Home >

Remember to “Cease the Grease” During the Holidays

Fat, oil and grease are a real “pain in the drain” because they are the major cause of problems we find in sewer lines. Things like oil, butter, margarine, shortening, pan drippings and sauces can cause blockages in sewer lines. Clogged sewer lines can lead to sewer spills, which are bad for the environment, and can be expensive. GUC does everything it can to prevent sewer spills, but we can’t do it alone. We need everyone’s help!

Frying a turkey for the holidays?
What are you going to do with the oil after the big meal? It may seem like an easy solution to a messy problem, but pouring fryer oil down the drain will just lead to a nastier problem. Oil and grease rinsed down your plumbing system can congeal and block pipes, causing sewer back-ups. Proper disposal of your cooking oil and other greases may save your home from a clogged drain and your neighborhood from a clogged up sewer.

There are several safe options for disposing of fryer oil.

Recycle it!
Pitt County’s recycling efforts include a residential cooking oil recycling bin at the transfer station off Allen Road. Residents can take their used cooking oil to the site and instead of it being added to a landfill, or worse, in our sewer pipes, it will be recycled into biodiesel fuel, a non-toxic, biodegradable clean-burning alternative to petroleum diesel.

Store the oil in the original container for reuse. Strain out any particles and freeze. Oil can be kept for up to six months and reused for up to six hours of fry time.

Freeze it and then throw the hardened oil away on trash day.

Mix it with unscented kitty litter, sawdust or sand to solidify the oil. Dispose of it in the trash. Avoid scented or disinfectant types of kitty litter as they can react with the oil and cause a fire.

More Tips
Here are some ways you can help protect our sewer system, every day.

• Wipe or scrape your dishes before washing them.
• Remove excess oil from pots and pans with a paper towel and throw away the towel in a trash can.
• Use strainers in sink drains to collect food scraps and throw away the scraps in the trash.
• Scrape food scraps from dishes into trash cans or garbage bags.
• Avoid using your garbage disposal
• Remove oil and grease from dishes, pans, fryers and griddles. Cool first before you skim, scrape or wipe off excess grease and put it into the trash.
• Put used fat, oil and grease in a foiled lined bag, such as a foiled coffee bag or a used soup or vegetable can. GUC has reusable lids, free of charge. Contact Linda Clark 329-2199 if you’d like one for your kitchen.

Click here for more information.