Toxic Profits: How Wealthy Companies Target Low‑Income Communities Like Memphis — and What We Can Do to Fight Back

Source AirNow.gov 24 Hour Loop of Memphis Air Pollution

When you search for industrial facilities near Memphis, Tennessee, a heartbreaking pattern emerges. A city rich in culture and history is being choked by pollution — pumped into the air, soil, and water by companies that too often see low-income communities as expendable. These include refineries, chemical plants, landfills, airports, golf courses — and even Elon Musk’s new AI factory, adding yet another burden.

From tiny operators to giant corporations, these facilities flood neighborhoods with millions of pounds of toxins linked to cancer, dementia, lung disease, and kidney disease.

The 51 Polluters Near Memphis

Each entry links to its profile page with pollution data:

source: EPA.gov, AirNow.gov and PollutersNearMe.com

1. Valero Memphis Refinery
2. BradyIFS / BradyPLUS
3. Team Waste Memphis
4. Hino Motors Manufacturing USA Inc
5. 901 Asphalt Maintenance LLC
6. Eaton Manufacturing Corporation
7. The J.M. Smucker Co — Memphis Jif Plant
8. ION Chemicals USA Inc
9. The Pallet Factory Inc
10. Delta Foremost Chemical Corp
11. Waste Connections of Tennessee — Memphis
12. Solid Waste Management
13. Waste Pro
14. Smurfit Westrock Olive Branch Sheet Plant
15. Waste Pro — Starlanding Landfill
16. Ideal Chemical & Supply Co
17. Southern Steel & Concrete Inc
18. Industrial & Mechanical Contractors of Memphis Inc
19. US Zinc
20. Solid Waste Facility
21. Cherokee Valley Golf Club
22. Lakeland Golf Club
23. Orgill Park Golf Course
24. Links At Galloway Golf Course
25. Memphis National Golf Club
26. Mirimichi Golf Course
27. Wedgewood Golf Club
28. Glen Eagle Golf Course
29. Overton Park 9
30. Marion Golf Course
31. The Links at Audubon
32. The Links at Fox Meadows
33. Forest Hill Golf Course
34. Southaven Golf Center
35. Timber Truss Golf Course
36. Vantage Point Golf Center
37. TPC Southwind
38. Irene Golf Course
39. Brownstone Country Club & Resort
40. The Links at Pine Hill
41. Memphis International Airport
42. Millington-Memphis Airport
43. Tunica Airport — UTM / KUTA
44. Olive Branch Airport
45. Charles W Baker Airport (2M8)
46. West Memphis Municipal Airport
47. Vaiden Landing Airport
48. General DeWitt Spain Airport
49. Airport Seating Alliance
50. Ralph M Sharpe Airport
51. Elon Musk’s new AI factory

Why This Matters

These are not anonymous data points. These facilities dump thousands of pounds of toxins each year into communities that have historically had less power and fewer resources — amplifying environmental injustice.

How We Fix It

1. Scrubbers & clean tech — Legislation + public pressure must force companies to upgrade emission controls.
2. Bioremediation + poplar trees — Nature can help clean soil and water, but needs strategic planting and investment.
3. Open-source mapping & community transparency — Tools like ours (www.PollutersNearMe.com) empower residents to track and report pollution in real-time.
4. Community-led advocacy — Mobilize for zoning equity, health studies, and strict enforcement.

Documentary & Action

Learn more in our Documentary — then take action:

• Use Polluters Near Me
• Sign petitions
• Support or donate to grassroots environmental justice groups