I just got back from my first-ever Burning Man experience and it was one that I will never forget.

Since the theme of this year's event was the "green man," everyone seemed to be doing their best to ensure that the event was as green as possible by providing their own compost heaps and helping one another out to reuse anything that could be saved.

In the center of the desert which housed the event, a giant recycling center took items that could be recycled, and a large wood basket collected excess wood to be donated to Habitat for Humanity to make houses for the needy.

All over the event, signs could be seen which read "leave no trace," to remind us to pick up everything that we brought in.

Friends of mine even brought in film canisters which they were passing out to Burners to place cigarette butts and the like in, just to make sure that no one littered.

At many of the events, beverages were served only to individuals who brought their own cups, thus everyone carried one cup that was reusable instead of taking plastic or paper cups that could easily be strewn on the ground.

I have collected audio and taken photos of the event, which I will be posting as soon as technology and time permit. For more details on the event, be sure to check out my article on thecatscan.com.