PALMDALE – With Thanksgiving just two days away, and as family and friends come together to celebrate the holiday, the City of Palmdale is reminding residents to keep FOG – fats, oils and grease – out of household sinks and drains.
“Occasionally, we face some sewer blockages due to the build-up of fats, oils and grease around Thanksgiving and Christmas,” said Palmdale’s Utilities Services Manager Gordon Phair. “FOG items include cooking oils, salad dressings, sandwich spreads, meat drippings, meat juices, and meat fat and other similar products — that are dumped down the sink and can cause problems.”
“The practice of deep-frying turkeys has grown in popularity,” said Phair. “However, many people do not know the proper procedure to dispose of the oil used to cook that turkey. This used cooking oil can be disposed at the Antelope Valley Environmental Collection Center (AVECC) on the first and third Saturday of every month.”
“Dumping FOG items down the sink eventually results in sewer backups that can overflow onto the streets and even into the home, which can damage both property and the environment,” Phair said.
The City of Palmdale offers the following tips on handling FOG materials:
- Never pour fats, oils and grease down the sink or garbage disposal.
- Pour fats, oils and grease after they have cooled into a sturdy container, such as an empty glass jar or coffee can. Once the container is full, close the lid securely and place it in the trash.
- Prior to washing, scrape and dry wipe pots, pans and dishes with paper towels and dispose of those materials in the trash.
- Use sink strainers to catch food items, and empty the strainer into the trash.
- To recycle large amounts of leftover oil from deep-frying a turkey, contact the Antelope Valley Environmental Collection Center (AVECC) at 1-888-CLEAN LA (1-888-449-7587).
“Everyone, whether it be a restaurant or a household in Palmdale, plays an important role in preventing neighborhood sewer blockages,” said Phair. “When you help prevent sewer blockages, you are helping your home, your pocketbook, and the environment.”
For additional options for used cooking oil, call 1-888-CLEAN LA (1-888-449-7587.
(Information via press release from the city of Palmdale.)
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Just Saying says
Put an ad on Craigs List. The bio-diesel crowd should be very interested.
mim8 says
If palmdale or the AVECC really wanted to push the issue they should offer reusable containers at least seeing that the residents have to drive to dispose of the F.O.G.
Clueless says
seriously? an old coffee can, vegetable can, soup can, any kind of can will work. glass will even work if its cooled down a bid.
mim8 says
Seriously? Who really wants to b saving old ccontainers!
Ethel K White says
Thank you for your advice. The # will be in my phone and will advise others of this technique. Have a great Thanksgiving Day.