CHEMICALS PLACED FOR COLLECTION ENDANGERS EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITY
| WHAT | Dangers of Household Hazardous Waste Press Conference |
| WHEN | Friday, March 14, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. |
| WHERE | Environmental Service Center, 11500 South Post Oak (Key Map 571C) |
| WHO | The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department |
| WHY | On Monday, March 10, 2003, a resident put household hazardous waste (HHW) or some other type of chemical under debris that was set out for heavy trash collection. When our “cherrypicker” operator picked up the pile and put it in the tractor-trailer, a cloud of chemicals puffed up and got in his nostrils and on his skin. The employee was sent to the hospital. Fortunately, the operator is fine. However, the combination of different types of household hazardous waste can cause severe damage or fatalities. The Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) is holding this press conference to alert the public about the dangers and consequences of improper disposal of HHW materials. The safety of our employees, the community, and the environment is vitally important. The SWMD encourages Houstonians to properly dispose of their HHW at the City’s Environmental Service Center. This facility is open to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and the second Saturday of the month from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. |
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