Al-Tech Steel Mill – Watervliet, New York

All abandoned industrial sites are filled with potential hazards – from rusted metal and broken glass to toxins – but the abandoned Al-Tech Steel Mill in Watervliet, New York is especially dangerous. The last Rust Belt monument on our list, this abandoned mill has been officially off-limits to the public since 1994, because of the dangerous pollutants it harbors. The complex is currently scheduled to be demolished, but this can’t happen until the ground material dissipates – estimated to happen around 2015.

Empty sites like the Al-Tech mill, often referred to as brownfield properties, are not only reminders of a once booming industry; they’re also potentially hazardous. They can be a danger to both their surrounding environments and to human populations. Then there’s the illegal activity – vandalism and dumping – that often takes place at these kinds of abandoned sites. Hence, local governments and businesses are encouraged to clean up these old facilities whenever possible, for both environmental and economic reasons. Doing so can potentially provide employment and revitalize communities.