The word “fatberg” seems like something spooky from an urban legend—however, fatbergs are real, growing larger each day and causing major problems for cities all over the world. What exactly is a fatberg? A fatberg is a “vast, monster lump of congealed fat stuck together with a structure of used diapers, tampons, and wet wipes.” (CityLab) In a way, fatbergs can be seen as the ugly underbelly of our highly-commercialized society.
These oily excrescences are increasingly clogging urban sewers in many countries, and there isn’t a “quick fix” to stop them from forming. Rising populations in city centers coupled with a growing number of restaurants and fried food preferences, means that more FOG (fats, oils and grease) is making its way into our sewers than ever before. To exacerbate the issue, many sewer systems are antiquated and in desperate need of repair. The costs to fix our failing sewer systems is astronomical and unfortunately not viewed as a major priority by many cities. In essence, fatbergs are going to be a problem for decades to come.
What can you do to help?
If you are like us, you are asking yourself what you can do to help to lessen the environmental impact of fatbergs. As we all know, it is going to take collective action from thoughtful citizens to prioritize the environment and stop contributing to the fatberg issue.
Actions you can take at home:
- Properly dispose of FOG—Never pour used cooking oil and grease down the drain.
- Dry wipe dishes that have oil reside (i.e. salad dressing) on them before washing them in your sink.
- Recycle any large amounts of cooking grease you have at a designated location.
It’s no secret that current FOG disposal methods are outdated. One of the more traditional methods is to use a jar in which you pour the cooled oil directly from your pan into it. While this method is efficient and good for your pipes and the sewer system, it means that you have a jar of used cooking oil sitting around your kitchen—it’s not exactly pleasant to look at and has a definite odor.
A New FOG Disposal Method: Grease Hero
Our Grease Hero drain guard is designed to be placed into the top of your kitchen drain, so you can quickly and easily pour the used cooking grease into it and then promptly dispose of it. It made of recyclable materials to absorb the FOG waste and can be thrown out with your regular garbage. With Grease Hero you are helping alleviate the fatberg problem in your city’s sewer system, saving yourself from costly plumbing repairs and keeping dangerous contaminants out of the environment and our waterways.
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Join Our Mission to save the environment and properly dispose of Fats, Oils, and Grease.
