People often talk about pollution in the context of dirty energy sources, industrial pollution , or waste disposal . We don’t think about pollution from demolition as frequently.
The Smith Foundry, a former iron casting facility in Minneapolis, closed in 2024 and was torn down in 2025. The foundry was accused of violating the Clean Air Act, risking the community’s and the environment’s health, per MPR News .
Community members were concerned about the site before the demolition began since the area was home to a former arsenic factory…