Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) comes from meat fats in food scraps, cooking oil, shortening, lard, butter and margarine, gravy, and food products such as mayonnaise, salad dressings, and sour cream. When FOG goes down the drain, it hardens and causes sewer pipes to clog. This can lead to a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) where raw sewage actually backs up into your home, lawn, neighborhood, and streets. Not only does this nasty mess cause health issues, it also can run into a nearby stream or river, which affects our drinking water. If your household pipes become clogged from putting FOG down the drain, it can be very expensive problem to fix.

Do Not Put FOG Down the Drain or Garbage Disposal - When FOGS go down the drain, it hardens and causes pipes to clog. This can lead to a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO), where raw sewage backs up into your home, lawn, neighborhood, and streets. Not only does this nasty mess cause health issues, it can also runoff into a nearby creek or stream, affecting our drinking water.

Compost Food Scraps Or Place Them In The Trash - Compost as much of the food scraps as you can (information on composting available on www.TimeToRecycle.com), then scrape the remaining food, oils, grease, sauces, gravy, and other items into the trash.

Recycle Used Cooking Oil - Recycled oil may be used to create biodiesel or electricity. Find a drop off location at www.TimeToRecycle.com. Join us for the annual Holiday Grease Roundup (Late November - Early January) to recycle used cooking oil and grease.

TCEQ developed the poster below, available in English and Spanish, for tips on tackling FOG. More on conserving and keeping Texas water clean at TakeCareOfTexas.org.

• Let's Tackle the Grease in This Kitchen! English Version 
• ¡Ataquemos a la Grasa en Esta Cocina! Spanish Version 

Visit DefendYourDrainsNorthTexas.com for more information and resources.