Fight FOG - Do Not Pour Kitchen Grease Down the Drain

Do Not Pour Kitchen Grease Down the Drain

This is a reminder that fats, oils, and grease (FOG) items should never be put down the sink.  This includes food scraps, meat fats, cooking oils, lard, baked goods, salad dressings, sauces, marinades, dairy products, shortening, butter, and margarine. 

In a warm, liquid state, FOG can appear harmless since it flows easily down the drain.  However, shortly after it enters the drain, it can quickly cool and turn into a solid that will cause problems in the pipes in your home and in the sanitary sewer system.  As the FOG builds up, it restricts the flow in the pipe and can cause untreated wastewater to back up into homes and businesses, resulting in high costs for cleanup and restoration.

Overtime, FOG will accumulate along the walls of the sewer pipes.  This will restrict the flow of wastewater and can cause sewer backups not only into your property, but throughout your neighborhood.  

FOG also contributes to operational issues for our wastewater utility such as obstructing flow in the sewers, causing foul odors, along with interfering with equipment and treatment processes. 

To dispose of FOG in your trash, first make sure it is in solid form:

1. Let the grease dry: The first step is to let the grease sit for at least an hour.  Once it cools, you can move on to the next step. 
2. Scrape the grease into a separate container: Find an empty container you can use to throw away the grease.  Some god options are glass jars or old cardboard milk cartons.  Anything with a tight seal or wax lining works.  Pour or scrape the cooled grease into the container and seal it. 
3. Throw it away in the garbage: Once the grease is in the container, you can throw it away in the garbage.  To avoid any spilling, you can put the container in a plastic bag before putting it in the trash. 
4. Use paper towels to wipe the rest of the oil or grease: Finally, use some paper towels to stop up any remaining oil or grease from your pots and pans before washing them.

Remember, cooking oil can be re-used; do not throw it away if you can re-use it.

Please do yourself and the community a favor today by NOT flushing fats, oils and grease down the sink.  The presence of FOG in the sewer system affects everyone in our community!