Proper Disposal of Cooking Grease

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Most people who cook at home think nothing of putting leftover grease and food scrapsdown the drain, but state officials strongly advise residents to avoid this practice. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) explains on its Web site that fats, oils and grease that combine with food particles can clog pipes in sanitary sewer lines and can cause serious backups. The following is a list of instructions for residents to follow so sewer overflows can be prevented in Mesquite.

DO

• Put oil and grease in covered collection containers.
• Scrape food scraps from dishes into trashcans and garbage bags and dispose of properly. Avoid using the garbage disposal for this type of clean up.
• Remove oil and grease from dishes, pans, fryers and griddles. Cool first
  before skimming, scraping or wiping off excess grease.
• Prewash dishes and pans with cold water before putting them in the dishwasher.
• Cover kitchen sink with a catch basket and empty into garbage can as
  needed.

DON’T

• Pour oil and grease down the drain.
• Put food scraps down the drain.
• Run water over dishes, pans, fryers and griddles to wash oil and grease down the drain.
• Rinse off oil and grease with hot water.