Fats, Oil & Grease

Fats typically come from meat and dairy but can also come from plant sources, such as nut butter. They are usually in solid form at room temperature and can be thrown directly into the trash.

Placing these foods in the garbage disposal only reduces their size, not the likelihood of creating a clog. If you’re unsure if something has fat, check the nutrition label.

 Unclogging Strategy: Place fats d

Oils come from various sources, including plants such as vegetable oil, canola oil, olive oil, corn oil, etc. They may be used to top food, such as salads or sandwiches, or to cook food, such as deep frying. Oil remains liquid at room temperature, so it can be poured into a can or jar before disposal. If poured down the drain, oil can coat pipes and get into any nooks and crannies, creating a slick surface that makes it easier for fats and grease to stick to. Unclogging Strategy: Pour used oil into a jar or can with a lid before placing it in the trash can. Hot water and soap do not eliminate oils; they will eventually reform in pipes.

Grease occurs when fats from food melt under heat, such as frying, boiling, baking, etc. Grease is deceptive because it is a liquid after cooking but eventually cools into a solid. Pouring it down the drain means that, at some point, it will cool on the pipes in the collection system, harden, and then start a clog. Unclogging Strategy: Instead, pour liquid grease into a grease can or other container with a lid and place in trash can once it has cooled. Remember, running hot water over greasy cookware in the sink only pushes it into the pipes where it hardens, leading to potential clogs.

Have questions about fighting FOG in your home or business? Contact the FOG Compliance Specialists at 561-822-2065 or 561-822-2274 or email FOG@wpb.org Residents can drop off their used residential cooking oil at any of the Solid Waste Authority's Home Recycling Centers.

FOG refers to fats, oil, and grease, the natural by-products of food preparation, cooking, baking, sauteing, etc.

While they may add extra flavor to your food, if poured down the drain, they can leave a real mess in the sewer collection system by forming clogs and blockages that lead to overflows and backups.

The collection system, a network of pipes and pump stations, efficiently moves wastewater from homes and businesses to the City of West Palm Beach’s East Central Regional Water Reclamation Facility. Wastewater comes from everyday activities, such as washing dishes, taking a shower, running the washing machine, and flushing the toilet. Anything that goes down the drain enters the collection system.

FOG seems harmless when it is a warm liquid because it goes down the drain quickly. But once it cools off, it sticks to sewer pipes and builds up over time. Plus, whatever you put down the drain or garbage disposal, such as coffee grounds or eggshells, or toss in the toilet (besides toilet paper) – hair, dental floss, cigarette butts, candy wrappers, toys, kitty litter, ANYTHING – gets tangled up in all that FOG. This blocks the flow of wastewater through the pipe, forcing it back up the drain, resulting in the flooding of a home, a street, or a stream with wastewater.

Yes! If every household in the City of West Palm Beach poured just one teaspoon of FOG down the drain daily, it would be the equivalent of dumping two hundred and seventy-three 55-gallon drums of FOG into the sewer every year. Every little bit adds up to create big clogs that cause spills and overflows. The EPA reports that 43% of sanitary sewer overflows in the country are pipe blockages.

FOG does not mix with water, and detergents used to "wash it down the drain" typically separate from the FOG after a period. This means the FOG clings to the pipes, restricting the wastewater flow. It's like a game of passing the parcel- the garbage disposal chops up the food bits, but it's just moving the FOG problem downstream. The bottom line is, using soap or the disposal is not the solution to reducing FOG.

Yes! If you are a customer of the City of West Palm Beach's collection system, then you have a vested interest in the reliability and life span of the system and treatment plants. Even if you have never experienced a FOG-related overflow, the rates you pay on your monthly sewage bill fund the system's maintenance, repair, and replacement. Furthermore, in the event of a spill that enters a waterway, the City could face fines and other clean-up costs. There is also the potential for ecological harm to the City's waterways and shores, which are vital for enhancing the quality of life for all residents.

Once it has cooled, you can pour used cooking oil back into its original container (or another container with a top) and then put it in the trash can. Pour liquid grease into a grease can or another container. Once it has cooled and solidified, you can throw the container away.

Some common culprits are food scraps, meat trimmings, poultry skin, the “skim” from soups and gravies, cooking oils, lard and shortening, salad dressings, sauces and marinades, dairy products (including ice cream), and butter and margarine. Using your garbage disposal to dump coffee grounds, eggshells, or other items down the drain will accelerate FOG-related clogs since it provides extra surfaces for everything to stick to.

Suppose the backup occurs in your sewer lateral (the pipe that connects the drains from homes and businesses on private property to the collection system). In that case, you are responsible for cleaning up and repairing it. The city must clean up and repair it if it is on the main line. Property owners must maintain their sewer laterals and clean them out regularly to prevent FOG buildup or root intrusion. Public Utilities Department’s field crews remove FOG before it causes problems. They cover approximately 500 miles of pipeline annually, equivalent to driving from West Palm Beach to Panama City, FL.

Yes. Tree roots seek out water as they spread through the ground and can easily crack a pipe in their search, especially if it is an older clay pipe—tree roots typically “attack” at the joints first. Combining tree roots and FOG can quickly produce a sewer lateral clog. The best way to avoid this is to plant trees several feet away from your sewer lateral. You can locate the lateral by finding the clean-out pipe in your yard, usually toward the street or sidewalk. For residents with older, established trees, performing regular maintenance on your sewer lateral is crucial. This responsibility ensures that roots don’t have a chance to take hold, preventing potential sewer backups.

Restaurants and food service establishments (FSEs) typically generate more grease than residents. However, they must comply with the City’s FOG policy, which outlines the steps they must follow to keep as much FOG as possible from the collection system. Grease traps must be cleaned and inspected regularly, and records showing their maintenance practices must be kept on hand. The City employs two full-time inspectors who ensure FSEs comply with the FOG policy.

Grease haulers licensed by the state pump the grease from traps and dispose of it properly. Some types of oil and grease can be recycled and used in everyday products such as pet food, cosmetics, skin care products, soap, and more.