Dispose of Fats, Oils, and Grease Properly to Keep Wastewater Flowing and Prevent Costly Repairs
Don’t let a clogged drain ruin your holiday cheer. After the feast, “can” the fats, oils, and grease to keep your wastewater flowing.
Fats, oils, and grease, or FOG, stick to the inside of wastewater pipes, causing clogs, which can cause problems such as costly repairs and cleanup at the property owner’s expense, wastewater backing up into your home or your neighbor’s home, and/or wastewater overflowing into neighborhood parks, yards, and streets. These problems can occur anytime FOG is poured down the drain, including when it’s washed down with hot water and soap, as the fats, oils, and grease will re-solidify in the pipes.
To prevent expensive plumbing bills, protect our community’s health and environment, and preserve our shared wastewater infrastructure, including pipes and pumps, pour your fats, oils, and grease into metal cans rather than down the drain. Then allow the FOG to harden in the metal cans, before tossing them in your trash can.
Every little bit of FOG that we can keep from going down the drain adds up, so the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) encourages community members to also wipe pots, pans, and dishes with a paper towel before washing them. It’s important to do so with a paper towel that can be disposed of in the trash, rather than a cloth towel or rag, as FOG will still drain to the wastewater system when you wash the towels.
The Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission provides high quality wastewater services to the Eugene-Springfield area, and is a leader in water quality through sustainable and fiscally responsible practices. The MWMC educates community members on pollution prevention efforts, such as proper FOG disposal, in an effort to save ratepayers money, protect our local environment, and maximize the lifespan of our shared wastewater infrastructure. For more pollution prevention tips from the MWMC, visit https://www.mwmcpartners.org/community-education/pollution-prevention or check out our pollution prevention video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3mMM9RRtiQ.
What: Proper disposal of fats, oils, and grease encouraged by the MWMC
Who: Eugene-Springfield community members whose wastewater is piped/pumped to the MWMC’s regional wastewater treatment plant
When: Year-round, but especially important to be mindful of when cooking large meals this holiday season
Where: Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area
Additional information: Shawn Krueger, City of Springfield Environmental Services Supervisor, at 541.736.1018 or skrueger@springfield-or.gov orwww.mwmcpartners.org
Visuals: High-resolution photos, video, and graphics are available for media use upon request. Contact April Miller, MWMC Communications Coordinator, at 541.556.5272 or anmiller@springfield-or.gov for more information.
Background: The mission of the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission is to protect the community’s health and the environment by providing high-quality wastewater services to the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area in partnership with Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County. Local representatives from each of the regional partners – Lane County, City of Springfield, and City of Eugene – serve on the Commission. Learn more at www.mwmcpartners.org.
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