Fats, Oils, Grease
What you put down the drain matters!
When Fats, Oils and Grease, (FOG) enters the sewer system, it cools and solidifies, sticking to the inner walls of pipes. Over time, this buildup can:
- Block sewer lines
- Cause sewage overflows
- Damage infrastructure
- Increase maintenance costs
Each year, the District of Sechelt spends upwards of $50,000 cleaning and maintaining our sewer system to prevent these problems.
We operate:
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50+ km of sanitary sewer lines
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8 lift stations
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A wastewater treatment plant
Even with advanced treatment, FOG that slips through can harm the ocean by reducing oxygen and damaging marine life.
Don't Pour These Down the Drain:
Examples include:
- Dairy products
- Butter and margarine
- Shortening and lard
- Gravy
- Soup
- Meat
Examples include:
- Cooking oils (all kinds)
- Salad dressing
- Condiments
- Mayonnaise
- Peanut butter
- Marinades
Examples include:
- Animal fats
- Bacon
- Grease in pans and dishes
- Pan drippings
How to Dispose of Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG)
Help protect our sewer system and the environment by keeping FOG out of your drains. These simple steps go a long way:
🍽️ Before You Wash:
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Wipe pans, pots, and dishes with a spatula or paper towel to remove leftover grease.
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Tip: Used paper towels can be composted and tossed in your organics bin.
🥄 Handling Larger Amounts:
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Pour hot grease into a container or bowl and let it cool until it solidifies.
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Scrape or wipe the hardened grease into your organics bin.
🥛 Expired Dairy:
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Small amounts of sour cream, yogurt, and similar products can be scraped directly into the green bin.
🛠️ Drain Protection:
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Use a kitchen strainer in your sink to catch food scraps and prevent debris from washing down the drain.
In your home:
- Never pour FOG down the drain.
- Before washing pots, pans, and dirty dishes, allow FOG to cool and solidify. Once hardened, scrape the FOG into organics or garbage.
- Use a container to collect cooled FOG.
For businesses:
Under District of Sechelt Bylaw No. 112, food sector establishments must:
- Install and maintain grease traps or interceptors.
- Keep maintenance logs.
- Ensure proper disposal of grease waste.
FOG Frequently Asked Questions
| I don’t use an organics bin. Where can I dispose of my fats, oils, and grease? |
| In your garbage bin. |
| What if I use hot water, soap, or other chemicals to prevent the fats, oils and grease from hardening in my pipes? |
| Fats, oils and grease will eventually cool down and harden in the pipe even when hot water, soaps or chemicals are used. |
| Is it ok to flush fats, oils and grease down the toilet? |
| No. All your wastewater pipes are connected to a single sewer piper from your home. The drains in your toilet, shower, kitchen, laundry, and bathtub are all connected to the same sewer pipe where FOG will solidify. |
| Is it acceptable to use my food waste grinder (garburator) while I pour fats, oils and grease down the drain? |
| No. A food waste grinder (garburator) grinds up items before passing them into your sewer pipes. It does not break down fats, oils and grease. In fact, food waste contributes to clogged pipes as well. It is better to screen out food particles before they go down the drain and place them in the green bin. |
| Are there other uses for my grease? |
| Yes! Waste fats and grease can be used to make suet to feed birds. Restaurants and industries that have large amounts of grease can have it recycled into animal feed or biodiesel. |
| Why can’t I pour fats, oils and grease down the drain? |
| Water and oil do not mix therefore the mixed substances will eventually cool in the pipe, harden and cause blockage. |
| Won’t gravity keep this material flowing through the pipes? |
| Unlike wastewater, cooking fats, oils and grease harden when they enter cold pipes, causing some of this material to stick to the side of the pipes even when gravity is moving it along. |