Published: Jun 28, 2013 | 21:09 PM

Keep Fats and Grease out of Your Drains for the Holidays

As we gather with our families and friends over the holidays to enjoy the delicious food associated with this time of year, IRWD reminds our customers that grease and oils poured down the kitchen drain can have disastrous consequences.

Grease from cooking a holiday turkey, ham or roast poured down the drain is the leading cause of sewer spills. The grease sticks to the sewer pipes and over time builds up to block the entire pipe which can result in sewer ruptures and spills requiring costly clean-ups and repairs. In addition, oil making its way to the water recycling plant can disrupt treatment processes and add to the need for maintenance.

To prevent these problems, here are a few tips for getting rid of your leftover cooking grease:

• Place small amounts of oil and grease in a container with a tight-sealing lid, put the container in a trash bag, tie the bag shut and dispose of it in a trash receptacle.
• Mix cooking oils with an absorbent material, such as coffee grounds, place in a lidded container and put it in the trash.
• If you’re soaking a greasy pan, first pour off grease into a container. Then place paper towels over the drain basket to catch grease and food as you pour the soaking water down the drain.
• Deep fat fryers have become very popular over the past few years and they use a large amount of oil. If you are using one of these, solidify the grease by mixing it with an absorbent material such as cat litter. Or, soak up excess oil with newspaper then place it in the trash.

For more information on IRWD’s Fats, Oils and Grease program, go to www.irwd.com.