Fats, Oils, Grease
FOG is an acronym for fats, oils and grease.
Where Fog Comes From
FOG, or fats, oils, and grease, often come from fats left over from food preparation, packaged foods, and food scraps. Food including but not limited to:
- Cooking oils
- Dairy products
- Meat fats and juices
Why Fog is a Problem
The build-up of FOG in the plumbing system creates sewer back-ups and overflows that can damage your home or business and the environment. FOG washed down the sink sticks to the inside of sewer pipes both on your property and in the streets. FOG in wastewater is among the more stable of the organic compounds and is not easily decomposed by bacteria, so these fats coat, congeal, and accumulate on pipes, pumps, and equipment, and obstruct lines; over time, the build-up can block the entire pipe, resulting in sewer back-ups and overflows.
How FOG Affects You
Improper FOG disposal leads to costly sewer backups and overflows, increased sewer rates, and public health and environmental hazards as it washes down storm drains and into bays, waterways, and creeks.
Below are the Dos and Don'ts to keep Fats, Oils, and Grease out of our sewer system:
- Do scrape grease and food scraps from trays, plates, pots, pans, utensils, grills and cooking surfaces into a can or the trash for disposal.
- Do use baskets or strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and other solids and dispose of them in the trash.
- Do wipe down greasy pots and pans with a dry paper towel and dispose of it in your garbage.
- Do not pour FOG down the garbage disposal, sink drain, or toilet
- Do not use hot water to wash the grease down the drain
- Do pour cooled oil, fats, and grease into a can or other container with a tight lid (coffee can, glass jar, or plastic container) and dispose of it in the garbage.
- Do be cautious of chemicals and commercial additives (including soaps and detergents) that claim to dissolve grease. Some of these additives simply pass grease down pipes where it can clog the sewer lines in another area.
- Do drop off large amounts of FOG at a local grease recycler, especially if you have a turkey fryer during the holiday season and have a large amount of left over oil.