DC Burners Container Program
About the Program
What Is the DC Burners Container Program?
This is a volunteer-run operation. Every person who makes it possible gives their time, energy, and effort to get your gear there and back. We ask that you treat this service, and everyone involved in running it, with that in mind.
Individual Container Details
Every container we run has its own dedicated page with all the specifics for that event. Before you reserve space, make sure you have read that page in full.
It covers:
- Dates and timeline
- Drop-off and pickup locations
- Pricing and payment instructions
- Waitlist information
- Container-specific hours and deadlines
Your reservation is not guaranteed until payment is received in full. Once payment is confirmed, you will receive confirmation through our communication channels. Check your individual container page for details.
Reference Images
27 Gallon Bin
40 Gallon Bin
Cubic Feet
Example: a bin that is 24 x 18 x 14 inches is 24 x 18 x 14 = 6,048, divided by 1,728 = 3.5 cubic feet.
We also have a calculator on the reservation page.
Bikes
Label Your Stuff A Lot
Each label needs your first and last name, your playa name, your camp location on playa, and at least one way to reach you, whether that is a phone number, email address, or social handle.
You can use a stick-on label or write directly on the bin. Either works. What matters is that you do it more than once. One label on top is not enough. Label all sides. If a bin ends up upside down or buried, the label on top does you no good.
Come to load-in with your bins already labeled. We have supplies on-site but do not count on us to do it for you.
Before Arriving
Packing Guidelines
- Bins and containers: Use medium to heavy duty bins only. [link to bin image] Lightweight or flimsy bins will not survive the trip and can collapse under the weight of other items stacked on top. Pack your bin as full as possible. Empty space means the bin can buckle or shift during transport. Your bin should be able to have other bins stacked on top of it.
- Weight: Keep individual bins under 40 pounds where possible. We not accept liquids, please do ship them with us. You can secure liquids in Reno or closer to Burning Man.
- Securing your items:We strongly recommend rig-tying and sealing all bins before load-in. It is tempting to attach tent poles or long items to your bin, but this makes packing the container extremely difficult. Long or oddly shaped items should be brought as their own separate bundle and labeled independently. Do not connect different items to each other.
- Temperature: Temperatures inside a container can reach extreme levels during transport. Do not pack anything that could melt, warp, or be damaged by high heat.
Labeling Requirements
Every item you ship must be clearly labeled before it arrives at load-in. Unlabeled items will not be loaded. This is not a suggestion. With hundreds of bins and items moving in and out of the container, proper labeling is the only thing standing between you and never seeing your gear again.
Every item must display the following on at least two sides:
- Required: Your playa name, or your full legal name if you do not have one. Your camp name and camp address on playa. At least one way to reach you, whether that is a phone number, email address, or other contact method.
We respect your privacy. You are never required to share more information than what is listed above. That said, the more information you provide, the easier it is for us to get your gear back to you if something goes wrong.
Labels must be legible, securely attached, and able to withstand heat, dust, and rough handling. We will have labeling supplies available at load-in, but do not rely on us to label your items for you. Come prepared.
If your items arrive without proper labeling, you will be asked to label them on the spot before they can be loaded. If you cannot label them, they will not go on the container.
Prohibited Items
- Flammable and combustible materials, including fuel of any type, aerosol canisters, and pressurized tanks are prohibited because a single leak or rupture inside a sealed container can create dangerous and potentially catastrophic conditions for everything and everyone involved in the shipment.
- Lithium batteries and any battery not permitted on commercial aircraft are prohibited for the same reason. Heat buildup during transport creates a real fire risk in an enclosed space. If you are shipping an e-bike, check the individual container page for information on alternative transport arrangements for your battery.
- Drugs, controlled substances, illegal contraband, firearms, weapons, and ammunition are prohibited because their presence puts our volunteers, our vehicles, and every single person who shipped with us at legal risk. One person's mistake can result in the entire container being detained or seized.
- Fireworks and explosive devices are prohibited for obvious reasons.
- Perishable food, beverages, and live animals are prohibited because they create health, safety, and sanitation risks for everyone's gear.
Load-In Day
Hours
Container hours vary by event. Check your individual container page for the specific schedule. Hours are typically posted for build week, burn weekend, and post-burn Monday. Last call means last call. We do not extend hours and we do not make exceptions.
What to Bring
Come with your items already labeled and secured. We will have labeling supplies available on-site but do not count on us to do it for you. Bring sunscreen, gloves, and water for yourself. We will do our best to provide food and beverages for everyone helping out, but plan for yourself.
Helping Out
All participants are expected to carry and pack their own belongings into the container. We have limited volunteers and a lot of gear to move. If you are not able to lift your items, pack lighter bins or bring someone with you who can. We are a community and we do this together.
The Load In Process
Follow these steps in order when you arrive:
- Go directly to the check-in booth with proof of your payment. Nothing goes on the container without going through check-in first.
- Get your items measured. Cubic footage is how we track and allocate space.
- Load onto the designated container. A volunteer will direct you to the right one.
- Take a photo of your container name and number. Keep it for your records.
- Help others and help de-moop the load-in area before you leave.
On Playa
Picking Up Your Gear
Items Not Returned On Time
If your gear is not returned to the container by the stated deadline, we cannot guarantee it will make it back with us. Please plan accordingly and arrange for someone to help if you are not able to return your items yourself.
Returning Your Gear
When it is time to load your gear for the return trip, the same rules apply as load-in. Your items must be packed, labeled, and returned to the container location by the deadline listed on the individual container page. Do not leave your items outside the container unless instructed to by a volunteer.
All participants are expected to carry their own gear all the way into the container and pack it tightly. Our volunteer team has been working hard for weeks by the time return load-in happens. They are tired. Please do your part, be self-reliant, and do not expect volunteers to do the heavy lifting for you. We are all in this together and every bit of help makes a difference.
Load-Out Day
What to Expect
Once the container returns to the DMV area, you will need to come pick up your gear. Specific dates, times, and location for load-out will be listed on the individual container page.
Load-out follows the same general flow as load-in. Come prepared to carry your own gear. Bring help if you have heavy items. The load-out location may differ from the load-in location, so check your container page before heading out.
Post-Burn Pickup Window
If you are not able to pick up your gear during the designated window, please arrange for a friend or campmate to pick it up on your behalf. We are a volunteer operation and we do not have the capacity to store items indefinitely.
If you have an emergency and genuinely cannot make pickup arrangements, contact us at info@dcburners.org as soon as possible. We will do our best to work something out, but we cannot make any guarantees.
Unclaimed items left after the pickup window has closed may be donated to the community or disposed of at our discretion. We do not want to throw your stuff away. Please plan ahead, communicate with us if something comes up, and get your gear home.
Liability and Responsibility
What to Expect
By participating in the DC Burners Container Program, you accept full responsibility for the items you ship. Please read this section carefully.
- We are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items. The DC Burners Non-Profit and its volunteers make every effort to handle your gear with care, but you ship with us at your own risk.
- You are responsible for what you pack. If your items are found to contain prohibited materials, your entire shipment will be removed from the container at your expense and with no refund. If your items cause our container, vehicles, or associated equipment to be detained, searched, seized, or delayed by authorities, you will be held fully responsible for all resulting costs, penalties, and consequences.
- You are responsible for damage caused by your items. If your items cause damage to another participant's gear, our container, or our vehicles beyond normal wear and tear, you will be held responsible for those costs.
- We reserve the right to inspect any item at any time. If we have reason to believe an item contains prohibited materials, we will open and inspect it without prior notice. Participation in the DC Burners Container Program constitutes your consent to this inspection policy.
- We reserve the right to refuse any item. At our sole discretion, we may decline to ship any item for any reason, including items we believe pose a risk to the shipment, our volunteers, or other participants' gear.
Volunteering
What to Expect
The DC Burners Container Program runs entirely on volunteer power. From load-in day all the way through post-burn pickup, every single thing that happens is because someone in this community gave their time and energy to make it work. It is a significant undertaking and we could not do it without the people who show up.
If you are interested in volunteering with the container program, we would love to have you. Volunteers help with load-in, on-playa logistics, load-out, and post-burn pickup. No special skills are required, just a willingness to work hard and show up for your community.
To get involved, reach out to us at info@dcburners.org or keep an eye on our community channels for volunteer calls specific to each container.
Every pair of hands makes a difference. Thank you for considering it.
Contact and Questions
Before reaching out, check the individual container page for your event. Most questions about dates, locations, pricing, and logistics are answered there. Each container may have its own community group for coordination and updates. A link to that group, if one exists, will be included on the individual container page.
For questions specific to your situation, reach out to us at info@dcburners.org. We are a volunteer organization and will do our best to get back to you in a timely manner.