Facts

Fats, Oils & Grease Control Program, or FOG, is a problem for the drainage pipes in your home and in businesses. Most foods and many drinks contain elements of FOG. When these are put into the sewer, the FOG attaches to the sides of the sewer pipes, reducing flow. This can cause raw sewage to back up into your home or business, resulting in extensive building and property damage for you or your neighbors. That is bad for human health, bad for your pocketbook, and bad for the environment. Causing a blockage of a public sewer system is also a violation of the Federal Clean Water Act, state and local laws. The result for you may be an expensive visit from a plumber, insurance claims, and penalties for damage to the public sewer system.

MYTHS debunked

We’ve all heard them, we may even believe them, but grease MYTHS are as common as urban legends. Here are a few of the most common.

It’s OK to pour grease down the drain as long as...

...I use the garbage disposal ...MYTH…the garbage disposal only grinds up items before passing them into your sewer pipes. 

...I chase it down with some dish soap…MYTH…While it’s true that soap breaks up grease, soap loses its effectiveness, and grease solidifies and congeals on pipe walls. 

...I run hot water…MYTH…eventually the hot water cools and grease will solidify in your pipes. 

...The liquid is at room temperature…MYTH…Cooking oils, such as Canola, float in wastewater and easily adhere to sewer pipes. The oily film can collect on food particles and other solids and begin to create a blockage.

How to properly dispose of FOG

1. Practice dry cleanup. Remove food waste with “dry” methods such as scraping, wiping, or sweeping before using “wet” methods that use water.
2. NEVER pour greasy liquids down sinks or toilets.
3. You should pour grease and oil into a can, store it in the freezer, and dispose of it on pickup day in the garbage can.
4. Always scrape food scraps into the trash instead of the in-sink garbage disposal.
5. Install a food strainer in kitchen sink drain(s) and empty them into the garbage can.