How Can I Dispose of Fats, Oil and Grease?
Simple, safe ways to dispose of cooking fats, oil and grease without blocking your drains, for homes and commercial kitchens in London and Essex.
Fats, oils and grease are one of the most common causes of blocked drains, but disposing of them properly is straightforward once you know how.
Why FOG causes so many blockages
Fats, oils and grease, often referred to as FOG, are liquid when hot but solidify as they cool inside pipework. Over time this builds into a thick coating on the inside of the drain, narrowing the pipe and trapping other debris until water can no longer pass through freely.
This is one of the most frequent reasons we are called out for drain unblocking, particularly around kitchens in both domestic and commercial properties.
What not to do
It might seem harmless to pour cooking fat down the sink, especially if you run hot water afterwards, but heat only delays the problem. The fat cools further along the pipe, often somewhere far less accessible than the kitchen sink.
- Never pour fat, oil or grease down the sink or toilet
- Avoid rinsing greasy pans directly under running water without wiping them first
- Do not rely on washing up liquid to break down grease in the pipe
Safe disposal at home
Let fat and grease cool and solidify in the pan or a container, then scrape it into a sealed pot or an old food tin before putting it in the general waste bin. Many local councils in London and Essex also accept cooking oil at household recycling centres, so it is worth checking what your council collects.
Wiping pans and plates with kitchen roll before washing up removes most of the residue before it ever reaches the drain.
Commercial kitchens have extra responsibilities
Restaurants, cafes and other food businesses produce far larger volumes of FOG and are expected to manage it responsibly, usually with a grease trap that needs regular emptying and cleaning. Our tanker services can remove grease trap waste safely and in line with waste regulations.
A build up in a grease trap that is left too long can lead to blocked drains affecting the whole kitchen, so a regular schedule is worth agreeing in advance rather than waiting for a problem to appear.
If a blockage has already formed
Where FOG has already built up inside a drain, high pressure jetting and drain descaling are the most effective way to clear it and restore the pipe to its full diameter, rather than just breaking through the middle of the blockage.
A CCTV drain survey can also confirm how far the build up extends and whether any damage has occurred as a result.
Need help with a grease related blockage
Whether it is a single blocked kitchen sink or a commercial grease trap overdue for emptying, we offer 24 hour emergency call outs across London and Essex. Call 020 3488 6280 or email info@rdrainage.co.uk.