Plastics or Fossil Fuel: Which is Worse?

NWIW is proposing a huge methanol refinery in Kalama Wa that will produce methanol from fracked gas and ship it to China, ostensibly to used in the manufacture of plastics.  Proponents claim that this process will result in a net reduction of GHG (green house gasses) in the atmosphere.  Recently some evidence has surfaced that indicates this methanol will actually be used for fuel in China. This controversy has caused enough of a stir to prompt prompt the Port of Kalama and NWIW to amend their lease agreement to restrict the use of the exported methanol to the manufacture of plastics.

However, this restriction, whether or not is enforceable, begs the question is the use of this material to make plastics any better for the environment than its use as fuel?  Studies have found that millions of tons of plastics are entering our oceans yearly.  This plastic waste is being consumed by wildlife, washing up on beaches, and creating vast islands of plastic garbage on the open seas.

Much of this plastic, broken down into microplastics, ends up in fish and other sea creatures and is eventually ingested by humans.  One study found that we are ingesting as much as 5 grams of plastic per week and we don't as yet know what the long term health effects might be!

So, the issue in my mind, is not HOW this fracked gas should be consumed, but whether it should be consumed at all.  I suggest that we LEAVE IT IN THE GROUND.