CITY OF MANSFIELD STORM WATER MANAGEMENT
FATS, OILS, AND GREASE (FOGS)
What Are FOGs?
F.O.G. is an acronym for Fats, Oils and Grease, and refers to cooking products. Cooking oils and grease, and fats drained from cooked meats can affect our waterways. It is a serious problem that results in property damage, health hazards and can seriously impair the quality of our waters.
When these products, such as cooking oil from frying turkeys, are dumped down a storm drain they begin to solidify. This can change the amount of water that can flow through the pipe, or completely block the pipe in severe cases, causing flooding upstream. These products can also foul fish gills, preventing the exchange of oxygen and killing the fish affected. There are several other problems caused by the improper disposal of these products.
The TCEQ has published brochures and a website dealing with these products. Even washing these products down the sink with hot water can result in problems. The hot water may be enough to get the crud out of the kitchen, but it may not leave your property, and can cause sanitary sewer backups.
How Can I Protect Our Waterways From FOGs?
There are several ways to properly dispose of these products. Filtering cooking oils and freezing them for later use is a useful way to deal with leftover cooking oil and saves money. Very small amounts can be soaked up with a paper towel and thrown in the trash.
Another way to dispose of unwanted FOGs is slowly mixing in kitty litter, or another solid absorbent, until the substance is gone and then discard in the trash. Placing the FOG material in a sturdy container and placing in the trash is also an acceptable way to dispose of these substances.
Finally, some businesses and cities in the area have begun collecting used cooking oils to convert them into fuel. Biodiesel is the final product, and can be mixed with regular diesel and used by any diesel vehicle without modification. This helps our crude oil supplies go further, and reduces the amount of pollutants produced from diesel engines. The City of Mansfield will be working with some of these organizations to host collection days where citizens can bring in their used cooking oils for disposal.
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