The dangers of hazardous waste do not need to be explained, but their presence on college campuses is certainly terrifying. Chemistry and art classes use combinations of dyes, solvents, and liquids that if not properly dealt with, can lead to dangerous mixtures of hazardous waste. Prolonged exposure to these chemicals and heavy metals can cause health issues for the promising adults of tomorrow, meaning it is absolutely necessary to remove these substances if and when they appear promptly. Similarly, incorrect disposal of these materials can negatively affect the environment, further endangering wildlife and therefore neighboring residential areas outside of the campus. Because of these dangers, the Houston Community College System is accepting sealed proposals from qualified firms or contractors to provide hazardous and universal waste removal services. These services will go a long way to keeping the campuses clean and waste free, allowing for the students to more easily focus on their education.
An abundant and not talked about enough byproduct of college campuses is the amount of universal waste present. Batteries, fluorescent bulbs, and dead electronic devices make up universal waste, and we all know that college campuses have these in spades. Although not immediately as dangerous as hazardous waste, they do contain harmful substances such as mercury, lead, and cadmium that can lead to health problems in the future. Proper removal and recycling of universal waste helps prevent these toxic materials from ending up in landfills, minimizing the chance of them seeping into the groundwater soil and harming the environment. Having resources to handle this waste can protect the people on campus and reduce the burden on natural resources.
This request for proposal comes from the efforts of the Houston Community College System to keep the campus clean and safe from invisible threats to the students on campus. Housing, classrooms, and common areas all run on products that can give off potential universal waste, and cleaning solvents, pool maintenance, alcohol, and mixtures of flammable liquids can form hazardous materials that endanger those around. It is the responsibility of the campus to care and ensure the safety of the students on campus, and by removing the waste and disposing of it correctly makes sure that the students and surrounding environment have a couple less threats to worry about. If interested in this opportunity, click on the link to learn more. The bid closes October 7, 2024 at 2:00 PM CDT.
