FOG (Fats, Oils and Grease)

Where Are Oils Found?
Fats, oils, and grease are a byproduct of cooking and are mostly found in the following:
  • Meats
  • Cooking oil
  • Lard or shortening
  • Butter or margarine
Not sure what to do with used cooking oil and grease? Thinking of frying a turkey for the holidays? Did you know that cooking grease is one of the major causes of residential sewer main clogs resulting in sewer spills? Washing or dumping cooking fats, oil, or grease down the drain, can cause your sewer line to back up into your home, streets, and storm drains that flow directly to the bay.
Harmful Impact of Cooking Grease
Cooking grease poured down the drain:
  • Coats pipelines
  • Clings to the insides of the pipe, eventually causing blockage and sewer spills
  • Can cause damage to pumping equipment
  • Reduces line capacity
grease in pipe_thumb
grease plug.JPG
FOG Program
The City's Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) program was designed to reduce the possibility of sewer pipe blockages and overflows by educating people in regards to how FOG effects the sewer system. The City's Waste Water Collections Division encourages all customers to do their part in maintaining their internal system and to use proper disposal methods.

This is what a sewer pipe with FOG looks like. This condition is known as a “Grease Plug.”
Proper Disposal Methods
Ways in which you as a customer can reduce the amounts of FOG that enters the sewer system is by doing the following.
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Residential Do's & Don'ts
Do
  1. Freeze the grease or oil and then throw the hardened oil away on trash day.
  2. Allow grease to cool to a safe temperature after cooking before disposal.
  3. Mix oils with unscented kitty litter, sawdust, or sand to solidify the oil (Avoid scented or disinfectant types of kitty litter as they can react with the oil and cause a fire), then dispose in the trash can.
  4. Scrape grease and food residue from dishes and pans into a garbage bag before placing them into your dishwasher or sink.
  5. Use a paper towel to wipe small amounts of cooking oil, such as meat drippings, and throw the paper towel in the trash.
  6. Frying oils can generally be stored for up to 6 months and can be reused for up to 6 hours of frying time. Store oil in the original container after cooling and strain for foreign materials as it is being poured back into the container.


Don't
  1. Pour household grease into sinks, garbage disposals or other drains. This is one of the major contributors to sewer stoppages.
  2. Flush grease, diapers, sanitary napkins, newspapers, soiled rags, and/or paper towels down toilets.
  3. Pour oil or grease into a storm drain, it is the same as pouring it directly into a lake.

Commercial Do's & Don'ts
Do
  1. Have grease interceptors or traps inspected, maintained, and cleaned regularly.
  2. Install no grease signs around sinks to remind employees to avoid dumping fry grease and other fat products down the drain.
  3. Scrape grease and food residue from dishes and pans into a garbage bag before placing them into your dishwasher or sink.
  4. Allow grease to cool to a safe temperature after cooking before disposal.
  5. Only dispose of fat and grease in an approved container or by an approved method.


Don't
  1. Pour grease into sinks, garbage disposals or other drains. This is one of the major contributors to sewer stoppages.
  2. Flush grease, diapers, sanitary napkins, newspapers, soiled rags, and/or paper towels down toilets.
  3. Pour oil or grease into a storm drain, it is the same as pouring it directly into a lake.
  4. Ignore your grease trap maintenance schedule.

Additional Resources