This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (2023)

Some states are known for their healthy air quality (good job, Alaska), others are hailed for their environmental friendliness (hey there, Vermont), and a few choice states—well, one in particular—is known for its crystal clear waters (we're looking at you, Hawaii). But the truth is, every person in every state produces waste; it's just that some of us create a lot more than others. You may know about the tragic water crisis in cities like Flint, Michigan, or assume densely populated states like Delaware are filled with pollution, but there are a lot of factors that go into figuring out how clean or dirty a state is. So we crunched the numbers to determine which state in the U.S. is the absolute dirtiest.

We dug into data from a number of sources to get the full picture of a particular state's cleanliness, including its air quality, landfill use, and the volume of garbage and toxins it produces. This included a number of eye-opening stats from the Environmental Protection Agency's Landfill Methane Outreach Program and Landfill Gas Energy Project Database, as well as the U.S. Census. We factored in how many tons of trash a state has buried per capita, as well as how much new waste it is producing per year (also in tons) and what percentage of a state's total landmass is dedicated to landfills. We also took into account the "dirtiness" of the state's air, drawing on the amount of carbon dioxide it produces (in million metric tons) according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, as well as each state's air pollution ranking, according to the United Health Foundation. Together, we put these numbers through our exclusive algorithm to determine the Dirty State Index score for each state.

Taking all of this data into account, there is one state that stands out from the rest for all the wrong reasons. The state produces 1.28 tons of new waste per capita and has 29 tons of trash buried within its borders. But what really puts this state at the top of the garbage pile is that it has the highest percentage of land dedicated to landfills. While 0.04 percent may not sound like much, that's double, triple, or even quadruple the amount of space compared to almost any other state. Its carbon dioxide emissions are also among the highest in the country and its air pollution score is abysmal, too. Let's just say, it's earned its nickname. Read on to discover the dirtiest state in the nation, and find out where your state falls as we rank all 50 states from cleanest to filthiest. And for more state superlatives to learn about, read up on The Unfriendliest State in the U.S.

South Dakota

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (1)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 14 million metric tons

Trash buried per capita: 21.4 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 0.66 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills:0.0007 percent

Air pollution level: 5.1 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 7.82

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Idaho

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (2)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 18 tons

Trash buried per capita: 19.7 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.03 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0008 percent

Air pollution level: 6.8 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 8.73

And if you're curious about a certain lakeside oasis in Idaho, find it among The Most Mispronounced Towns in the U.S.

Maine

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (3)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 15 tons

Trash buried per capita: 21.9 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.29 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0013 percent

Air pollution level: 5.9 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 9.46

Montana

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (4)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 30 tons

Trash buried per capita: 26 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.47 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0004 percent

Air pollution level: 6.6 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 10.19

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Wyoming

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (5)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 61 tons

Trash buried per capita: 16.6 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 0.48 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0004 percent

Air pollution level: 5 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 10.34

And for particularly bright states like this one, check out The Smartest State in the U.S.

Vermont

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (6)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 6 tons

Trash buried per capita: 21.8 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 0.91 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0026 percent

Air pollution level: 5.1 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 10.47

North Dakota

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (7)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 56 tons

Trash buried per capita: 20.3 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 0.58 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0007 percent

Air pollution level: 4.6 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 10.94

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New Mexico

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (8)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 49 tons

Trash buried per capita: 33.3 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1 ton

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0013 percent

Air pollution level: 6 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 14.13

Oregon

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (9)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 38 tons

Trash buried per capita: 37 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.64 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0019 percent

Air pollution level: 7.8 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 15.65

Utah

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (10)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 58 tons

Trash buried per capita: 27.8 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.16 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0019 percent

Air pollution level: 8.4 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 15.82

Nebraska

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (11)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 48 tons

Trash buried per capita: 37.6 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.83 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0016 percent

Air pollution level: 7.1 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 15.91

Nevada

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (12)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 36 tons

Trash buried per capita: 45.7 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.67 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0016 percent

Air pollution level: 9 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 16.84

Minnesota

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (13)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 88 tons

Trash buried per capita: 16.7 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 0.56 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0028 percent

Air pollution level: 6.6 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 17.17

Arkansas

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (14)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 64 tons

Trash buried per capita: 26 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 0.97 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0035 percent

Air pollution level: 7.1 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 18.19

Hawaii

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (15)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 18 tons

Trash buried per capita: 28.6 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 0.66 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0060 percent

Air pollution level: 5.4 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 18.29

Kansas

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (16)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 58 tons

Trash buried per capita: 40.6 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.48 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0032 percent

Air pollution level: 7 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 19.76

Mississippi

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (17)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 67 tons

Trash buried per capita: 35.3 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.2 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0035 percent

Air pollution level: 7.7 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 20.27

Washington

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (18)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 78 tons

Trash buried per capita: 28.3 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.08 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0038 percent

Air pollution level: 8 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 20.58

Iowa

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (19)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 76 tons

Trash buried per capita: 27.4 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.05 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0045 percent

Air pollution level: 7.1 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 21.12

Oklahoma

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (20)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 93 tons

Trash buried per capita: 34.4 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.22 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0034 percent

Air pollution level: 8.2 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 22.29

Arizona

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (21)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 86 tons

Trash buried per capita: 33.9 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.38 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0038 percent

Air pollution level: 9.7 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 22.84

New Hampshire

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (22)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 13 tons

Trash buried per capita: 40.9 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 2.03 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0079 percent

Air pollution level: 4.4 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 23.21

Colorado

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (23)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 87 tons

Trash buried per capita: 44.6 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 2.06 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0039 percent

Air pollution level: 6.7 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 24.10

Connecticut

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (24)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 33 tons

Trash buried per capita: 8.7 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 0.41 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0111 percent

Air pollution level: 7.2 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 25.24

Missouri

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (25)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 122 tons

Trash buried per capita: 30.1 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.19 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0046 percent

Air pollution level: 7.5 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 25.75

West Virginia

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (26)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 91 tons

Trash buried per capita: 29.9 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.16 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0067 percent

Air pollution level: 7.6 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 26.65

Alaska

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (27)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 34 tons

Trash buried per capita: 30.1 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.13 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0100 percent

Air pollution level: 6.4 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 27.03

Alabama

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (28)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 108 tons

Trash buried per capita: 37.7 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.61 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0058 percent

Air pollution level: 8.1 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 28.19

Wisconsin

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (29)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 98 tons

Trash buried per capita: 47 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.52 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0058 percent

Air pollution level: 6.8 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 28.44

South Carolina

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (30)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 69 tons

Trash buried per capita: 32.6 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.21 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0105 percent

Air pollution level: 7.4 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 31.55

Tennessee

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (31)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 98 tons

Trash buried per capita: 36.8 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.4 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0095 percent

Air pollution level: 7.4 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 33.07

Kentucky

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 114 tons

Trash buried per capita: 43.9 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.75 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0086 percent

Air pollution level: 8.1 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 34.43

North Carolina

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (33)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 115 tons

Trash buried per capita: 27.5 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.25 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0119 percent

Air pollution level: 7.2 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 36.82

Michigan

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (34)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 152 tons

Trash buried per capita: 62.4 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 2.27 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0079 percent

Air pollution level: 8 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 39.66

Georgia

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (35)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 132 tons

Trash buried per capita: 33.7 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.67 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0122 percent

Air pollution level: 8.3 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 40.27

Virginia

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (36)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 98 tons

Trash buried per capita: 40.3 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.48 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0136 percent

Air pollution level: 6.9 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 40.34

Louisiana

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (37)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 226 tons

Trash buried per capita: 38.7 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.51 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0072 percent

Air pollution level: 7.9 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 40.42

New York

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (38)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 157 tons

Trash buried per capita: 24.5 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 0.9 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0146 percent

Air pollution level: 6.6 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 44.00

Massachusetts

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (39)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 63 tons

Trash buried per capita: 16.2 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 0.88 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0205 percent

Air pollution level: 6.3 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 44.51

Florida

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (40)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 227 tons

Trash buried per capita: 25.1 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.03 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0166 percent

Air pollution level: 7.4 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 53.58

Maryland

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (41)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 52 tons

Trash buried per capita: 20.9 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 0.66 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0263 percent

Air pollution level: 7.7 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 54.44

Illinois

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (42)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 201 tons

Trash buried per capita: 52.4 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 2.03 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0160 percent

Air pollution level: 9.3 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 55.93

Ohio

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (43)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 204 tons

Trash buried per capita: 48.8 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 2.04 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0165 percent

Air pollution level: 8.5 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 56.15

Indiana

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (44)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 176 tons

Trash buried per capita: 56.1 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 2.35 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0174 percent

Air pollution level: 8.4 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 56.60

Pennsylvania

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (45)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 215 tons

Trash buried per capita: 52.3 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.73 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0191 percent

Air pollution level: 9.2 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 62.11

California

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (46)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 359 tons

Trash buried per capita: 47.8 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.58 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0153 percent

Air pollution level: 12.8 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 68.18

Rhode Island

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (47)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 10 tons

Trash buried per capita: 37.2 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 0.91 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0375 percent

Air pollution level: 7.3 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 72.27

Delaware

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (48)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 12 tons

Trash buried per capita: 33.7 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.31 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0399 percent

Air pollution level: 8.3 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 76.32

Texas

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (49)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 707 tons

Trash buried per capita: 36.7 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.37 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0083 percent

Air pollution level: 8.3 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 82.09

New Jersey

This Is the Dirtiest State in the U.S. (50)

Carbon dioxide emissions produced: 101 tons

Trash buried per capita: 29 tons

New waste produced per capita annually: 1.28 tons

Percentage of state occupied by landfills: 0.0421 percent

Air pollution level: 8.1 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter

Dirty State Index: 86.54