Did you know that iron and steel manufacturing is responsible for 25% of all industrial greenhouse gas emissions? Or that coal-fired power stations contributed to 40% of the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide in 2021? Statistics like these reveal that just a handful of industries have a monopoly on global greenhouse gas emissions; threatening our planet with the devastating consequences of climate change.

But carbon dioxide is not the only pollutant we should be concerned about. Industrial wastes like muds, slurries, wastewaters, and ashes are capable of leaching toxins into the environment. Unless carefully managed, these toxins can contaminate wild ecosystems or threaten human health.

Many of us are unaware of the scale and repercussions of industrial waste generation. Sequestered away in landfills and storage sites, industrial wastes remain invisible to the public — at least until disaster strikes. From the failure of the Mariana dam disaster in 2015 to the Ajka alumina plant accident in 2010, spillages and accidents reveal the full risks posed by toxic by-products.

J Henry Fair's photography forces us to confront the environmental consequences of industrial waste. His arresting photographs capture our attention and bring into focus the uncomfortable consequences of manufacturing and mass consumption.