Don’t let FOG clogs create a costly holiday plumbing mess
Published on November 24, 2025
As kitchens heat up for holiday cooking, many of the season’s favorite dishes come with an unwelcome byproduct: plumbing clogs caused by fats, oils and grease—better known as FOG.
The Oklahoma City Utilities Department wants to remind residents to “prevent clogs by tossing your FOG.” That simply means throwing fats, oils, grease and bulky food scraps into the trash rather than putting them down the drain. When poured into sinks, FOG can harden in sewer lines and lead to costly repairs for both homeowners and the City.
To avoid clogs, residents should pour liquid FOG—such as turkey drippings, gravy, cooking oil or melted butter—into a lidded container and freeze it until solid. Once hardened, it can be safely thrown away in the trash. Solid food scraps like peels and skins should also go into the trash, and pans should be wiped with a paper towel before washing to remove any remaining grease.
For larger quantities of grease, such as what’s left over after outdoor turkey frying, the City recommends taking the material to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center at 1621 S. Portland Ave. The facility is open Tuesday–Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
“Even small amounts of fats, oils or grease can build up over time, and accumulate in sewer service lines, causing blockages and back-ups in people’s plumbing or our mains,” said April Kyle, Treatment Supervisor with the Oklahoma City Utilities Wastewater Quality Division.
Kyle notes that although FOG is a concern year-round, the holidays are a prime time for reminders. “Holiday recipes often call for more butter, oils, gravies, fats and foods considered as FOG,” Kyle said. “And the average kitchen garbage disposal won’t help break it down enough to prevent clogs.”
Common sources of FOG include butter, shortening, margarine, meat trimmings, poultry skin, cheese, milk, cream, sour cream, cooking oils, salad dressing, gravy and mayonnaise. Other items to trash include pie crusts, coffee grounds, onion, carrot and potato peels, and celery.
For more tips on keeping your pipes clog-free, visit okc.gov/utilities.
The Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust serves more than 1.5 million residents in Central Oklahoma and is committed to providing water, wastewater and trash collection services to safeguard public health and the environment, support public safety and enable economic prosperity.
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Media Contact
Jasmine Morris, (405) 297-1950, jasmine.morris@okc.gov