Here’s the dirt on America.
A new survey has revealed the US cities with the worst pollution, including metrics for air quality and waste management, as well as how it affects both the physical and mental well-being of their residents.
The study, conducted by landscape care company LawnStarter, assessed more than 300 of America’s biggest cities using data from government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US Census Bureau and County Health Rankings.
Their findings were weighted and grouped into four categories: pollution, inadequate living conditions, inadequate waste infrastructure, and resident dissatisfaction.
Every city was given a score out of 100, with the highest scores indicating the filthiest destinations.
While New York City managed to skirt the top 10, the Big Apple’s unofficial 6th borough, Newark, NJ, was outed as the 6th most unsanitary city, with an overall score of 48.06.
But it’s Newark’s resident dissatisfaction rate where they really shone, ranking 3rd out of 303 cities in total.
Meanwhile, two California cities, San Bernardino and Los Angeles, took the top two spots, respectively, along with Ontario, which sits about halfway between the aforementioned metropolises, at no. 5.
This marked the former’s second year at no.1, thanks to their poor air quality — tying yet another Cali city, Ontario, for the worst in that category — as well as egregiously littered roadways, prevalence of junk yards (12 in all), and a 75% share of residents who say they’re dissatisfied with the city’s level of pollution.
Overall, a total of nine Golden State cities tied for the worst median air quality out of 100, one of the strongest showings by state on the list.
Detroit came in at no. 3, owing to the Motor City’s large population of smokers at nearly 24%, high toxic chemical waste management activity and inadequate living conditions.
Rounding out the top 5 leaves Reading, Pennsylvania, at no. 4, where they boast 18.42 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per capita.
While measures such as air and water quality remain much out of residents’ hands, there’s one dirty deed for which they can claim responsibility: littering.
The 2026 Keep America Beautiful National Litter Study estimates that 35 billion pieces of garbage are found outside of trash cans, with cigarette butts making up the largest share of inorganic material found dumped in streets, parks and shores.
Meanwhile, vape litter is skyrocketing, according to the US Public Interest Research Group, with one of the smoking devices discarded every 5.7 seconds.
That’s approximately 500,000 per day.
“Vapes have quietly become one of the most commonly thrown-away items in the country, and most people have no idea how harmful they are once they’re tossed,” said Shane Margereson, a spokesperson for vape retailer Ecigone.
Their toxic and hazardous components — such as lithium battery, plastic, metals and leftover nicotine — make tossing more complicated than most realize, as only 8% of users take the proper steps to dispose of vaping devices.
“Dropping one on the street isn’t just an eyesore; it leaks toxins into the soil and water as it breaks down,” Margereson continued.
“The single biggest mistake is putting a vape in your household trash or your home recycling, and it’s exactly what the Environmental Protection Agency tells you not to do,” Margereson said. “That lithium battery can be crushed in a garbage truck or compactor and start a fire, and it happens at waste facilities far more often than people realize.”
Instead of a standard garbage bin, vaping devices should be collected and brought to a hazardous waste drop-off point or collection event. And, despite their plastic parts, they’re absolutely not recyclable.
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