Fats, Oil, Grease (FOG ED)

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What is FOG ?

F.O.G. stands for fats, oils, and grease. FOG can build up in sewer lines when grease is washed down the sink or toilet. The grease easily sticks to the sewer lines and builds up overtime. This can increase the chance of a sewer back up into homes, businesses, apartments, and public spaces.

For homeowners, this can create expensive costs for clean-up, damages, and restoration caused by sewer backups. Additionally, exposure to raw sewage is concerning for public health and has environmental impacts.

Where Does FOG Come From?

• Meat Fats (bacon, sausage)
• Lard
• Cooking Oil
• Butter or margarine
• Food scraps
• Baking products
• Milk, ice cream, yogurt, sour cream
• Cream based sauces
• Salad dressings, cheeses, mayonnaise

How to Prevent FOG from entering the sewer system

By following these good kitchen practices, sewer backups from FOG can be prevented.

• Never pour grease down sink drains or toilets
• Never use the toilet for disposal of food scraps
• Always Dispose of cooled cooking grease into a container with a lid and throw away in the garbage.
• Always scrape food scraps from dirty dishes and pans into the trash BEFORE washing.
• Always wipe residual grease from dishes and pans prior to washing.
• Use baskets or strainers in sinks to catch food scraps.
• Minimize use of garbage disposal.

Yellow grease, or used cooking oils can be dropped of at Glenbard Wastewater Authority to be recycled into bio-fuel. A drop box is located at the front door of the Administration Building.

For further education on FOG, please see the videos below: