No Grease Down the Sink / No Wipes Down the Pipes
No Grease Down the Sink / No Wipes Down the Pipes (PDF)
No Grease Down the Sink
Grease is a byproduct of cooking. It comes from meat, lard, oil, shortening, butter, margarine, food scraps, baking goods, sauces and dairy products.
What’s the Problem?
When grease washes down the sink, it sticks to the insides of the pipes. Eventually, the grease can build up until it completely blocks sewer pipes. That can create expensive maintenance problems and can cause raw sewage to back up into your home or business, or overflow into streets and streams.
How Can You Help?
- Don’t pour grease down sink drains or toilets.
- Scrape grease into the trash.
- Or, pour grease into steel cans, let it harden, and throw in the trash.
No Wipes Down the Pipes
Wipes, cloths, and rags are being found in sanitary sewers at an ever increasing rate. Many of these products are labeled as flushable, but while they may clear the toilet, they will most likely cause problems downstream.
What’s the Problem?
Wet wipes, cloths, and rags don’t actually break down the way toilet paper does, and can block pipes, cause mechanical problems at pump stations or treatment plants, and pollute the environment.
How Can You Help?
Do Flush
- Toilet Paper
- Human Waste
Don’t Flush
- Disposable diapers, baby wipes and nursing pads
- Facial wipes
- Cotton balls and swabs
- Condoms and tampons
- Cleaning wipes
- Paper towels