The City of Broken Arrow Utilities Department is reminding residents to toss the FOG to prevent a clog.

Please throw FOG—fats, oils, grease, as well as bulky food scraps into the trash can rather than putting them down the drain.

Turkey, stuffing, and grandma's favorite pie are family favorites for sure, but don't let them lead to a call to the local plumber over the holidays.

Please be mindful not to generate plumbing clogs from FOG—fats, oils, and grease.

Common sources of FOG include butter, shortening, margarine, meat trimmings, poultry skin, cheese, milk, cream, sour cream, cooking oils, salad dressing, gravy, and mayonnaise.

When poured down sinks, FOG hardens in sewer lines, leading to costly repairs for both homeowners and the city. Keep in mind that the average kitchen garbage disposal won’t break it down enough to prevent clogs.

The City of Broken Arrow recommends pouring liquid FOG—such as turkey drippings, gravy, cooking oil, or melted butter—into a container with a lid. Once cooled, it can be safely thrown away into the trash.

Used cooking oil can be taken to the M.e.t., 302 N. Elm Place, in five-gallon quantities. The facility is open Monday–Friday (except holidays) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Solid food scraps, such as peels and skins, should also go into the trash, and pans should be wiped down with a paper towel before washing to remove any remaining grease. Other items to pitch include pie crusts, coffee grounds, onion, carrot, and potato peels, and celery.

Even small amounts of fats, oils, or grease can build up over time and block sewer service lines, causing back-ups in residential plumbing and city mains. Although FOG is a year-round concern, the holidays are a prime time for reminders, as holiday recipes generally call for more butter, oils, gravies, fats, and other FOG ingredients.