Don’t Clog Pipes With Grease
When cooking up this season’s Thanksgiving feast, residents are reminded not to pour cooking fats, oils and greases down the drain. It clogs pipes and causes expensive sewer backups. You can get rid of grease in three ways:
Scrape It Into the Trash
- Let cooking grease cool completely.
- Pour or scrape cool grease into a non-recyclable container (such as a coffee can or juice carton).
- Throw it in the trash.
- Wipe greasy dishes with paper towels before washing.
- Toss meat fat trimmings in the trash, not the garbage disposal.
Collect It In Your Sink
- Line your sink drain with foil.
- Make an indentation in the foil.
- Pour grease into the indentation.
- Wait for the grease to cool.
- Fold up the foil.
- Throw it in the trash.
Recycle It
- Pour it into an old coffee can, juice container, or other non-recyclable package.
- Wipe greasy leftovers from dishes and pots into your container using a spatula.
- Take it to the city’s recycling drop-off center at 1701 N. Hercules Ave. The Solid Waste Recycling Drop-off Center accepts fats, oils and greases 24 hours a day, seven days a week. No commercial material will be accepted.
- Pour it into the green barrel.
If you see or smell something you think might be a sewer overflow, report it immediately by calling (727) 562-4960, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. After hours, report the spill by calling (727) 462-6633.
For more information about the city’s grease repurposing program, call the Solid Waste Operations Center at (727) 562-4920.
