Dispose of Fat, Oil and Grease Responsibly this Easter

03 April 2015 12:22

NI Water is urging its customers to dispose of fat, oil and grease (FOG) left over from their Easter dinners correctly and not to pour them down the sink.  Each year, many people still continue to tip fat, oil and grease down the sink, which has disastrous effects on both our drains and finances.  

This year, NI Water has created a funnel device which will help its customers dispose of FOG properly and are encouraging the public to avoid pouring the FOG from their Easter roasts down the sink. The funnels are designed to be screwed onto an empty bottle so that when the FOG is cooled, it can be easily poured into the bottle for recycling or disposal via the bin

As fat, oil and grease cools, it solidifies and creates blockages in the sewerage system, which often results in out of sewer flooding.  NI Water deals with thousands of sewer blockages, many of which are caused by FOG.

The cost of clearing these blockages costs millions every year! Des Nevin, NI Water’s Head of Networks Sewerage comments, “Easter is a popular time for friends and families to get together, often to enjoy a roast dinner. While the meal may be planned with meticulous detail, little attention is paid to what we put down the sink. When fat, oil and grease (FOG) solidifies in the sewers, it prevents wastewater flowing through the pipe, and often causes a blockage.  

“FOG in its liquid form may not look harmful, but once in the drains, it is. Even when hot water or soap is poured down the sink – the fat, oil and grease will still harden. Detergents and bleach may also appear to work, but this is only temporary. Each year we spend valuable resources fixing avoidable problems.

“When a drain becomes blocked and overflows, the consequences can be devastating. We can all play a part in maintaining the sewerage infrastructure from restaurants, pubs and hotels right through to home owners and industrial outlets.”

You can request your free funnel by calling Waterline on 08457 440088.

Additional information on disposing of fat, oil and grease can be found by clicking here