Methane Clips: May 16, 2024

 

US Must Act To Slash Landfill Methane Emissions, Report Says — “Methane emissions at nearly two dozen U.S. landfills regularly exceeded federal limits and in some cases were higher than facility owners reported to the government, according to an analysis of inspection reports published on Thursday. The study, opens new tab by environmental nonprofit Industrious Labs concluded that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations are insufficient to prevent landfills, or garbage dumps, from emitting large amounts of the climate-warming gas methane. The group urged EPA to require monitoring with more advanced technologies, extend regulation to smaller landfills and mandate speedier installation of gas-capturing systems as landfills expand, among other recommendations.” [Reuters, 5/16/24 (=)]

 

Washington Implements Methane Reduction Regulations For Landfills — “The Washington Department of Ecology has announced that new regulations could help reduce methane emissions from municipal solid waste landfills in the state. Reducing landfill methane emissions is part of a suite of climate policies Washington has been implementing to meet a state commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The Department of Ecology estimates the new regulation will prevent the equivalent of approximately 1.76 million tons of carbon dioxide from escaping into the atmosphere every year, based on 20-year climate impacts for methane. ‘Methane emissions are the second-largest contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide, and landfills are a significant source of this gas,’ says Laura Watson, director of the Washington Department of Ecology. ‘Along with this new rule designed to limit methane emissions at landfills, we are working hard to reduce the amount of food waste and other organic material we throw away, so we can stop the problem before it starts.’” [Waste Today Magazine, 5/15/24 (=)]

 

Op-Ed: Utah Runners Must Support The EPA Methane Rule — According to Jason Keith and Kathleen Baker, “Utah is a runner’s paradise, loaded with extensive trail networks in the many alpine mountain ranges from the Wasatch Mountains in the north to the La Sals in the southeastern part of the state. Utah also boasts incredible desert running in our national parks like Zion and Canyonlands as well as across our famous Bureau of Land Management areas. Utah runners regularly partake in the many trail races held throughout the state year-round, such as Moab’s Red Hot and the internationally famous Speedgoat 50k held in Little Cottonwood Canyon above Salt Lake City. Unfortunately, Utah is also famous for poor air quality and is commonly ranked as one of the most polluted states in the country. And global warming is damaging the places we love to run in profound ways. Longer and hotter summers combined with unpredictable winters lead to water scarcity and changes to the unique ecosystems we visit every day. More frequent natural disasters, such as extreme wildfires, not only devastate landscapes and communities but also degrade air quality and increasingly close access to vast areas of public lands limiting opportunities to recreate outside. Healthy public lands bring quality of life, visitors and business investment to nearby communities through outdoor recreation, but only if we ensure the responsible management of those lands.” [The Salt Lake Tribune, 5/15/24 (+)]

 

 

 

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