Proper disposal of fats, oils and grease (FOG)

The City of Carlsbad is doing public outreach to eliminate the improper disposal of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) into the sewers. Putting greasy materials down a sink can lead to sewer overflows that can flood homes or businesses, spill out into the street to contaminate storm drains and pollute beaches and lagoons. Cleanup can be expensive to homeowners and especially for businesses like restaurants, which could also be subject to fines and closures.

Restaurants

Restaurants are now required to store fats, oils, and grease in containers that are picked up or serviced by permitted recycling and rendering facilities. The food service facility is responsible for maintenance of the grease control devices as well as keeping records of the waste manifests onsite and ready for inspections.

Authorized Southern California grease haulers

Residents

Residents have a couple of ways to dispose of fats, oils and grease. They can mix fats, oils, and grease with absorbent waste such as paper towels, kitty litter, coffee grounds, or shredded newspaper before discarding in the trash or double wrap grease containers with trash bags before disposing in the trash.

This FOG public educational outreach is being done in response to the California Water Board Waste Discharge Requirement. A key requirement of the order is that cities and agencies that provide sewer services implement an educational program to inform the general public and food service facilities such as restaurants about proper disposal of fats, oils and grease.