Composting is an Easy Way to Cut Landfill Methane Pollution

But the benefits extend well beyond that

Photo by Nareeta Martin on Unsplash

When it comes to global warming, carbon dioxide (CO2) gets most of our attention since there’s so much of it, and it’s the primary greenhouse gas our societal setup emits. Meanwhile, methane (CH4) is well known but less discussed.

Despite being the second most common greenhouse gas we create, methane is generally deemed not as threatening as carbon dioxide because it has a shorter lifespan in our atmosphere. But we shouldn’t underestimate methane’s threat. Luckily for us, researchers found a simple solution, both for individuals and culturally, that could make a big difference in methane levels.

Carbon Dioxide vs. Methane

Before we get to the research, let’s discuss some differences between carbon dioxide and methane.

CO2

In 2021, carbon dioxide accounted for 79 percent of all United States greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activities, especially from using fossil fuels for energy and transportation.

The total amount of carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere seems less daunting at 0.042 percent in 2022 — but that’s still nearly a 50 percent increase since pre-industrial times. Also, the number may…