Riverdale
Effects of the Toxic Donut
Top Five Chemicals Released to Air Near Altgeld Gardens 19.7 thousand pounds
- 54%
- Methanol
- 19%
- Zinc compounds
- 11%
- Manganese compounds
- 10%
- Ammonia
- 4%
- Nitric acid
- 2%
- Other
Top Five Chemicals Released Water Near Altgeld Gardens 103 pounds
- 55%
- Manganese compounds
- 23%
- Zinc compounds
- 7%
- Lead compounds
- 7%
- Chromium compounds
- 5%
- Copper compounds
- 3%
- Other
Chicago Hardship Index Community Area Economic Hardship Index
- 84.2
- Riverdale/Altgeld
- 70.6
- South Lawndale
- 70.5
- Englewood
- 9.9
- Lakeview
- 9.0
- Loop
- 8.6
- Near North Side
Poverty Rate Percent below poverty level by community
- 61%
- Riverdale/Altgeld Gardens
- 18%
- Chicago
- 11%
- Illinois
Per Capita Income income in dollars
- $8,201
- Altgeld Gardens
- $37,103
- Chicago
- $36,038
- Illinois
Quick Links
The Toxic Donut
On the southeast side of Chicago, surrounded on all sides by landfills, industrial facilities and polluted waterways, are communities like Altgeld Gardens. The late Hazel Johnson, the Mother of the Environmental Justice Movement, labelled this area the "toxic donut," a name which gained widespread notoriety and shed light on the connection between industrial pollution and negative health outcomes in frontline communities like Altgeld.
Learn More
We offers tours of the Lake Calumet Industrial Area and the surrounding landfills, industrial facilities, waterways. These toxic sites are close to residential communities and have considerable effects of those in our nieghborhood.
Report a Polluter
Bad smell, smoggy air, brown water? Report the issue and we'll get in touch to connect you with resources.
Toxic Tours
In-Person Tours
People for Community Recovery offers toxic tours of the Lake Calumet Industrial Area, located on the southeast side of Chicago. The Toxic Tours explore the surrounding landfills, industrial facilities, waterways, and the proximity of residential communities to this area.
The late Hazel Johnson, the Mother of the Environmental Justice Movement labeled this area the "toxic doughnut," a name which gained widespread notoriety and shed light on the connection between industrial pollution and negative health outcomes in minority communities.
Toxic Tours - [Closed for scheduling until Spring of 2025 *some exceptions, weather permitting]
For scheduling and more information, please email chloe@pcrchi.org. Toxic Tour scheduling will open Spring of 2025. PCR charges a nominal fee of $50/individual, $750/group, with an upcharge for very large parties, for management time and services to conduct these tours. PCR is not responsible for any damage personal/private vehicles may obtain on the tour.
Virtual Tours
As part of the Goethe Institute's ongoing CHEMICAL (RE)ACTIONS: On Environmental Struggles in Chicago, and in collaboration with PCR, local artists Joshi Radin Flores, Alberto Ortega Trejo, and Rosario Zavala have created a virtual tour of the Lake Calumet Industrial Area. The Tactical Gardens takes viewers to all of the same locations they would see on an in-person tour, while also providing necessary context and insights from Cheryl herself.
Take a Tour
Environmental Justice in Riverdale
PCR works in Altgeld Gardens to address climate and environmental impacts here. We also promote healthy and affordable housing, and fair economic development. We provide resources and referrals to neighbors for help with utility bills, water quality, home repairs, tenants rights and more.
Quick Links
PCR's organizing has stopped more landfills from polluting Chicago communities, helped remove asbestos in public housing, prevented hundreds of affordable housing units in Chicago from being demolished, and passed the first federal legislation to address environmental justice and carve our resources for EJ communities all across the U.S.
We've worked on the passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act, which increases renewable energy in Illinois and benefits low-income communities through job training programs, access to solar and energy efficiency programs. We've been making sure the Chicago Housing Authority pursues solar development projects that benefit its residents. We've trained community ambassadors to educate and enroll residents in health studies, with the goal of better understanding environmental factors on public health. And we're taking on the global climate crisis, demanding frontline communities have a seat at the table tackling resiliency efforts and blunting the most urgent effects of climate change.