PRESS RELEASE: Don’t let FOG clogs gobble your holiday fun


The City of Oklahoma City sends this information as posted below:


The holiday cooking season is again upon us, bringing meals rich in fats, oils and grease, collectively known as FOG.

The Oklahoma City Utilities Department reminds residents to “prevent clogs by tossing your FOG” to avoid potential costly plumbing repairs. This means throwing items with fats, oils and grease into the trash and not down the drain. FOG can create backups in sewer service lines on private property and block City sewer mains. Nearly 25% of all sewer blockages in the City’s system are caused by FOG.

PREVENT FOG CLOGS

To prevent common clogs, pour liquid FOG like turkey grease or cooking oil into a container, freeze it until solid, then throw it away. Also dispose of food scraps like meat trimmings, pie crusts and vegetable peels in the trash and wipe FOG out from pots and pans before washing.

“While FOG is a year-round problem, the holidays are a good time to remind people to be mindful of the downsides of pouring fats, oils and grease into their kitchen drains,” April Kyle, Treatment Supervisor for the City’s Wastewater Quality Division, said.

Kyle added that even small amounts of FOG accumulated over time can affect plumbing and sewer systems.

Common FOG includes butter, oils, shortening or lard, gravy, cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise. Other items to avoid putting down the drain include food scraps like carrot and potato peels, bread, pasta, turkey skin and coffee grounds.

Take large amounts of FOG such as oil used in turkey fryers to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center at 1621 S Portland Ave. The hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

For more information on how you can protect your pipes from FOG and other types of backups, visit okc.gov/utilities.


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