Who we are:
Chasing Methane is a science team comprised of junior high schoolers from Iowa
City, Iowa, and we are working to promote food waste diversion in restaurants. By
separating food waste from trash, we can compost it and produce rich soil. We
can also keep the air cleaner, because when food waste decomposes in the
landfill, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more powerful than
carbon dioxide. And finally, we can help protect groundwater, because when
food waste reacts with metals in a landfill, it creates toxins that can leach into
groundwater. Because of these problems, it is very important that we properly
dispose of food waste and not send it to the landfill. The current methane level is
1.813 parts per million, and we need to reduce emmisions by at least 30% for
methane levels to stabilize, since methane only has an atmospheric lifetime of
12 years. By diverting food waste from landfills, we can achieve this goal, and
make a difference.
City, Iowa, and we are working to promote food waste diversion in restaurants. By
separating food waste from trash, we can compost it and produce rich soil. We
can also keep the air cleaner, because when food waste decomposes in the
landfill, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more powerful than
carbon dioxide. And finally, we can help protect groundwater, because when
food waste reacts with metals in a landfill, it creates toxins that can leach into
groundwater. Because of these problems, it is very important that we properly
dispose of food waste and not send it to the landfill. The current methane level is
1.813 parts per million, and we need to reduce emmisions by at least 30% for
methane levels to stabilize, since methane only has an atmospheric lifetime of
12 years. By diverting food waste from landfills, we can achieve this goal, and
make a difference.