Protect your pipes!

Oct. 7, 2022 10:00 a.m.
​Learn where to safely dispose of fats, oils and grease to avoid sewer blockages

 

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, you may be celebrating and enjoying a meal with loved ones. If you’re cooking with fats, oils and grease, keep in mind that when cooled, these materials can clog sewer pipes if disposed of down the drain, such as through a sink or toilet. This can lead to a backup of sewage flooding not only into your home but also your neighbours’, nearby streets and surrounding areas, and can pollute the environment.

The City of Vaughan is reminding you how to properly dispose of fats, oils and grease to keep your sewer pipes clean and clear.

Fats, oils and grease should never go down the drain. Instead, let them cool and place them in the green bin.

Examples of fats, oils and grease include:

  • butter or margarine
  • cooking oils (includes deep-frying oils)
  • lard
  • marinades
  • meat fats
  • milks and creams
  • salad dressings
  • sauces and gravies
  • sandwich spreads
  • shortening

If one of these materials is in liquid form, leave it in the pan to cool, or pour the liquid into a container such as a tin can or bowl to cool, then empty it into the green bin. Before washing pots, pans and dirty dishes, wait for fats, oils and grease to harden. Then, wipe the product with a paper towel or scrape it into the green bin.

Alternatively, you can drop off fats, oils and grease in a tightly sealed container, no more than four litres in size, at a York Region waste depot for safe disposal. The Vaughan location is at 130 McCleary Crt. Visit york.ca/WasteDepots for hours of operation and more details.

For help safely disposing of other items and materials, use the City’s online ‘What Goes Where?’ sorting tool so you can quickly and easily check where a waste item belongs. You can also download the waste reduction app, Recycle Coach, through the Apple App Store or Google Play to check where waste items belong. The app provides waste-less tips and a personalized collection schedule with optional alerts on what to put to the curb each week. For more information on waste services, visit vaughan.ca/waste.

For more information on the City’s sewer system, visit vaughan.ca/wastewater.

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