Healthy habits start at home. Put your drain on a fat free diet.
It’s no secret, when it comes to forming healthy habits, children learn by observing their parents. But having a healthy lifestyle means taking care of the world around us, not just our bodies. After all, what good is a healthy body without a healthy environment to live?
One way we keep ourselves healthy is by limiting the amount of fatty foods we consume, but do we have the same concern for the health of our environment? Just like clogged arteries from eating too many fatty foods, the miles and miles of sanitary sewer pipes throughout our city can become clogged when fats, oil and grease (FOG) are washed down the drain. FOG accumulates on pipe walls, restricting the flow of wastewater. Over time, this leads to blockages that result in overflows into our homes, streets, and waterways.
What can your family do to help the environment? Start by practicing healthy habits at home when it comes to kitchen clean-up. Here are a few tips to help keep your drains fat free and healthy:
- Can the Grease - Pour used cooking grease into an empty, heat safe container, such as a soup can, and store it in the freezer. Once solidified, toss the can into the garbage.
- Scrape Your Plate - Wipe all pots, pans, dishes, and cooking utensils with a paper towel prior to washing to absorb the grease.
- Catch the Scraps - Eliminate using the garbage disposal. Catch food scraps in your sink with baskets or strainers, and then throw them in the trash.
For more tips and information on the Fats, Oils, and Grease Program, please go to www.VBgov.com/FOG.