The Hazards of Fats, Oils and Grease
What is FOG?
FOG is an acronym for Fats, Oils and Grease that are used in food processing and in the preparation of meals. Kitchen waste containing these materials, as well as water that has been used to wash cooking equipment, contain waste FOG. FOG is found in:
- Meat fats
- Shortening
- Baked goods
- Butter and margarine
- Sauces
- Cooking oil
- Food scraps
- Dairy products
Hazards of FOG
When waste FOG is poured down the sink, grease sticks to the inside of sewer pipes where it cools and solidifies, congealing and building up over time, restricting or clogging wastewater flow.
As these fatbergs begin to clog the sewer lines, layer upon layer of other non-disposable items (like wet wipes) that are in the sewer pipes collect with the fat, resulting in sewer blockages and overflows that can cause health hazards by harboring dangerous bacteria, including Listeria and E.coli. Fatbergs may also cause expensive property damage and threaten the environment.
Additionally, these clogged sewer lines can result in:
- Raw sewage overflowing into your or your neighbor’s home.
- Raw sewage spills into streets, buildings, parks, yards and streams.
- An increase in operation and maintenance costs for Johnson County Wastewater, which can lead to higher sewer bills for customers.
- An expensive and unpleasant cleanup that must be paid for by the home or business owner.
- Potential health hazards, home damage, and environmental threats caused by overflows.
Did you know?
Fatbergs can grow to six feet tall, more than 800 feet long and weigh as much as four humpback whales!
Community Education
You can contact us to request a speaker to come to your neighborhood HOA, business, or organization and learn:
- How to properly dispose of FOG
- How to protect your sewer lines
- Regulations and best practices
- How to access other JCW services
We have a team of passionate public servants who are excited to share their knowledge with you, and help you protect your home, business, and our community infrastructure.
How You Can Help
- Never pour grease or oil down any drain, including your toilet.
- Instead, pour grease into a can or jar that can be thrown away when cooled.
- Use disposable towels to wipe fats, oils and grease from pots, pans and dishware prior to dishwashing.
- Dispose of food waste directly into the trash. Scrape food scraps from pans and plates into the trash for disposal.
- Put screens/strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and other solids and empty them into the trash.
- Speak with your family, friends and neighbors about keeping grease out of the sewers.
- Recycle used or unused cooking oil, like turkey fryer oil, at the new Johnson County Household Hazardous Waste Facility, located at 11231 Mastin Street, Overland Park, KS 66210. It is located east of 69 Highway and College Boulevard. Drop-offs are by appointment only.
Best Practices
SCRAPE grease solids directly into a lined trash can. POUR cooled grease into a sealable container. WIPE remaining grease and debris with a paper towel. Please note: Home garbage disposals do not keep grease out of the sewer system. Hot water and other products such as soap that claim to dissolve grease only pass it down the line causing blockages and overflows.
FAQ
FOG is discharged not only by residents but also by businesses and food service facilities. Food service facilities are required to install and maintain grease interceptors and have a management plan in place to prevent FOG discharge. Other industrial businesses are regulated and inspected regularly to ensure minimal FOG discharge. Working together we can help prevent sewer clogs and sanitary sewer overflows, which will help to protect our environment.
FOG effectively breaks down under landfill conditions over time. Fats, oils and grease can cause significant environmental problems when they enter the wastewater system.
No. There is no cost for our team of experts to visit your neighborhood, business or organization and teach you how to best protect your home and our infrastructure from the hazards of FOG.
You can also schedule a tour at one of our treatment plants to learn more about how the whole wastewater system works. Contact us to request a speaker or a treatment plant tour.
Recycle used or unused cooking oil, like turkey fryer oil, at the new Johnson County Household Hazardous Waste Facility, located at 11231 Mastin Street, Overland Park, KS 66210. It is located east of 69 Highway and College Boulevard. Drop-offs are by appointment only.
No. Even if the package says "flushable," wet wipes do not break down in water like toilet paper. All wet wipes should be thrown in the trash after use. If flushed, these wet wipes can cause several problems:
1. Sewer blockages
Most wet wipes do not break apart nearly as quickly as toilet paper. They can snag on rough spots in pipes, collect grease and debris, and form large clogs.
2. Plumbing damage
In a home, wipes can get stuck in:
- Toilet traps
- Household drain lines
- Septic system components
Removing these clogs can require professional plumbing work, which can be expensive.
3. Fatbergs
When wipes combine with cooking grease, oils and other waste in sewers, they can create massive accumulations known as "fatbergs." These can block entire sections of sewer infrastructure and require costly removal.
4. Septic system problems
If you have a septic tank, wipes can accumulate because they decompose much more slowly than toilet paper. This can:
- Reduce tank capacity
- Increase pumping frequency
- Contribute to drain-field issues
What should you do instead?
The safest practice is to only flush only human waste and toilet paper. Put wet wipes, baby wipes, cleaning wipes and disinfecting wipes in the trash, even if the packaging says “flushable.”