Many homeowners may be surprised to know that pouring fats, oils, and grease down the kitchen drain can cause costly, unpleasant sewer blockages.  It also impacts on the environment when these spills overflow into storm drains and end up directly into the Bay-Delta estuary damaging local fish and wildlife habitat.

These blockages can cause sewage backups directly into homes and businesses.  The problem is the build-up of fats, oils, and grease (called FOG in the pollution prevention business) in your pipes.  Raw sewage overflows can back up into your home - posing a potential health risk.  Back-ups can require residents to pay for expensive clean up and clearing of the house sewer and lead to higher sewer repair bills due to the need to clear sewer lines in the street."

Here are some easy tips for keeping your plumbing, local sewers, and the Bay-Delta free from blockages throughout the year:

• Never pour fats, oil, or grease down sink drains or into toilets.
• Do not dispose of fats, oils, or grease in your regular garbage or trash receptacle.  When cooled, put used cooking oil back into the original container for disposal.
• It doesn't matter whether you run hot water or cold water - home garbage disposals do NOT keep grease out of the plumbing system.
• If you soak a greasy pan, place a paper towel over the drain basket to catch grease and food particles as you pour the water down the drain.
• Scrape grease and food scraps from plates, pots, pans, utensils, and grills into a can or other heat proof container.
• Bring your FOG container, along with large quantities of oil from turkey fryers, to your local Household Hazardous Waste collection center for FREE disposal and recycling.

For safe disposal, bring your cooking oil and grease to the Delta Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility

• English FOG Postcard
• Spanish FOG Postcard