Press release from the City of Arcata Environmental Services Department:

The Environmental Services Department encourages residents to properly dispose of cooking grease this holiday season and all year long.

Many people celebrate the holidays by preparing traditional feasts including turkey, ham, gravy, stuffing and desserts. As delicious as these foods may be, they are typically prepared with fats, oils, butter and grease which can wreak havoc on drains and the City’s wastewater system if not disposed of properly. When residents pour fats, oils or grease down a sink or toilet, it increases the chance of clogged drains resulting in costly plumbing problems or sanitary sewer overflows. Sanitary sewer overflows are a public health concern and can cause serious environmental issues.

The Environmental Services Department has some helpful tips for all community members to help avoid clogging sewer drains with fats, oils and grease:

• Avoid pouring cooking grease or oil down the sink or toilet.
• Do not dispose of food through the garbage disposal.
• Wipe greasy dishes and pots with a paper towel or napkin to absorb cooking oil before washing them in the sink.
• Scrape vegetable scraps from dishes for composting and scrape greasy food residue into the garbage prior to washing dishes. Outdoor compost bins can be purchased from the City of Arcata’s Environmental Services Department for $35. Residents can also utilize a local compost company such as The Local Worm Guy or Full Cycle Compost. Visit this link or call (707) 822-8184 for more information.
• Cooled and solidified cooking grease or oil should be placed in a sealed container and then put in a solid waste garbage bin. Alternatively, pour fats and oils into cat litter until it is absorbed and dispose the litter into the trash.

To report sanitary sewer overflows and for more information regarding fat, oil and grease disposal and proper disposal of Household Hazardous Waste, please call the Environmental Services Department at (707) 822-8184 or email eservices@cityofarcata.org.