Don't be like Chef Fatatouille!
Chef Fatatouille received his formal training at the famed Le Cordon Bleu Fromage in Paris … Texas. As a young chef, he made his mark on the foodie scene with dishes such as salad deep fried in duck fat and bacon-wrapped bacon, served with a side of bacon. Although a culinary icon to some, Chef Fatatouille also earned a reputation for clogging kitchen sinks and was eventually banned from every restaurant in Paris. Unfortunately, the pipe-clogging chef found his way to Gainesville, where he continues to cause expensive and messy overflows by pouring fat, oil and grease down the drain.
With his bacon eyebrows, French fry moustache and sausage links hanging over his shoulder, Chef Fatatouille is a great reminder that the fat, oil and grease used and produced when cooking should never be poured down a sink or into a toilet. It should be poured into a container and thrown away in the trash. This simple act can save you from causing a backup in your home or our wastewater system. Remember, don’t be a Fatatouille!
Help Prevent Sewer Overflows— Don’t Pour FOG Down the Drain
A large percentage of reported sewer system overflows in Gainesville are caused by sewers blocked with fats, oils and grease, known collectively as FOG, which builds up in sewer pipes over time. Sewer overflows can cause health hazards, home damage and contamination in the environment. Don’t pour FOG down the drain, and help us protect our environment and community by preventing sewer overflows.
Common sources of grease are lard, oil, shortening, butter and margarine. When these items are poured down the drain, they harden and build up in the sewer system, blocking large pipes. When these pipes clog, wastewater cannot pass through, so it spills out onto the ground. Raw sewage can be harmful to humans, pets and our local ecosystem. Wastewater cleanup and repairs are very expensive. Please help us protect your neighborhood and keep costs down by following these simple steps:
- Don’t pour fats, oils or grease down sink drains or into the toilet.
- Put fats, oils and grease into a container and discard in the garbage.
- Wipe cooled oil and grease off dishes and pans with a paper towel and put it in the garbage.
- Scrape food scraps from dishes into trash cans or garbage bags and dispose of properly.
Thank you for helping us protect our environment and community by preventing sewer overflows. Call 352-334-2711 to report wastewater overflows 24/7.
Waste Vegetable Oil Recycling
The Alachua County Hazardous Waste Collection Program now accepts residents’ waste vegetable-based liquid cooking oil for recycling. Any type of liquid vegetable oil (peanut, corn, canola, olive, etc.) qualifies. Take advantage of this FREE service and drop off your oil container to a location near you.
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