What is F.O.G.?

F.O.G. stands for Fats, Oils & Grease and is commonly found in household kitchens and restaurants. Examples of F.O.G. are meat fats, lard, cooking oil, shortening, butter and margarine, food scraps, baked goods, sauces, soups and dairy products. Residential users, as well as businesses, generate F.O.G. waste daily.

What is the problem with F.O.G.?

When F.O.G. is poured down the drain it solidifies and sticks to the insides of sewer pipes, both on your property and in the City’s collection system, which overtime causes obstructions and eventually blockages. Once these blockages are formed they can cause sanitary sewer overflows. Sewer overflows can cause raw sewage to enter the streets, storm drains, streams, businesses, yards and even homes. Sanitary sewer overflows pose a risk to public health, adversely affect aquatic life, and are costly to clean up.

F.O.G. Education

In an effort to prevent the introduction of F.O.G. into the City’s sanitary sewer system, the City developed a F.O.G. Program. This program is intended to educate businesses, as well as residents, on the problems associated with F.O.G. and the measures that can be taken to limit or prevent the introduction of fats, oils and grease into the City’s sanitary sewer system.

F.O.G. Ordinance

Details of the F.O.G. ordinance can be viewed at Merced Municipal Code Title 15 – Public Service, Division I. – Sewer System, Chapter 15.30 Discharges of Fats, Oils, and Grease from food service establishments.