Wastewater Treatment Division

Your Drain's Worst Enemy

Grease can clog pipes and cause sewer overflows and backups into basements, yards and storm drains. These overflows and backups pose potential health risks and environmental problems that can be costly to clean up.

Follow these helpful hints:

• Once cooled, pour cooking oils and grease into a non-recyclable container. Add cat litter or coffee grounds, seal the container and place in the trash.
• Scrape food scraps from dishes into trash. Minimize the use of your garbage disposal because even cooked food contains oil and grease that can clog sewer lines.
• Remove oil and grease from dishes, pots and pans with a paper towel or napkin.
• Pre-wash dishes, pots and pans with cold water before putting them in the dishwasher. Hot water does not remove oil or grease but rather liquefies them. Once cool, they return to a solid and can clog sewer lines.
• Cover kitchen sink with a strainer and empty into trash as needed.
• Reuse cooking oil as often as possible. Store used cooking oil in the freezer to minimize odors.
• Recycle large quantities of used cooking oil.

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