Fats, Oil, & Grease (FOG)
Fats, oil, and grease (known as "FOG") pollute the environment when not taken care of or disposed of properly! FOG can solidify and clog your pipes, cause costly blockages in sanitary sewers, and contaminate stormwater, posing a threat to streams on Mercer Island and to Lake Washington.
Never pour FOG down garbage disposals, sinks, or storm drains.
FOG at Home - Sources include:
- Butter, margarine, or shortening
- Cooking oil or grease from cooked meats
- Cream, sauces or gravy, soup
- Salad dressing, mayonnaise, sour cream
- Peanut butter
- Food Scraps
How to dispose of FOG:
- Small amounts of oil and grease: wipe with a paper towel or newspaper and place in compost
- Large amounts of oil: pour the cooled oil into a clear container with a screw-top lid, and place next to your blue recycling cart. Contact the City's waste hauler (Recology) to arrange a collection
- Large amounts of grease: cool it, then scrape it into a container with a spatula/spoon; place in the garbage
Good kitchen practices:
- Use a food scraper to clean grease off plates before dishwashing (even if using a machine dishwasher)
- Use sink strainers to catch food waste when hand-washing dishes in the sink
- Don't pour grease and oil into waste disposal: that just pushes the FOG deeper into your pipes!
