The holiday season is here, and with it comes plenty of cooking for family and friends. While preparing festive meals, it’s important to remember how to dispose of fats, oils and grease (FOG) to protect your home plumbing and our community’s wastewater system.
FOG comes from meats, butter, margarine, lard, sauces, salad dressings, dairy products and cooking oils. When poured down the drain, warm FOG may seem harmless—but as it cools, it solidifies and can clog pipes, cause backups and damage wastewater treatment systems. These blockages can lead to costly repairs, environmental hazards and even sanitary sewer overflows, where raw sewage can enter homes and neighborhoods.
Simple Steps to Prevent Problems:
•Can it, cool it and toss it: Let FOG cool and harden in a can or sealed container, then throw it in the trash. You can also reuse cooled grease for future cooking.
•Wipe before you wash: Use paper towels to remove grease from pans and dishes before rinsing or loading the dishwasher. Avoid cloth towels— they can transfer grease to your washing machine’s pipes.
•Use drain strainers: Install and clean strainers regularly to catch food particles and debris. Replace them if they become worn or rusty.
•Limit garbage disposal use: Overuse can damage the motor and blades. Instead, scrape food scraps into the trash or compost bin.
Remember: When it comes to FOG—can it, cool it and throw it away!
