Fats, Oils & Grease

Prevent sewer backups 

When poured down the drain, fats, oils and grease (FOG) build up in your pipes and the City’s sewer mains, blocking the flow of wastewater. This can not only damage plumbing lines, but can cause untreated wastewater to back up into homes and businesses. 

For restaurants, it can also mean several days of having to close your business.

What is FOG?

• FATS are typically solid at room temperature but can melt when heated then resolidify once cooled. They include butter, shortening, margarine, peanut butter, meat trimmings (and fat), poultry skin, cheese, milk, cream, avocados, sour cream and ice cream.
• OILS are usually liquid at room temperature or melt when heated. Items in this category include cooking oils and oil-based dressings or sauces, nut butters, vegetable oil, canola oil, olive oil, corn oil, coconut oil and other cooking oils.
• GREASE turns liquid during cooking, but solidifies when cooled. Greasy items include gravy, mayonnaise, melted meat fat, bacon and sausage grease, boiled poultry skin and heavy salad dressings. 
• Other kitchen clog-makers include potato peels, onion peels, pie crusts, coffee grounds, cake, pancake, cookie or cake batters, pasta and stringy vegetables like okra or asparagus.  

Prevent FOG clogs

• Dump your left-over fats, oils and grease into a soup can or similar container with a lid. Pour the FOG into the container, then put a lid on the container and stick it in the freezer. When the container is full, throw it away in the regular trash, then start all over with another empty container. 
• Toss all food scraps in the trash instead of down the sink. Raw vegetable and fruit waste, egg shells and coffee grounds can also be used for composting. Mixed with dry leaves or newspaper remnants, you can create a nutrient-rich material for your garden or flower bed.
• Use a paper towel to wipe out excess grease from cookware and dishes before putting them in the sink or dishwasher. Throw the greasy paper towel in the trash.

FOG myths:

Myth: Washing FOG down with dish-washing soap or pipe de-greasers helps break it up.
Truth: This only passes the FOG down the line where it can cause problems elsewhere, and some degreasers can contribute to plumbing corrosion.

Myth: FOG will melt or dissolve if you run hot water down the drain.
Truth: Hot water may melt FOG temporarily, but as it cools, fats and grease will often re-solidify, contributing to FOG clogs.

Myth: Using the garbage disposal eliminates FOG in the drain.
Truth: Garbage disposals may break up certain solid materials, but the fats, oils and grease will still cling to the pipes. In addition, items such as pasta, vegetable peels and coffee grounds can get caught up in the disposal blades and cause breakdowns.

What else causes sewer backups?

Disposable wipes are one of the biggest causes for sewer main backups. FOG gets caught up with the wipes inside pipes, creating small piles that become bigger piles as more FOG and more wipes start to collect. Don't flush wipes or these other items down your toilet or put them down the drain.