Methyl chloride is a major waste in the production of 2,2-dichlorovinyldimethylphosphate (DDVP) and its emissions need to be treated for environmental protection. The use of methyl chloride as a raw material for several industrial products is a solution to reduce the effects of the pollutant. Quantitative methyl chloride conversions into both methanol and 2-methoxynaphthalene have been investigated and the milestones of full-scale industrial applications are given. (c) 2005 Society of Chemical Industry.