That stinky trash bag on the drive home from the playa? That’s the “Wayback Funk™.” Term courtesy of Scotto.
Why do I have trash in my car? Because EVERY CAMPER needs to take 2 full bags of trash back with them, and dump RESPONSIBLY. (Did you miss BAA BAA TRASH SHEEP? Go Back and Read!)
It gets worse the longer you drive, even in the trunk, because there’s just a thin barrier between the smell and your car, and it gets hot back there. Some people can’t stand it. They might have been wild and carefree at the event, but the smell of their own rotting garbage disgusts them. Desperate to escape the funk, they might illegally dump their trash in portajohns, at other camps, overflowing dumpsters, or even roadside.
If this sounds familiar, know that you can avoid it. With some planning, you can limit your waste to a few sealed bags that won’t stink.
Smart Shopping
Start your trash reduction at your local grocery store before you leave, not the Reno one. Buy most of your groceries at home. This lets you trim and prep food there, avoiding smelly animal bones and fat on the playa. It also allows you to remove extra packaging.
Food can quickly become garbage in the heat. To prevent stink, eat perishables quickly. When planning meals, consider if everyone will eat it and if the portions are right. For smelly foods like meat and cheese, imagine how they’ll smell after being in the sun. If it’s gross, don’t buy it.
Don’t overbuy food. Most people lose 35-50% of their appetite in the desert heat. So, you likely only need about 2/3 of the food you think. Leftover canned or dried food is fine to take home, but excess perishables are a problem. Don’t bring more than two days’ worth of fresh bread, fruit, or produce; they won’t last. Plastic will steam them, and paper will dry them out.
For packaging, choose aluminum over plastic, and plastic over glass. Aluminum is recyclable at camp, plastic can be flattened, and glass is difficult. An exception is alcohol, where glass, despite its weight and breakage drawbacks, is often preferred (Glass recycles the best anyway!).
Shopping Tips:
- Prepared meals like “Tasty bites” are shelf-stable, and the packaging is comparatively small
- Skip the watermelon – it often gets left behind uneaten.
- Canned food is a good option.
Packing with Purpose
Once home, remove extra packaging. Cereal bags don’t need boxes. Use high-quality, freezer-strength zip-top bags. Double-bag and deep freeze trimmed meats; they’ll act as ice in your cooler. Bag and freeze as much as possible, including juices and plastic water bottles. This can also help you clear out your freezer before your trip. Powered drinks pack even better.
Pre-cooked or partially cooked meals are convenient, if you have time to prepare them beforehand. One example is smoking meat before leaving.
Pack two boxes of good-quality trash bags. Cheap bags can break in wind or during transport, causing environmental issues. Use sturdy bags, or double bag, and always tie them securely to something stable like a car door handle or tent pole. Tall kitchen drawstring bags are often easier to manage than larger ones.
While things usually stay put on the playa, sudden strong weather can change that. Don’t assume clear skies mean no wind or rain.
Letting garbage dry in the sun might reduce smell, but a sudden storm could cause problems. It’s better to separate recyclables from other waste as you go and minimize the smelly waste through good planning.
Reducing trash, sorting recyclables, and managing bags are simple steps. They will improve your camping experience and lessen your group’s environmental impact.
