Fats, Oil & Grease (FOGS)

Fat clog in pipe

FOGS Equal Clogs

What are FOGS? FOGS stand for fats, oils, grease and other solids. FOGS don’t work well in your pipes. When poured down the disposal or drain, these materials can build up and block your pipes and city sewer lines. These clogs can cause sewage overflows, create health risks and damage the environment. If that isn’t enough, it can cost you money in repairs.

Pouring FOGS down the storm drain isn’t the answer either. Storm drains are designed to only carry rainfall runoff from our streets into our local waterways. They are not engineered to accept anything except water. Materials that enter the storm drain are not treated at a water treatment plant before entering our local waterways.

What You Can Do

Never pour fats, oils, grease or other solids down the drain or disposal. When possible compost these substances. If composting isn’t an option, then carefully collect your FOGS for disposal. Scrape food scraps from pots, pans and dishes into trash cans and dispose of it in the trash. Cool used oil and grease then pour into secure containers such as used metal cans or the original oil container. Then dispose of the oil and grease in the trash. Watch a short explainer video  from NCTCOG to learn what you can do. Also, FOGS: Los Aceites y Las Grasas.

You can also collect and recycle your used cooking oil at the Environmental Collection Center on the second Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the Thursday and Friday before the second Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m.

Holiday Grease Roundup

The Environmental Collection Center hosts an annual Holiday Grease Roundup for cooking oil and grease only. Motor oil and other automotive fluids are not accepted. A special drop off location is maintained on a 24-hour basis during this event. The Cooking-Oil Drop-Off Station is located outside the dumpster area at the Collection Center.

Additional Information

Visit the North Central Texas Council of Government (NCTCOG) Defend Your Drains website for more information or contact Hazardous Waste Coordinator David Macias.