Fats, Oils, & Grease "FOG" Program

 

Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) is a leading cause of sanitary sewer overflows (SSO) in North Carolina. Grease is a common term for animal fats and vegetable oils. Residential and commercial Users, who are often unaware that they are causing potential harm, introduce FOG from their cooking processes, into their plumbing system and City’s sanitary sewer system. Over time FOG builds up and clogs pipes and plumbing. In the collection system, FOG leads to blockages, which can cause sewer overflows onto streets and property, and into homes and businesses. These overflows disrupt residential, commercial and industrial operations, and carry the potential for health risks which comes from contact with disease-causing organisms. Raw sewage can carry bacteria, viruses, parasitic organisms, etc. which may bring diseases from mild gastroenteritis (diarrhea) to life threatening ailments such as cholera, dysentery and hepatitis. They also increase sewer system maintenance costs and present potential impacts to our environment. 

Some best management practices that residents can practice to reduce FOG generation include:

• Be careful of what you put down your drains or flush down your toilets!
• Scrape, or dry wipe, excess grease from frying pans, pots and dishes into containers (old milk cartoons, frozen juice containers, etc.) or a plastic garbage bag, and dispose of in the garbage. Cat litter or used coffee grounds can absorb the liquid in the container.
• Pour all cooking oils (including salad oils, frying oil/grease, bacon fat, marinades, etc.) into a container for ultimate disposal with the trash.
• Place leftover foods, meat trimmings, etc. in the trash can and not down the garbage disposal.
• Never dump motor oil or other lubricants down the drain. Take them to a collection station.
• Never use the toilet for disposal of kitchen wastes. Also, do not flush disposable diapers, paper towels and other bulky paper products down the toilet. These bulky items, combined with the grease build-up will stop the flow of wastewater through private plumbing and the sewer system.

 

Please see below for our complete Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) Regulations as well as an informational flyer on best management practices! 

For additional questions, please contact the Public Utilities Department at (252) 337-6628.