Today is our 50th Leaf of the Day. We’re going strong with no signs of slowing down. After all, we’ve only really grazed the tip of the iceberg.

Here we are, right in the thick of the summer music festival season, a time when hoards of concert-goers descend upon outdoor venues across the country. As we mentioned in our discussion of the World Cup in South Africa, when the masses congregate, the environment usually pays a price. That is why the Vans Warped Tour makes an effort to limit its impact. Warped Eco is an volunteer initiative that proudly does the “dirty work” around the festival grounds. If you’ve been to an outdoor event like this, you’ll remember that venue is usually riddled with trash — among other things, heaven help us. This is where the majority of Warped Eco’s efforts apply. Last year, Warped Eco’s volunteers helped divert approximately 36,000 lbs of recyclables from the landfill. I’ve not had the fortune of attending the Warped Tour, but would love to be there when the promoters, volunteers, attendees and even the bands partake in what has been described as the post-festival “sweep” of the concert grounds.

I’m surprised that the Warped Eco initiative doesn’t look more spectacular. The logo/t-shirt is nothing outrageous, even though you might expect it from that kind of scene. It certainly doesn’t capture the edge of the tour itself. Even the cheesy recycling arrows below echo the 2010 Warped Tour imagery. Either way, I’m pleased that an effort is being made and that Warped Eco is becoming a consistent part of the tour.

Explanation of the Leaf of the Day.