Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOGs)

Fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) are both important components of cooking and pesky byproducts...and they’re terrible for your pipes. Let’s take a minute to review plumbing best practices! 

FOGs can be both a liquid (when hot) and a solid (when cool). When they’re first rinsed down the drain, they'll coat the inside of your pipes, then solidify layer by layer as they cool. Those fatty layers act like a sticky net that trap other things that end up down the drain. Eventually, the buildup narrows the pipe’s diameter, initially causing a slow drain and eventually a complete clog. This can cause major blockages or overflows in home plumbing, septic tanks, and the City’s sewer system.  It’s smelly, unpleasant, unhealthy, and totally avoidable.   

• For a small amount, use dry paper towels to wipe excess FOGs off of pots, pans, and dishes before washing. This prevents warm water from rinsing liquefied FOGs down the drain. Be sure to throw paper towels into the trash (not recycling or compost). Don’t use cloth towels that you’ll wash, as the FOGs will still drain to the sewer, just from the washing machine instead. 
• For a large amount, pour warm FOGs into a lidded container (cans or glass jars work well), let solidify, and throw the sealed container into the trash (or keep the same container in the fridge and add/layer FOGs until full).   
• Ignore the garbage disposal. Scrape food scraps into the trash or compost. Small bits of food can stick to FOGs, causing additional build-up. 
• The label “FOGs” encompasses a large list of things that shouldn’t go down the drain, including meat fats, lard, shortening, butter, margarine, dairy products, batters, icing, dressing, and food scraps.  
• If you have a yard debris bin, you can put all plate scrapings and food scraps into the bin (yep, even meat and bones)! 

Get a free FOG kit for your home by calling Clean Water Services (503-681-3678). 

P.S.  “Flushable” wipes aren’t really flushable! Please throw them in the trash. Wipes join forces with FOGs and create and even bigger mess inside of our pipes and sanitary sewer system.