in Reno - trash
1100 E Commercial Row in Reno - recycling
775-329-8822
7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
$25 for one cubic yard, $15 for additional cubic yards; recycling is free
Waste Management in Fernley - accepts trash and recycling
1100 Highway 95 A in Fernley
775-575-4964
24 hours from 2 p.m. Sept. 4 to 4 p.m. Sept. 6; normal hours are 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
No prices available
Waste Management east of Sparks - accepts trash and recycling
2700 E. Mustang Road, Sparks, NV
775-329-8822
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Prices not available
There may also be permitted local trash and recycling operations on Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal lands along Highway 447. Burning Man recommends making sure any operation you use has the appropriate tribal permit.
Important: Operating hours, prices, and services can change, so check the current official Burning Man Leave Nevada Beautiful page before leaving Black Rock City.
And secure your trash well. If bags are on top of your vehicle, double-bag them and strap them down securely so they don't become highway MOOP.
DPW Team Ready To Clean! Photo via burningman.com
Donate your Food and Water to Cleanup Crew
Did you know that volunteers stay after the event to make sure everything is cleaned up completely from Burning Man?
This does not mean you can dump your stuff. They make sure it is spotless, and so should you.
If an official post-event donation program is operating when you leave, you may be able to donate approved unused supplies. Check the current Burning Man Survival Guide before relying on a specific food or water drop-off, because programs and accepted materials can change from year to year.
Good karma starts with packing out everything you brought unless you know it is being accepted by an authorized donation program.
RECYCLE CAMPS
Photo by Vito Fun
There are a number of recycling efforts at Burning Man.
Cans can be recycled at Recycle Camp. Burning Man currently says aluminum cans may be brought to Recycle Camp in Center Camp.
Burners Without Borders also collects usable lumber and certain building materials after the Burn.
For 2026, Burning Man says BWB recycling stations are expected near 3, 6, and 9 on the Esplanade, starting Sunday and operating Sunday and Monday. They accept usable full-size lumber such as 2x4s, 4x4s, and plywood, as well as certain reusable building materials such as conduit, pipe, wiring, and tools. No scraps.
Got some time to kill after the Burn? Help them organize, clean, and sort donations!
Grey Water Disposal
There are a number of places where you can dispose of your grey water, whether you are in an RV or have contained it to bring back with you.
Do not dump your grey water on the playa, off the side of the road, into a storm drain, or somewhere else just as bad.
Grey water contains soap, food particles, oils, and other contaminants. Burning Man says dumping untreated grey water on the playa can contaminate the environment, create slippery playa mud, violate the event's agreement with the Bureau of Land Management, and result in citations or fines.
Also, do not put grey water into participant porta-potties. Porta-potties are for human waste and toilet paper only.
Golden Gate Petroleum - RV Dump & Gray Water
11055 S. Rock Blvd, Sparks NV
Dumping hours 5am-9pm
$8
TA Travel Center - RV Dump & Gray Water
800 N. McCarran Blvd, Sparks NV
24 hours - Limited to RVs, 55–gal drums
$5
Safari RV • RV Dump & Gray Water
2802 Kietzke Lane, Reno NV
Mon-Sat 8:30am-5:30pm • Sun 11:30am-3:30pm
$8.50 per dump or free with $25 in- store purchase
Pyramid Lake Marina & Campground - RV Dump & Gray Water
2500 Lakeview Dr, Reno NV
24hr Credit Card Kiosk , $10
Modoc District Fairgrounds - RV Dump – Gray Water
1 Center St, Cedarville CA
(530) 279-2315 contact for hours, capacity, costs
Love’s Travel Stop - RV Dump & Gray Water
(Gray Water Only – No Black Water – No Hoses Available )
825 Commerce Center Dr, Fernley NV
24 hours , $5
I–80 Smokeshop & Campground - Trash – RV Dump – Gray Water
1000 Smokeshop Circle, Wadsworth NV
24 hours
$5 bag trash – Price TBD RV dump/grey
Reno Boomtown - RV Dump – Gray Water
2100 Garson Rd, Verdi NV
8am-9pm
$10
Gold Ranch RV - RV Dump – Gray Water
320 Gold Ranch Rd, Verdi NV
9am-5pm for dumping if campsites available
$10
Alturas Chevron - RV Dump Station – Gray Water
1080 North Main St, Alturas CA
(530)233-5114 contact for hours, capacity, costs
DONATE YOUR GEAR
Photo by Stuck at the airport
If you are not planning on coming back and hate camping, you may want to get rid of your camping gear.
Please do not just throw it away.
If it's in good condition, there are organizations that will take equipment and use it for good causes.
Do not be insulting and dump a bunch of trashed items somewhere just because you're too lazy or cheap to bring them to the dump. If the items are not damaged but maybe lightly dusted, try to get as much dust off them as possible and make sure they are otherwise clean.
St. Vincent's / Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada — accepts many household and usable donated items
500 E. Fourth Street, Reno, NV
(775) 322-9824
Current donation hours: 8am–4pm, Monday–Sunday. Catholic Charities also operates several other Reno/Sparks drop-off centers.
Reno Bike Project — accepts bicycle donations
216 E. Grove St., Reno, NV
(775) 323-4488
Current regular hours listed are 11am–6pm Tuesday–Saturday.
Burning Man's 2026 bicycle information also lists these organizations for off-playa bike donations:
Reno Bike Project
Reno Kiwanis Bike Shop
Black Rock Bicycles
Burning Man specifically asks participants not to abandon bikes in Reno or at the airport.
If you are flying out of Reno-Tahoe International Airport, the airport also says it will have a post-Burn bicycle donation corral at the Burner Express Bus drop-off location.
Always check that a donation location is currently accepting the specific item before dropping it off.
As you can see, there is a lot to consider when going to the playa.
Don't be afraid to reach out to other Burners on your trip. You will begin to notice each other more and more.
Also remember that your actions reflect on ALL BURNERS, so make sure to leave a good impression.
Happy Burn!
If you have any tips, please let us know in the comments.
