Fats, Oils, and Grease (F.O.G.)

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What is F.O.G. ?

Fats, Oils and Grease or “F.O.G.” comes from cooking oil, shortening, lard, margarine, butter, dairy products and meat fat in food scraps.

Durham County has a F.O.G. Removal System Policy that regulates commercial establishments, such as restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, schools, and institutions with on-site cafeterias.  Residential customers are also significant contributors. But, there is no policy to regulate residential customers.  Durham County has established a two hundred milligram per liter (200 mg/l) limit for the amount of oil and grease that can be put into the sewer system.  The F.O.G. policy can be found in Durham County’s Sewer Use Ordinance (SUO).  

F.O.G. poured down kitchen drains accumulates inside sewer pipes.  As it builds up, the flow through the pipe is restricted and can cause sanitary sewer overflows (SSO).  The end result is sewage backing up into homes, yards, streets, storm drains and into creeks.  These SSO’s can damage property, harm the environment and create health hazards.

Do’s and Don’ts

The following Do’s and Don’ts will help you avoid expensive sewer backups, plumbing emergencies, rate increases needed to cover maintenance and repairs and help to protect water quality.

Do

• Recycle used cooking oil or properly dispose of it by pouring it into a sealable container and placing the container in the trash.
• Put food scraps in the trash and not the sewer system.
• Use a “Dry Cleanup Method” by using a paper towel to scrape wet scraps from pots, pans and other cooking utensils into a can or trash for disposal.

Don’t

• Ever pour fats, oils or grease into sink drains.
• Ever use a toilet as a wastebasket.
• Ever use cloth towels or rags to scrape plates or clean greasy dishware.  When the towels are washed the grease will end up in the sewer.

Links

http://www.p2pays.org/food/main/oil.htm

Durham County’s Sewer Use Ordinance (SUO).   

* NCDENR is the provider of the Grease Goblin logo.