What Not to Flush
DO NOT FLUSH IN THE TOILET
POUR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS DOWN THE DRAIN:
- Fats, oil, grease from food processing and cooking
- Sanitary napkins, tampons, panty liners, etc., including applicators
- All household, industrial, automotive chemicals (including motor oil), pharmaceuticals, pesticides
- Cooking oil, popcorn seeds, bones
- Baby wipes, diapers, and other so‐called “flushable” wipes
- Latex gloves, condoms, plastic packaging or bags
- Paper towels and any paper products except toilet paper (even facial tissue)
- Food scraps, animal parts or remains, deceased pets
- Coffee grounds
- Cat litter
- Dryer sheets, laundry detergent, dryer lint
- Cigarettes, cigarette butts, cigarette filters, etc.
- Cotton swabs, dental floss, cleaning pads, make‐up applicators
Pour fats, oils, and greases into a container then when cooled and thickened place in the trash.
FOG - FATS, OILS & GREASE
FOG is an acronym for (fats, oils, and grease); which are byproducts of food preparation, cooking, and clean-up. FOG is found in such common things as:
- Meat fat
- Food scraps
- Cooking oil
- Baking goods
- Dairy products
FOG substances are not soluble in water. At high temperatures fats and grease will be in a liquid form and will go down the drain quite easily. But as the cooling process begins it starts to congeal and becomes a solid mass that sticks to the walls of sewer pipes. FOG also has corrosive properties. If not addressed, this accumulation may eventually block the sewer main and cause an unwelcome sewer back-up in your home or in a street.
All households play an important role in preventing neighborhood sewer system blockages. The proper way to dispose of FOG in your home is to:
- Never pour grease, fats, or oil down the sink or garbage disposal.
- Pour FOG into jars, cans, and plastic tubs (careful, the liquid may be hot!) or a "Fat Trapper" container and let contents cool and solidify. When the container is full, throw it away with your trash.
- Mix cooking oil with an absorbent material such as cat litter or coffee grounds and place in a lidded container for disposal with your trash.
- With greasy pans, pour the grease into a container as mentioned above and dispose in the trash when cool.
We all need to join forces in protecting and maintaining our significant investment in the sanitary sewer collection system. §189-32 of the City Code outlines prohibited discharges into the sewer system. If you have any questions, please call Dave Keets at the Public Works Department at 387-9016. Your diligence in properly managing Fats Oils & Grease will save you and the City costly repair expenses not to mention the hassles associated with digging up the streets to repair sewer problems.