Fat, oil and grease
It may seem harmless to pour and scrape your fats, oils, and grease down the kitchen drain, but it causes real trouble for your pipes, the sewer – and your bank account.
Sewer backups can go into your gutter and flow into storm drains and end up in our waterways causing environmental and health problems.
By keeping our sewers operating smoothly helps keep Sacramento clean and safe for everybody.
For more information about fats, oils and grease disposal or clog prevention, email eburke@cityofsacramento.org
Residents
Cooking fat, oil and grease should never be poured down the drain.
When fat, oil and grease are poured down a drain, they cool down and solidify, which can cause costly clogs.
In your home, this means that your sinks may drain slowly and back up.
In City sewers, fat, oil and grease cause large clogs, called "fatbergs," leading to sewer backups in your neighborhood.
Sewer backups can be so severe that residents have had to vacate their homes.
In addition to causing home and sewer damage, overflows may be absorbed into our waterways, contaminating the water and having negative environmental impact on wildlife.
How to properly dispose of fat, oil and grease:
- Pour it - Once oil, fat or grease have cooled down, pour them into a disposable container
- Seal it - Seal the container
- Trash it - Trash the container in waste bin/garbage can
Restaurants
Here’s how restaurants must dispose of fat, oil and grease:
- Dry wipe all food waste from dishware, cookware and work areas into the garbage
- Keep all spilled grease or oil from going down drains by using absorbent materials to block and clean up spills
- Place used oil and grease in a trash bin
- Keep grease traps and interceptors clean
City inspections
City of Sacramento Department of Utilities representatives regularly visit restaurants to provide information about proper fat, oil and grease disposal.
Here’s what to expect from these unannounced visits.
City reps will:
- Go over City requirements
- Review best management practices for proper food waste disposal Inspect grease traps and/or interceptors
Below is the City code regarding fat, oil and grease:
13.08.040 Prohibited discharges.
The following may not be discharged to the public sewer system except as specifically authorized by other provisions of this code:
Fats, oils and grease in amounts, either alone or in combination with other discharges, that cause:
(a) any visible sheen on the surface of the discharged wastewater;
(b) any build-up of fats, oils or grease in any portion of the public sewer system; or
(c) any obstruction of the public sewer system.
Training resources
Use these posters as a training resource for your restaurant staff to learn how to properly dispose of fat, oil and grease.
Proper Disposal Kitchen Poster
Why a Fats, Oils and Grease Program?
Proper Disposal of Fats, Oils and Grease
Grease Removal Devices
Grease Interceptor Maintenance
How to Recycle Kitchen Grease
Licensed Grease Haulers