In Connecticut’s wealthiest county, neighboring towns face significant disparities. Bridgeport, Conn., has the lowest average income in Fairfield County, and has the highest percentage of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals. It is also home to the largest incinerator in the state.

Incinerators are notorious polluters and, according to a report by the Tishman Environment and Design Center, their major pollutants include dioxins, heavy metals, chlorine, polystyrenes, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, lead, and PFAS/PFOA among others.

Bridgeport faces a disproportionate amount of environmental hazards such as air pollution, raising environmental justice concerns. Where governments fail to protect their citizens, community-based solutions like PT Partners and their collaboration with EmpowerED are making Bridgeport residents more informed and resilient.