Grease is a Problem
Grease makes its way into city sanitary sewer pipes when you dispose of cooking products such as oil, butter, dairy products, and other products used in everyday cooking through your kitchen sink. Grease disposed through your kitchen sink clogs drains and creates sewer backups. Blocked sewer pipes cause raw sewage overflow in your home, your neighbors house, and parks & streets.
Grease may lead to an expensive cleanup and plumbing repair bill that must be paid by you (the Homeowner). With your help you can stop this from being a problem. It will also help protect the quality of the water.
Here are a few helpful tips on how to reduce the problem.
- Instead of pouring F-O-G (Fats-Oils-Grease) down the drain pour into a container
- Instead of putting leftovers and food scraps down the drain, scrape them into the trash can. Also try to avoid using the garbage disposal.
- Before you wash your dishes…..Try removing excess grease with a paper towel. Try not to pre-rinse with HOT water.
- Use environmentally safe cleaning products instead of harsh detergents or cleaners that can damage sewer lines.
- If you generate large amounts of used cooking oil, recycle it. To find a recycler, check the phone book under “recyclers” or “rendering companies.”
- If you generate small amounts of used cooking oil, pour it into a container you can reuse or throw away, never pour it down the drain.
- Start a compost pile at your home with scraps that are not meat. Find out about composting in the TCEQ publication, “A Green Guide to Yard Care” (GI-028)