Considering that several thousand people crammed into the festival space on Treasure Island we think that overall they handled the transportation issue in a pretty Green way. We made our way to the festival via zero-emission Bauer buses that picked most of the masses up at AT&T Park. The only real griping we heard came from East Bay attendees who said that they had to drive or take BART to SF instead of having shuttle buses come to the East Bay as well.

Upon entering the festival we couldn’t help but noticing the Ferris wheel but then after that we spied a pair of decent size solar panels that sat near the entrance. Unfortunately, we couldn’t determine or find anyone who knew what the solar power generated. We’re sure it the energy went toward something beneficial.

Not that we didn’t get into the bands with MSTRKRFT rocking the house with their style of house and MGMT hitting a big home run by rocking into their first album but we didn’t have time to play amongst the Green sidelights. We liked the addition of the Sustainable Living Roadshow with its Recycle Swish – interactive NBA style take on recycling and Green education. The multi-colored bins existed all over the venue and Clean Vibes volunteers did a pretty good job of monitoring that the right item went into the correct bin. Last year, the festival diverted 72 percent of waste to recycling and composting – a slightly higher rate than Green San Fran.

We also appreciated the TRASHed Recycling Store which offered incentives (shirts, sun block, tickets, etc) I n exchange for cups and plastic bottles but we didn’t see many people taking advantage of the opportunity. We know that festivals need to make a profit so we’re okay with the water refilling station charging a $1 to refill a container (unless you buy a Treasure Island bottle which in that case the water is free) but at least they didn’t sell high fructose corn syrup (err soda) at the same booth.

Even behind the scenes the generators run on B20. Now we’re not going to say that these bringing thousands of people together won’t have some detrimental effects but compared with many of the other festivals out there Treasure Island Music Festival runs a pretty tight green ship.

We checked out a local SF band Big Light early today – 1) to check out a local band and 2) because they played at the Solar Stage (completely powered by solar like last year). Wouldn’t it be nice to have all of the stages powered by solar? They actually used solar on a larger scale for OL uno but they had power issues which apparently turned into economic issues this year.

Behind the scenes, most people think that a lot of drinking and eating goes on, which is true but people like Ice Cream Man sits in his ice cream van and just gives out ice cream – free. Why does he do it? He wants to just give something simple like ice cream (we downed a few Cherry Garcias while we talked with him) just to promote community and show people that you can simply give stuff away without expecting anything in return. Ice Cream Man hits the festival circuit but we’re more impressed when he hits various childrens’ hospitals and gives out free ice cream to sick kids. Now that’s a wonderful dessert.

Tucked in the corner of the EcoLands section, we checked out the Yellow Bird Project – a Montreal-based nonprofit that works with an eclectic array of indie rock musicians to create unique t-shirt designs that benefit an array of charities, each chosen by the musicians. We’re not sure what charities Joseph Arthur supports but we like his shirt design (along with his tunes).

It’s not easy to stuff thousands of people into a festival venue and be totally sustainable. It just ain’t gonna happen. There is too much electricity being generated, too many things trucked around, too much litter being created but we all want to see and experience the great music. OL continues to make strides in various aspects that other festivals or venues don’t. It’s far from a perfect sustainable setup. Perfection takes a lot of work. As far as sustainability, OL lands is still a work in progress. But hey, aren’t we all?

Pearljam, who rocked us (despite poor Eddie Veder’s scratchy throat) last night has been offsetting their tours since 2006. The social and environmentally minded rockers fight corporate monopolies, create and cover songs with social and environmental angles (no surprise that they they covered Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” among other tunes last night), and donate even donate their bank to alt energy projects.

Tonight, another powerhouse in the sustainable movement the Dave Matthews Band hits the main stage. These band helped start a project called the Bama Green Project which maintains a partnership between Reverb and IZSTYLE, and encompasses various environmental efforts that the band commits to while on the road, in the studio and at home. The DMB and the Bama Green Project works on educating DMB fans around the world about how to take simple and positive environmental actions.  It’s good to know that we have some help in this educational environmental thing.

It’s not all about the big bands, smaller bands such as Blind Pilot, who toured the West Coast twice now on their bicycles, Lila Downs (who unfortunately canceled at the last minute) creates education funds for women down in Oaxaca Mexico), and West Indian Girl did their last tour with a bio diesel RV.

Hopefully, Outside Lands and other festivals will invite more bands with a social and environmental conscience. Sure the music is important but it doesn’t mean that the bands can’t do something good for someone or something else as well.

Back to work as the music continues…..

Don’t say that we didn’t warn you but those who are short on cash should consider the Global Inheritance sponsored recycle booth in the Eco Lands section. They offered a similar booth last year but not many people seemed aware of it. The deal here is that anyone who wants nifty Outside Lands shirt (for free) just needs to bring 75 empty cans or bottles to the booth. For 250 bottles you can snag a pair of Loomstate organic jeans and 150 gets a recycled record vinyl clock. Those not as inspired can get some Fuel TV sunscreen (and boy is sunscreen mandatory today) for just eight bottles.

On the food front, we like the local and/or organic slant on food. The chow lineup includes local faves like El Huarache Loco, Eos Wine Bar, Fated Calf, Hog Island Oyster Co among some of the tasty local purveyors. They even offer fresh organic fruit from local farmers markets. Think anyone will miss the fried corn dogs and dried out, mass market chicken sandwiches? We think not.

The Refillable Water Program marked the most curious thing (so far) that we spotted. Simple enough that people can refill their reusable water containers for $1 with water sourced from the large five gallon bottles. Yes, we people could just go to the park fountains and get the good old Hetch Hechy H20 but no biggie. The curious thing is that at the same booth they sell plastic bottles of Sprite and Coke.  We understand that everyone has to make a buck but if you’re trying to make a point then make it. Don’t go half way.

More Green and Sustainable action from Outside Lands to come.