Properly dispose of fats, oils, and grease this holiday season
MSD Project Clear is urging the community to take action this holiday season by properly disposing of fats, oils, and grease (FOG), instead of putting them down the drain.
FOG from butter, gravy, cooking oil, and sauces can look as harmless as liquids, and many people dispose of these substances down their drains. When they cool, however, FOG becomes thick and sticky, adhering to the pipes of our sewer system and potentially causing clogs, basement backups and sewer overflows. FOG can also cause issues in the pipes of your home, producing clogs or backups.
FOG gets into our sewer collection system mainly from residential customers pouring the substances down their drains.
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
• Mayonnaise
• Food scraps
• “Hidden oils” such as salad dressings, syrup, batter, cheese, and whipping cream
The MSD Project Clear Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) program was designed to reduce the possibility of sewer pipe blockages and overflows by educating the community about how FOG affects the sewer system and how customers can properly dispose of these substances. More than any other time of year, fall and early winter see more of these types of issues, particularly around the holiday cooking season. Since 2004, MSD has seen a nearly 80% reduction in grease-related sewer overflows, due in part to the community’s help in preventing FOG from entering our sewer system. MSD asks the community for its help in continuing this trend, and reminds everyone not to FOG up our pipes this holiday season.
To work effectively, sewer systems need to be properly maintained. MSD PC encourages all customers to do their part in maintaining their home’s system and to use proper disposal methods as provided below.
What Can You Do?
- Wipe visible FOG and food scraps from plates, pots, and utensils into the trash for disposal.
- Never pour FOG down your sink drain, garbage disposal, or the sewer system
COOL IT, CAN IT, & TRASH IT.
o Pour cooled FOG into a container such as empty pet food, vegetable, or coffee cans. Allow the material to cool and solidify.
o Secure the lid and place it in the trash when full. Lids are available at your local municipality or at MSD’s Administrative Offices.
- Encourage your neighbors to keep FOG out of the sewer system.
