Keep It Clean - Fats, Oils and Grease

Help Prevent Fats, Oils and Grease From Causing Sewer Backups in Your Home

If not properly disposed of, fats, oils and grease can cause serious problems in your home's sewer system. Fats, oils and grease build up in the sewer system pipes and create blockages. These blockages restrict wastewater flow, causing sewer backups that can damage your home and create unnecessary costs for both residents and the City.

Where Do Fats, Oils And Grease Come From?

Fats, oils and grease are typically a result of cooking and are found in foods such as: meat; cooking oil; lard; butter and margarine; salad dressings; shortening; and dairy products.

What Happens When Fats, Oils And Grease Aren't Properly Disposed Of?

Fats, oils and grease are often washed down the kitchen sink because they are liquid form and can be poured. Although it appears they are gone once they go down the drain, these products stick to the sides of the pipes in your home. As these liquids cool and solidify, they build up and cause large, solid blockages in both residential and City-owned pipes. The blockages restrict the flow of wastewater from your house and cause sewer failures.

Fats, oils and grease also have an impact on St. Albert's wastewater treatment. These liquids pollute our wastewater, making the treatment of water more costly.

What Can I Do To Prevent Fats, Oils And Grease From Entering the Sewer System?

Each year, the City of St. Albert responds to sewer backups caused by fats, oils and grease buildups in the pipes. Keeping these materials out of the your sewer system is easy.

Do not pour grease or cooking oil down the sink or toilet. Instead, pour cooking oil and grease into a container - an empty coffee or soup can will work well. Wait until the liquids cool and the container is full before disposing of it in your kitchen garbage.
Put food scraps into the garbage or a container to prevent fats, oils and grease from going down the drain. Wipe off any excess residue with paper towel.
Use a strainer in your kitchen sink to catch food scraps before they go down the drain.
Do not put fats, oils and grease down garburators. These units chop food material into smaller pieces, but they do not prevent these substances from going down the drain.
Hot water and detergents that claim to dissolve grease only move the grease further down the line where it can cause problems in another area of the sewer system.