Everyone gains a little fat over the holidays—just don’t clog your drain with it.
What is FOG?
Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) make the holidays taste extra
special—after all, what is Christmas dinner without gravy? FOG products include
fatty foods (butter, shortening, dairy products, meat fat, etc.), cooking oils
(peanut, vegetable, olive, soybean, corn, coconut, sesame, salad dressing,
etc.), and the substances left behind after cooking, such as greasy scraps and
pan drippings.
What happens when FOG goes down the drain?
How to Properly Dispose of FOG
Be nice to your
pipes this holiday season by keeping fats, oils and grease out of your drains.
Here are 3 easy steps to avoid clogging
your pipes:
1. Scrape
Deposit cooled fat, oil, grease or food residue into a
separate container where it can congeal. Wipe out the remaining residual fats,
oils, and grease with a paper towel before washing.
2. Store
Store used grease, oils, fats, and food residues in the
freezer.
Mason jars, Tupperware, disposable containers—these common
household items make excellent FOG containers. For even simpler FOG storage, seal
a used and empty food can with a 3-Step Lid™ (available for free from Albemarle
County Service Authority). The 3-Step Lid™ fastens over most cans, from 3 oz.
to larger family sizes, sealing the grease inside. The can is then stored in
the freezer until the grease is frozen solid. The reusable lid is removed and
saved for future use, while the can of grease can be placed in the trash.
3. Dispose
Once your FOG container is full, simply scrape out the
frozen FOG into the garbage.
Prevent fats, oils, and grease from damaging your home and the
environment. For more
information on FOG, visit www.serviceauthority.org/fog.html.