Fats, Oils, Grease & Wipes

Overview

Fats, oils, grease (FOG) and wipes represent the most serious enemy of our sewer lines. FOG creates clogs; Protect your pipes, don't flush wipes! (JPG, 722KB)

• Fats: Butter, margarine, shortening, meat scraps
• Oils: Cooking oil, mayonnaise, salad dressing
• Grease: Gravy, lard, sauces
• Wipes and other un-flushables: Baby wipes, cleaning wipes, paper towels, tissues, feminine hygiene products, or trash of any kind. Even if it is labeled as flushable, don't believe the hype: never flush your wipes. 

When FOG is poured down the sink drain or wipes are flushed, it forms large, thick masses that clog pipes. Clogged wastewater pipes can result in sewer backups and spills, create environmental problems, cause traffic tie-ups or even flood homes and businesses. Responding to pipe emergencies is costly, and preventing sewer backups from FOG and wipes blockages saves money.

Commercial food-handling facilities can contribute to FOG buildup in sewer lines because of the amount of grease used in cooking and other food prep work. Learn more about proper handling of grease and oil in restaurants and other businesses. 

Important: When sewer pipes back up on private property, the homeowner or business owner is responsible for the cleanup.

A pipe clogged with thick fats, oil and grease, also known as FOG.

Can it. Cool it. Throw it away.

Do’s

• Can the grease! Keep an empty metal can and pour oil and grease into the can. Allow grease to cool in the container before throwing it in the trash.
• Wipe before washing. For greasy pans, pour the grease into a container and use a paper towel to wipe out the remaining grease in the pan prior to washing.
• Seal the oil. Liquid should be limited to no more than one-half gallon. Mix liquid vegetable oil with an absorbent material such as kitty litter or coffee grounds in a sealable container before throwing it in the trash.
• Keep drains clean by pouring 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Wait 10-15 minutes and then rinse with hot water.

Don’ts

• Don’t pour fat, oil or grease down drains or garbage disposals.
• Don’t use hot water to rinse grease off cookware, utensils, dishes or surfaces.
• Don’t forget to protect the sewer lines from the bathroom: the toilet is not a trash can.

Tips for Businesses Managing FOG

• Strain or filter oil in deep fryers to extend the life of the cooking oil.
• Control the temperature of deep fryers to prevent oil from scorching and extend its life. Less oil in the grease interceptor means money saved in pumping and in new oil purchased.
• Recycle cooking oils and leftover grease into a storage container such as a barrel or bucket. Remember that grease is valuable — grease and oil can be recycled into other useful products. See your Yellow Pages for “grease traps” or “greases” to find grease collection companies or grease trap service providers.
• Instruct staff to be conservative about the use of FOG in food preparation.
• Don’t use your garbage disposal to grind up FOG and flush it down the drain.
• Use dry cleanup methods to reduce water consumption and save money! Remove FOG and food waste from pans by scraping or wiping before using water. Use rubber scrapers to remove FOG from cookware.
• Use absorbent paper to soak up FOG under fryer baskets.
• Use paper towels to wipe down work areas. Cloth towels will accumulate grease that will eventually end up in your drains when washing.
• Minimize the use of dish soap in dishwashing operations. Dish soap emulsifies FOG and enables it to pass through a grease interceptor. It will later coagulate in sewer lines.
• Maintain your grease trap. Many restaurants have a grease trap installed in the kitchen. In order to keep your grease trap working properly, you’ll need to have it cleaned periodically, according to the manufacturer’s specifications.