LNT Reports & MOOP Maps

Leave No Trace and Matter out of Place (MOOP)

What the heck is MOOP?

MOOP stands for "Matter Out of Place," a term used to describe any object or substance that is not naturally part of the environment where our event is held. This includes (but is not limited to) anything that wasn’t originally found on event property, regardless of size, and must be cleaned up as part of our Leave No Trace principle. MOOP also covers gray water and the particles it contains (eeeew, food bits).

What are the most common MOOP issues?

Gray Water/Black Water Dumping: Dumping your gray/black water on the ground is nasty for not only the environment but for everyone. It also encourages pests to come onto the property to scavenge.

Rebar, Tent Stakes and Ground Anchors: With a pair of vice grips and some leverage, there's nothing that can't be extracted. Freeze/thaw cycles will eventually push out anything that has been driven into the grounds, and these items can cause serious harm to livestock.

Metal Debris: Fasteners such as screws, nails, can tabs, bottle caps, and other metal items are common on the playa. Nearly everything on the Fraya is secured with metal. For efficient cleanup, a magnet sweeper with a release handle (look it up online) is an excellent tool to quickly and easily collect metal debris from the ground.

Carpet Fiber/Debris: Carpets, rugs, and worn-out tarps don’t often disintegrate into small fragments - they DO! Scattering micro-sized MOOP across vast areas.

Fibers, and pieces of Cloth: These are often the glittery threads from that costume you love so much or small, lost pieces from jewelry.

Plastic Debris: Plastic frequently becomes airborne MOOP because of wind and neglect. Items like plastic bottle caps, packaging, baggies, zip ties, duct tape, caution tape, and more can easily be swept away in a gust. Make sure to manage your plastic materials, keep them contained, and always RECYCLE.

Wood Debris: Although wood (chips, bark, pallets, splinters, sawdust) is often considered "organic," it is still classified as MOOP at our event. We ask that you manage your wood materials and work areas carefully. Use a tarp to cover the ground for your work, material piles, and burnable debris.

Cigarette Butts: Although not ultimately common, still disappointing to see on the ground. Do not drop cigarettes ANYwhere on the property. It’s not your ashtray

Plants: Real or fake, there is always a chance that your plant, garland or christmas tree is going to MOOP. Be aware, we are like MOOP bloodhounds, and have no problems combing fake pine needles out of the grass while cursing your camp name. Remember that micro-sized MOOP can spread out over a wide area. Factor in the wind and rain storm and someone has a disaster to deal with on their hands and knees.

Leaky Vehicles: While we love seeing so many colorful vehicles in the parking lot and in camps, please remember that if you're staining your driveway at home, you will probably also stain the field where you park for the weekend. Be sure to put something under your leaky old car, truck, van or bus and make sure it doesn't blow away!!

What is a Line Sweep

A line sweep is a coordinated group of participants moving forward in a line, standing arm’s length apart. This method is an effective and efficient way for the community to scan and collect MOOP across a specific area. It can be used at your camp, art installation, community space, or any other location.

Step 1: Line Up beside your anchor (starting position marked with a pylon).

Step 2: Spread out arms length apart (about 2m)

Step 3: slowly advance, scanning ground back and forth.

Step 4: Master the art of de-MOOPing.

Tools of the Trade

Leaving no trace is an art, and we set an example by practicing it. Here are a few essential tools that can help restore any MOOPed area to its natural beauty:

Disposable Work Gloves: Picking up Moop can be a messy ordeal (especially when it comes to food waste). Having a good set of disposable (or washable) gloves will save your fingers from “the ick”.

Garbage or MOOP bags: Having a bag at your camp or even on your person to pick up MOOP throughout the event will be our most impacting way of minimizing our traces. Do your part and don’t just walk by that MOOP - Pick it up!

Magnet Rakes: If you're working with metal or fasteners, a magnet rake will make your life (and ours) much easier! Just roll it over your work area, let the magnet collect the metal debris, and then dispose of it in the trash. It's a simple and efficient solution.

Locking Pliers: If you’ve driven a tent peg or rebar too deep and can’t get it out, grab some locking pliers (vise grips). Clamp them tightly around the peg, rotate it a bit to loosen the dirt, then twist back and forth while pulling upward (and remember to lift with your legs, not your back - no one wants a trip to medical).

Buckets: Buckets make great greywater vessels as well as quick and easy garbage pails. If you splurge, you can even get one with a lid for under $10! What a deal! Use this for all your Freezer Burn grossness!