11 December 2011
City of Atlanta
Department of Watershed Management
Press Release
Keep Holiday Grease Out of the Sewers
Help Prevent ‘Grease on Earth’
November 23, 2011 &mdash The holidays are much more pleasant without sewage in your house, and Commissioner Jo Ann Macrina is reminding residents that keeping grease out of the sewer system can go a long way toward helping prevent sewer backups and spills. Fats, oils and grease, commonly referred to as FOG, can clog sewer pipes, leaving sewage with nowhere to go but back the way it came, and the holidays, with big family gatherings and lots of cooking are significant contributors to the problem.
FOG includes the usual suspects – bacon grease and cooking oil – but also many products people don’t think of, like ice cream, chocolate, mayonnaise, whipped cream, peanut butter and butter. The Department of Watershed Management recommends cleaning dishes with a paper towel before hand-washing them or placing them in the dishwasher and discarding the paper towel in the trash.
The Department also urges holiday turkey-fryers to remember that storm drains are not grease receptacles, and that anything that is poured or washes into a storm drain runs untreated to the nearest creek, stream or river. And pouring the gallon or two of grease that is necessary to fry a turkey down your kitchen sink or into a toilet practically guarantees a backup. A number of local grease recycling companies, including Atlanta-based Green Grease (404-890-5682) and Monroe-based Clean Energy Biofuels (678-318-1785), are available to pick up used grease. Many auto parts stores also will take used grease and oil for recycling.
The Department wishes everyone a happy, backup-free holiday season.
