Building Resistance in a Burdened Community

Exhibition Open: June—August, 2025
Newark Water Coalition
46 Halsey Street, Newark, NJ

A bird’s-eye view of some of the industry that sprawls through the Ironbound, including Covanta Essex incinerator.

Courtesy of Joshua Kumar.

 
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More than 10,000 commercial trucks pass through the Ironbound neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey everyday. Local air quality is compromised by diesel pollution, which includes fine particulate matter that can lead to widespread, long-term health issues. As of now, no government agencies are adequately monitoring the public health threats that the community faces.

Voice Over: Modesto, Joe Della Fave, and Alexander. Filmed by: Amanda Oliveira Fabri & Colin Davy.

Rutgers University – Newark and Ironbound Community Corporation. Produced with Talking Eyes Media

 
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At Manufacturer’s Place in Newark, New Jersey, homes were built on the site of Ronson Metals, which closed in 1989. When residents began getting sick and small animals were dying, the Department of Environmental Protection was forced to investigate. They discovered that carcinogenic fumes were leaking into people’s basements. The community has been left to bear the brunt of the problem — and all of the health consequences that have resulted.

Voice Over: Modesto, Joe Della Fave, and Alexander.  Filmed by: Raphael Nartley & Colin Davy.

Rutgers University – Newark and Ironbound Community Corporation. Produced with Talking Eyes Media

The Problem
The Roots
The Solutions

The Ironbound is a “burdened community,” exposing residents to multiple sources of toxins at once. It houses the largest Superfund site in the US, the largest incinerator in the New York area, over 200 brownfields (contaminated sites), a facility that processes sewage from 3 million homes, and more than 14,000 trucks pass through daily.  

Ironbound is a community of 50,000 residents—predominantly African Americans, immigrants, and non-native English speakers with little political sway. It likely got its name from the railroad tracks and bridges around its perimeter, which have served industries that generated wealth for corporate titans while polluting the environs.

For 50 years, the Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC) has lead environmental justice and community mobilization. They blocked the building of several incinerators and fought for the designation of the Diamond Alkali plant as a Superfund site. ICC analyzes industrial permits, holds polluters accountable, and lobbies for green infrastructure.

The South Street School sits on top of a remediated brownfield. The state is suing to recoup remediation costs.
The Ironbound Committee Against Toxic Waste marches against a proposed garbage incinerator (1990).
Diamond Alkali made Agent Orange (dioxin) for the Vietnam War. The EPA opted to
Every year Covanta Essex burns 1 mil. tons of garbage, which generates electricity. Byproducts include lead and dioxin.
All homes on Manufacturer’s Pl. have vents to funnel out vaporized chemicals left behind by Ronson Metals.
DarPRO’s fat rendering plant emits noxious odors from burning animal carcasses for use in household products.
Ana Baptista, former Dir. of Environmental and Planning programs for ICC, talks about growing up in the Ironbound.
Ironbound resident Christian Rodriguez, on realizing she inhabits a toxic environment
Long-time resident Josie Stewart has watched friends and family get sick and die from toxic exposure.
Lito Miranda, ICC activist, shares the history of the struggle for environmental justice in the neighborhood.
Nancy Zak has worked with ICC for 40+ years; her husband, Arnold Cohen, works in affordable housing and EJ.
Ironbound resident Medinilla Soares introduces us to some of the brownfield sites in her neighborhood.
The South Street School sits on top of a remediated brownfield. The state is suing to recoup remediation costs.
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The South Street School sits on top of a remediated brownfield; the state is suing to recoup remediation costs.

 Courtesy of Riley Dixon.

The Ironbound Committee Against Toxic Waste marches against a proposed garbage incinerator (1990).
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1990: The Ironbound Committee Against Toxic Waste marches against a proposed garbage incinerator.

Courtesy of Ironbound Community Corporation.

Diamond Alkali made Agent Orange (dioxin) for the Vietnam War. The EPA opted to
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Diamond Alkali made Agent Orange (dioxin) for the Vietnam War; the EPA opted to “contain” rather than remove it.

Courtesy of Ironbound Community Corporation.

Every year Covanta Essex burns 1 mil. tons of garbage, which generates electricity. Byproducts include lead and dioxin.
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Every year Covanta Essex burns 1 mil. tons of garbage, which generates electricity and byproducts like lead and dioxin.

Courtesy of Devin Michael.

All homes on Manufacturer’s Pl. have vents to funnel out vaporized chemicals left behind by Ronson Metals.
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All homes on Manufacturer’s Pl. have vents to funnel out vaporized chemicals left behind by Ronson Metals.

Courtesy of Raphael Narty.

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 DarPRO’s fat rendering plant emits noxious odors from burning animal carcasses to make household products.

Courtesy of Shirley Cruz.

Ana Baptista, former Dir. of Environmental and Planning programs for ICC, talks about growing up in the Ironbound.
Additional Media

Ana Baptista, former Director of Environmental and Planning programs for ICC, on growing up in the Ironbound

Ironbound resident Christian Rodriguez, on realizing she inhabits a toxic environment
Additional Media

Ironbound resident Christian Rodriguez, on realizing she inhabits a toxic environment

Long-time resident Josie Stewart has watched friends and family get sick and die from toxic exposure.
Additional Media

Long-time resident Josie Stewart, on watching friends and family get sick and die from toxic exposure

Lito Miranda, ICC activist, shares the history of the struggle for environmental justice in the neighborhood.
Additional Media

 Lito Miranda, ICC activist, on the history of the struggle for environmental justice in the neighborhood

Nancy Zak has worked with ICC for 40+ years; her husband, Arnold Cohen, works in affordable housing and EJ.
Additional Media

Nancy Zak has worked with ICC for 40+ years along with her husband, Arnold Cohen, in affordable housing and EJ

Additional Media

Ironbound resident Medinilla Soares, on some of the brownfield sites in her neighborhood

Courtesy of Riley Dixon, Yoo Ra Kim, and Stephanie Alonso.

Our Point of View

University Partners
Community Partners

Before this class, most of us didn’t know what environmental justice was, let alone that we are located in an EJ community. This class was a wake-up call not only about the hazards of living in a burdened community, but also how our consumer society generates waste that is disproportionately dumped on low-income neighborhoods. Through first-hand reporting we gained a deep connection to the lived experience of people in the Ironbound, and we came to understand the systemic level of change that needs to happen in order to restore balance.

—Rutgers University-Newark

Race and income are the most likely indicators of whether someone lives near toxic waste. For 50 years, the Ironbound Community Corporation has been resisting that trend. We fight for the rights of local residents to clean water, air, and soil, as well as affordable housing and early childhood education. We are committed to Just Transition principles that honor the earth and move us away from an extractive economy. We joined forces with HAL and the students at Rutgers University–Newark to educate, inspire, and amplify our story.

—Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC)

Climates of Inequality Exhibition

Newark Climates of Inequality: Building Resistance--The Ironbound
GET THE LED OUT
Mutual Aid featuring the RU-N Pantry and Newark Water Coalition!
The Power of Words by Thomas M. Borselli
The Legacy of the 1967 Newark Riots & Its Impact on Present-Day Challenges
Mutual Aid in Newark, past and present
Maria Lopez-Nuñez on Pollution and COVID-19 in Newark
Environmental Justice in the Ironbound: Multimedia Approaches
The Ironbound Fights Back: The History of the ICC
Covanta: Ironbound’s Unwanted Neighbor
Diamond Alkali: The Forgotten Tomb of Ironbound
Ronson Metals Lawsuit: Unhappy Homes
Darling Fat Rendering: The Truth Stinks
An Invisible Hazard: The Brownfield Sites of Newark’s Ironbound

Climates of Inequality Convening 2023

Creative Responses to Translocal Conversations

Contributors

University Partners

Rutgers University-Newark

Faculty Project Directors Heather Van Uxem Lewis Mary Rizzo Julie Winokur
Students Stephanie Alonso Selena Caguana Chris Cordero Shirley Cruz Riley Dixon Amanda Oliveira Fabri Nouran Ibrahem Kira Jones Yoo Ra Kim Jay Kumar Chris Lantonnel Yailine Mazariegos Ashley Mendoza Devin Michael Nichole Montanez Raphael Narty Carmelo Ortiz Christopher Rua Alexa Sanchez Sarah Shah Harry Sisco Khyri Stewart Ramon Tavarez Viridiana Villasenor

Community Partners

Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC)

Maria Lopez-Nuñez
Melissa Miles
Nancy Zak