“The Environmental Protection Agency must follow through on this matter”

Washington is taking bold steps to curb methane emissions from landfills with new regulations that aim to reduce landfill pollution by 38%, according to the Washington State Standard.

Methane is a particularly potent planet-heating gas—80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the first two decades after it’s released. And about 16% of the nation’s methane emissions come from landfills, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Washington’s new methane measures will prevent about 1.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year, according to the Standard — that’s the equivalent of taking about 308,000 gas-powered cars off the road. The move also makes Washington one of a handful of states with methane pollution rules that are stricter than federal standards.

The new policy will help protect Washingtonians from a range of harmful health effects. According to Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, methane is almost always emitted along with health-damaging air pollutants, and exposure to even small amounts of these pollutants can lead to premature births, asthma, cancer and other dangerous consequences.

In addition, reducing methane pollution will help us fight the overheating of the planet, as it is the second largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide.

It’s one of several state-level moves across the U.S. to help fight for cleaner air. California, for example, recently banned the registration of new coal-powered trucks at ports. In addition, some countries, including Canada, are implementing laws that would ban the sale of light-duty vehicles by 2035 if they produce exhaust pollution.

You can reduce the pollution that warms the planet by reducing your dependence on dirty fuel sources like gas, oil and coal. One way to do this is to sign up for community solar, which can save you about $150 a year while helping to protect the planet.

Meanwhile, according to Heather Trim, executive director of Zero Waste Washington, reducing food waste is the most effective way to reduce methane pollution in landfills. The state has already passed laws requiring curbside pickup of food and yard waste for businesses and homes, and Trim told the Standard she is working with lawmakers on similar legislation for residential properties.

As for Washington state’s new methane rules, Katherine Blauvelt, director of circular economy at Industrious Labs, an environmental group that focuses on industrial pollution, told the Standard she hopes the federal government will tighten methane standards as part of an upcoming regulatory update.

“Washington has control of the ball, but EPA needs to get it to the touchdown zone,” she said.

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