Stop Fats, Oils, and Grease from Damaging Your Home and Environment
Fats, oils, and greases are not just bad for your heart and waistline. They are also harmful to sewers.
Sewer overflows and backups can create health risks, damage your home, and harm the environment. More sewers overflow because pipes get blocked by grease. Grease enters the sewer from kitchen drains and poorly kept grease traps in restaurants and businesses.
Where Does Grease Come From?
Grease is the byproduct of cooking and is found in:
- Meat fats
- Lard
- Cooking oil
- Shortening
- Butter and margarine
- Food scraps
- Baked goods
- Sauces
- Dairy products
Grease often goes down the kitchen sink. It sticks to sewer pipes inside and outside your home. Eventually, it can block the pipe completely.
Garbage disposals do not stop grease from getting into pipes. They just break solids into smaller pieces. Additives like detergents may take grease further along pipes, leading to problems elsewhere.
Possible Problems from Blocked Pipes
- Raw sewage overflowing in homes
- Costly cleanups usually paid by homeowners
- Raw sewage spills in parks, yards, and streets
- Risk of exposure to dangerous germs
- Higher sewer bills from increased maintenance costs
How You Can Help
To avoid raw sewage overflows, keep grease out of the sewer system. Here's how:
- Never pour grease down sinks or toilets.
- Scrape grease and food scraps into a can or trash (or recycle if possible).
- Avoid putting grease in garbage disposals.
- Use baskets or strainers in sinks to catch food scraps. Empty them into the trash.
- Talk to friends and neighbors about stopping grease from entering the sewer.
- Call your local sewer authority with any questions.
Advice for Restaurants and Building Owners on Grease Traps
Restaurants, large buildings, and other commercial places might have grease traps or interceptors. These stop grease from entering the sewer system. For them to work:
- They must be well designed for expected use.
- Installation should be correct (level and vented).
- Regular maintenance (usually daily) is key.
Do not put solids into grease traps or interceptors. Be careful with chemicals and additives, such as soaps, claiming to dissolve grease. These might just move grease along pipes, causing clogs elsewhere.
This information was prepared under Agreement Assistance #CX824505-01-0 between the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.