These Are the Dirtiest States in America, Ranked

Think polluted skies, murky waters, and heaps of trash – topped off with the occasional unwanted rodent guest. Yep, welcome to some of the grimiest corners of America. Best Life magazine rolled up its sleeves and dove into the muck to compile a list of all 50 states, sorted from spick-and-span to downright filthy. They didn’t just hold their noses and guess; they looked at hard-hitting factors like carbon dioxide emissions, air quality, landfill stats, and the sheer amount of waste churned out. Here are the 25 states that are really struggling with the dirt, along with some of the environmental woes that might’ve landed them there.

#25: West Virginia

West Virginia, famed for its natural beauty, balances between its role as a top coal producer and environmental averages in emissions, pollution, and waste. But 2019 brought attention to its water pollution crisis from coal mining explosives.

In a positive turn, the EPA has stepped in, awarding a $1.8 million grant aimed at enhancing the quality of water in the state’s rivers and streams, marking a significant investment towards environmental preservation.