Porta Potties
In
2002, port-a-potty services were handled much as they were in 2001.
We seem to have found a near-optimal placement scheme, allowing
convenience for participants as well as efficient and frequent
servicing. The potty banks were placed along a circular route so
that pumping trucks could move from bank to bank with a minimum
of time spent navigating the congested streets of Black Rock City.
This year, more than 360 potties served participants. One bank
of 25 units was placed every other block along Mainmast for a total
of eight banks. Two more banks were placed out by the Man, and
two banks served the walk-in camping area. In addition to these
regular banks of potties, many other units were scattered about
the city, and a few were placed at remote locations out behind
the Man and toward the trash fence.
In 2000, we faced a potty crisis, as participants threw so much
trash in the units that fully half of the vendor’s servicing
personnel walked off the job, and the Reno waste facility placed
us on probation, threatening to discontinue service if the situation
did not improve. In response to this threat, we began a massive
campaign to educate participants that we could tolerate “no
MOOP in the poop.” Service was much improved in 2001 thanks
to better servicing logistics and the success of the anti-trash
campaign. This year continued the trend, and our potty vendor reported
no significant hindrance of servicing due to trash.
Many people have contributed to the continuing effort to keep
our potties clean (relatively speaking, of course). The potty discussion
list ( pottie-list-subscribe(at)burningman(dot)com) acts
as a forum for interested community members to discuss problems
and suggest
solutions. List members act as an organizational body to coordinate
the volunteers who have accepted the challenge of ensuring a quality
elimination experience for all. This list was instrumental in generating
the “Pooetry” signage that hung on the potties this
year and last as well as numerous public service announcements
for Black Rock City radio stations.
This year the Heads Project, brought to you by the fine folks
at Easter Island Camp, built art installations around the two potty
banks on either side of the Man. Five potties from each bank were
decorated with huge masks that fit over a single unit each and
turned it into a moai (the mysterious rock heads found on Easter
Island). The Easter Island folks were also responsible for printing
and hanging the “Pooetry” signs this year as well as
the mural that covered the back of the café.
This year, a single vendor handled all waste pumping from both
port-a-potties and RV holding tanks. RV servicing represents a
substantial volume of waste, so the vendor assigned trucks and
crews that did nothing else. Servicing could be arranged by signing
up at Playa Info or by flagging down one of the pump trucks with
an “RV Pumping” sign. In 2001, a vendor representative
handled the servicing sign-up at Playa Info, but we received complaints
about the hours the representative kept. This year, DPW manned
the booth, and service was improved. This representative also fielded
any questions or complaints about overall potty servicing and then
contacted the vendor as necessary.
Thanks in large part to improved conditions in 2001 compared
to 2000, we were able to enter into a two-year contract with our
potty
services vendor beginning in 2002. This year, the potty vendor
was happy to report that we have maintained the level of cleanliness
achieved in 2001, and the company looks forward to serving us in
2003. Overall, the level of service that we received in 2002 was
comparable to last year and much, much better than in previous
years. We have worked with our vendor to improve both the quality
of the on-playa potty experience and RV servicing. Looking forward
to 2003, we will continue working with our potty vendor to fine-tune
waste services for Black Rock City.
Much has improved since 2000. We have moved from crisis mode
to a long-term relationship that promises continued satisfaction
both
for the services vendor and the Burning Man community. As a community,
we should congratulate ourselves on a job well done, while acknowledging
that the job is never finished. We must remain vigilant and always
remember: “If it wasn’t in your body don’t put
it in the potty!”
Submitted by,
Matt Morgan aka Hazmatt
There was no Porta Potties article for 2001 to link to