Methane spoils everything. Natural gas drilling would be less risky if it didn't have the potential to release clouds of methane into the atmosphere. Methane cow farts make even grass-fed beef a less-green option than no beef at all. And now it turns out that those biodegradable plastic utensils we've been telling ourselves are soooo much better than regular disposable sporks are releasing methane as they break down in landfills.
There are two solutions here: Landfills could start doing more to capture methane. (Flimsy picnicware isn’t the only product that give off the gas.) Or people could stop using disposable utensils. Just use your fingers! Tell anyone who complains that Grist made you do it.
