Pouring cooking oil or grease down the drain sticks to the insides of the wastewater pipes, and creates a gooey-gross Grease Blob. The more you feed him the bigger he gets until he causes a monster of a clog. Help stop the Grease Blob from causing expensive repairs, foul odors and sanitary sewer overflows!
Sources of fats, oils, and grease, also known as FOG, poured down the drain sticks to the insides of the wastewater pipes, and creates an gooey-gross Grease Blob. The more you feed him, the bigger he gets until he causes a monster of a clog. You can help Stop the Grease Blob from causing expensive repairs, foul odors and sanitary sewer overflows!
Sources of Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG)
FOG can come from a variety of animal fats and/or vegetable oils that are used to prepare food or are found in food. Examples include:
- Meat Fats (Bacon, Sausage, etc.)
- Sauces & Gravy
- Cooking oils (Canola, Corn etc.)
- Yogurt
- Butter/Margarine
- Mayonnaise
- Nut Butters
- Salad Dressing
Many oils solidify at lower temperatures and, even those that don't, often bind to other forms of fats and grease.
How Can I Help Stop the Grease Blob?
- Let the FOG cool before handling.
- Use a paper towel to wipe grease from pots, pans, plates, and utensils prior to washing.
- Scrape food scraps into the trash, not the sink or garbage disposal (unfortunately, very greasy and oily food cannot be composted).
- Use a sink strainer to catch food particles.
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Proper FOG Storage & Disposal
- Collect small quantities of cooking oil or grease in a coffee can, empty milk carton, or similar container (preferably with a lid so it doesn’t pour out).
- Alternatively, the FOG can be mixed with kitty litter, and doubled bagged.
- Chill FOG in the fridge if you need to get it to harden up.
- Toss the container of collected FOG in your trash bin, or even better, recycle it at Austin’s Resource Recovery’s Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center.
- For restaurants, or large quantities of FOG, learn about Austin Water’s Grease Trap Program.
What Can Happen when FOG Goes Down the Drain?
FOG poured down the drain (including food scraps sent through the garbage disposal) sticks to the insides of the wastewater pipes, and can cause:
- Sewage back-ups & overflows
- Very costly repairs
- Threats to public health and the environment
The City of Austin is under an Administrative Order from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address persistent problems with sanitary sewer overflows.
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 Grease can completely block a sewer pipe, as pictured above. |