Let’s Safe the Environment…..

Fats, Oil and Grease & the Environment.	Myths About FOG	How to properly dispose of FOG	What about oil from cars?
Fats, oil and grease (FOG) are a major environmental problem in cities across Harris County. When you discard your cooking oil into your kitchen sink, it accumulates inside the sewer pipes making it difficult for wastewater to flow freely to the wastewater treatment plant. When wastewater cannot make its way through the sewer pipes, it overflows into our homes, streets, lawns and storm drains. Storm drains carry rainwater away from homes, and anything that is thrown on the street goes untreated to our water sources. You can help us keep our water running clean by learning how to dispose of your cooking oil and grease properly. There are many things that you can do to prevent fats, oil and grease from entering our waterways. First, we’ll describe some of the myths about the proper disposal of FOGs.	Wash grease with dish soap Running hot tap water will help grease float in the sewer pipe Pour cooking oil at room temperature	Most household plumbing lines are small, and connect directly to pipes that are only slightly larger. When fats, oil and grease are present in these small pipes, they block the sewage flow. A blocked sewer pipe can cause overflow into homes and streets polluting our waterways. Here is what you can do to protect our natural environment and keep our water free from fats, oil and grease. ·         Pour liquid oils and grease at room temperature into heat resistant plastic bags or old containers such as plastic milk containers, water bottles, or glass jars. Once the container is full, seal it and throw it away with your regular trash. ·         Scrape fats, grease and food from plates and cooking utensils into the trash can before washing them. Use basket strainers in sinks to catch any food particles and empty the contents in the trash.	Did you know that used oil from a single oil change can pollute up to one million gallons of freshwater? Improper disposal of used oil, which includes oil leaking from cars parked in driveways, contributes to storm water pollution. When oil leaks from cars parked in our driveways, it is washed off as runoff into the storm drains after a rain shower. The water and everything that goes into the storm drain enter our local waterways untreated, polluting our water and endangering marine life. How to minimize car fluids from entering our waterways ·         Check your car for oil and fluid drips and fix any leaks as soon as possible. ·         If there is a spill, use sawdust or cat litter for clean-up and dispose of it properly. ·         Use a drip pan under your vehicle if you have a leak or are doing engine work.