Two major cities in Texas have been named among the dirtiest in the country, according to a recent study by LawnStarter.
This lawn care provider evaluated over 150 of the largest U.S. cities, focusing on factors like pollution, living conditions, infrastructure, and resident satisfaction.
The study drew data from federal agencies like the CDC, Census Bureau, Department of Energy, and the EPA.
Houston topped the list due to high pollution levels, a significant cockroach problem, and greenhouse gas emissions from industrial plants.
The study also cited a 2022 report from Grist, a nonprofit media organization, highlighting violations of EPA safety guidelines by some of Houston’s petrochemical facilities.
Texas is known as the largest energy consumer in the nation, with a significant portion of its energy consumption coming from the industrial sector, including refineries and petrochemical plants.
In April, the EPA announced that chemical plants in Texas’ Gulf Coast must reduce toxic air pollution to protect public health.
Despite these challenges, some Houston residents report higher satisfaction with their city’s cleanliness compared to residents in 33 other large cities.
Other cities in the top five dirtiest include Newark, New Jersey; San Bernardino, California; Detroit, Michigan; and Jersey City, New Jersey.
San Antonio, another major Texas city, ranked seventh. Here’s the complete top 20 list:
- Houston, Texas
- Newark, New Jersey
- San Bernardino, California
- Detroit, Michigan
- Jersey City, New Jersey
- Bakersfield, California
- San Antonio, Texas
- Fresno, California
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Yonkers, New York
- Shreveport, Louisiana
- New York, New York
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Ontario, California
- Los Angeles, California
- Modesto, California
- Palmdale, California
- Hollywood, Florida
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Several California cities, like Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino, also made the list. San Bernardino had the most dissatisfied residents concerning cleanliness for the second consecutive year.
According to the source, the study also highlighted water issues in the Southwest, worsened by drought and climate change.
Las Vegas was the dirtiest in the region, ranked at No. 19, while Chandler, Arizona, was the cleanest at No. 71.
In Ohio, cigarette litter is a common issue, with Cleveland having the highest percentage of smokers (29.1%), leading to litter problems despite strict laws.
Columbus, however, had the lowest percentage of smokers (22.1%) and ranked as one of the cleaner cities overall at No. 137.
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On the brighter side, Virginia Beach, Virginia, was recognized as the cleanest city for the second year in a row, thanks to low pollution levels and high consumer satisfaction.
Other top performers included Fremont, California; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and Des Moines, Iowa.