FOG - Fats, Oils, and Grease

Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) are byproducts of food preparation, meat cutting, and cooking. FOG can be found in meat fats, oils, shortening, butter, margarine, sauces, and dairy products.

When FOG is left on preparation utensils and poured down drains or garbage disposals, it can build up in our collection systems, and can result in backups into sinks, toilets and drains - both in your own, or somebody else’s home. These backups pose serious public health and environmental problems – and they can be very costly too.

The first pipes that will become blocked with FOG will be your own pipes, and that could result in expensive plumbing bills. Keeping FOG out of your drains and the sewer system is good for your home’s plumbing. Sewer overflows can also damage the environment and affect the health of our waterways. By taking care to safely dispose of or recycle FOG, we can all help to protect the health of our environment and the quality of life we enjoy in Pasco County.

Helpful Hints to Minimize FOG in our Environment

1. Whenever food is prepared and cooked, byproducts (especially cooking oils and grease) should NOT be poured down the drain or into garbage disposals. 

2. Excess byproducts from food preparation should be removed from all utensils, knives, and cutting boards to be discarded in the trash. 

3. Pans and pots with heavy grease build up should be wiped with a paper towel before being placed in the dish washer. 

4. Minimize the use of excess cooking oils and grease when cooking or frying. 

5. Pour used cooking fats, oil, and grease from the pan while it is still somewhat warm into a container that you can freeze (frozen juice cartons work well because they won't melt when they come in contact with hot grease). Use a rubber spatula to scrape as much of the grease out of the pan as possible, and then it should only take one disposable paper towel to wipe the pan clean. Store the container in the freezer, which will keep the grease solid, and pull it out whenever you have fats, oils and grease to dispose of. When it gets full it can be taken to one of the County cooking oil recycling containers.

FOG Mission Statement

The FOG Compliance Inspectors' mission is to educate the public and the Food Service Establishments (FSE) that produce the byproducts know as Fats, Oils, and Greases (FOG) on the proper capacity, management, and operations and maintenance of the wastewater collection system. It is also their mission to enforce Pasco County's codes and ordinances to reduce sanitary sewer overflows.