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DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICES ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT 98 Washington Street, 2nd Floor Salem, MA 01970 Phone: (978) 619-5673 CAN IT, COOL IT, AND TOSS IT! That residual grease and oil from frying or cooking should never be poured down your drain or into your toilet — instead, pour it into an empty container like a tin can, let it cool then toss it in the trash. A Resident’s Guide to Understanding the Effects of Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) in Municipal Sewer Systems Salem Grease Management Program: WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH ALL THIS COOKING GREASE AND OIL? The answer to that question and more… GREASE IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM....NO WIPES IN PIPES! Toilet paper is the only paper product that should be flushed. Please place the following products in the trash can: So-called “flushable” wipes are not flushable and, unlike toilet paper, they do not break down. These wipes, along with the other products mentioned above, wreak havoc on the city’s sewers, pump stations, and treatment facilities. When combined with grease, these materials form blockages in the sewers or “fatbergs” that can lead to backups into homes or overflows into the environment. • “Flushable” wipes • Paper towels • Disinfectant wipes • Tissues • Feminine hygiene products • Dental floss • Q-tips or cotton balls • Diapers • Medicines and pharmaceuticals TOILET PAPER ONLY EVERYTHING ELSE GOES IN THE TRASH pages/fat-oils-grease-fog More information can be found and downloaded at: ---PAGE BREAK--- WHY DISPOSE OF GREASE PROPERLY? FOG DOS & DON’TS WHAT IS FOG? Protects pipes in your home from grease build-up Prevents the build-up of grease in the sewer system that results in Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) and other community health hazards Increased FOG in the sewer system requires additional maintenance and cleaning costs, resulting in higher sewer bills for residents Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) are found in dairy products, meat, cooking oil, butter, margarine, lard, sauces, dressings, and baking products. FOG has a negative impact on Salem’s sewer system. These materials, generated from food preparation and disposal, congeal in sewer pipes and can cause sewer backups in homes, or sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) that have an impact on public health, and affect the ocean, ponds, and rivers in the City. Instead of dumping cooking oil and other fats, oils, and grease by-products from cooking into the sink, store it in a used tin can or another heat resistant container. These containers can be thrown into the trash. FOG may be composted through curbside collection. Check your curbside collector’s website for details. pour grease down the drain or toilet pour gravy, sauces, batters, dressings, etc. down the drain or toilet put food scraps down the drain or toilet overuse your garbage disposal scrape and wipe pans and dishes into the trash before you wash them use a can, or other heat resistant container to store FOG by-products before disposal be careful to let cooking by- products cool before moving, storing, or disposing of them FOG clogs up our sewers and contributes to unhealthy Sanitary Sewer Overflows DON’T DON’T DON’T DON’T DO DO DO DO DO dispose of food scraps in trash allow grease to cool in the pan, then wipe out with a paper towel and dispose paper towel in the trash