PROPER fog & Wet WIPE DISPOSAL

FOG

The City of Memphis Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) Program currently monitors over 3,000 food establishments through inspection and regulation. This FOG program is a proactive approach to protect the sanitary sewer system from the negative effects caused by the introduction of FOG. Grease blockages are a primary cause of Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO’s), which can enter the storm water drainage system and pollute waterways. In an effort to help reduce SSO’s, the FOG program conducts inspections to ensure food establishments are properly servicing and maintaining their grease removal equipment.

Please note that the FOG Program is separate from the Storm Water Department, but the departments work together if FOG enters the storm water drainage system or waterways.

Proper FOG Disposal for Residents

Before washing dishes, wipe them off and place a catch screen over the sink drain to catch small scraps. Dispose of food scraps in the trash, not the sink.

If you can’t reuse the cooking oil, you CAN the FOG! Literally, keep a used tin can and pour your FOG inside of it when you are finished cooking. When it cools down and solidifies later, cover it and place the FOG in the trash. You can call 901-636-0237 and request a free sealable can cover.

For large amounts of grease, such as when deep frying a turkey, residents can allow the grease to cool in a safe container and then take it to the Shelby County Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 6305 Haley Rd.

Proper FOG Disposal for Businesses

Businesses who work regularly with greases should fill in and submit the FOG application to publicworksfogprogram@memphistn.gov, if it has not been done yet. FOG should be disposed in a grease trap and the grease trap should be cleaned out and properly disposed by a business certified to handle FOG waste. You may contact 901-636-0237 or email publicworksfogprogram@memphistn.gov for additional questions.

FOG Application

ReportING IMPROPER FOG DISPOSAL

You may take action to stop sanitary sewer overflows and anonymously report improper disposal of FOG using our form on the top right. This form will send the information you enter to the City of Memphis Fats, Oils, and Grease Program at publicworksfogprogram@memphistn.gov. The FOG program will investigate and submit any improper FOG disposal information that poses to be a storm water pollution concern to the Storm Water Department.

In the ‘Description of Activity’ Field, include as many of the following details as possible:

Manner of improper disposal
(Was the FOG poured into sinks, a sewer manhole, a street or storm drain, or was it placed directly into a ditch or waterway?)
Business / Food Truck Name - if applicable
(You can also include any other contact details, such as phone or license plate numbers.)

WET WIPES

Flushing wipes, paper towels, and similar products down toilets can clog sewers and cause backups and overflows at private homes, businesses, or wastewater collection and treatment facilities, creating a public health risk. Although labeled ‘flushable’ or ‘septic safe,’ there is not any industry-regulated criteria to determine what makes a wipe flushable and these wipes do not break down the same way as toilet paper. Toilet paper can biodegrade very quickly. However, even wipes labeled as flushable do not biodegrade quickly when flushed. They can collect on other unwanted material within the sewer system like debris and grease deposits, which creates a dam that grows in size until it fully clogs the pipes. These clogs put stress on the City’s wastewater collection and treatment systems, causing premature equipment repair, replacement, or sanitary sewer overflows. They can even lead to backups into homes. Clogs and backups are becoming more prevalent as ‘flushable’ wipe use increases.

Proper WET wIPE DISPOSAL

Place wet wipes in the trash! The City of Memphis encourages everyone to properly dispose of wipes (flushable, disposable, wet, disinfectant), paper towels, and napkins into the trash to help prevent blockages that can result in sewage overflow in our homes and onto our streets.

Report Improper FOG Disposal

Multiple events will need to be reported separately.

Is the source Residential or Commercial?

Choose from the options below.

Discharge Address/ Reference Point

Date Activity Was Observed

YYYY

Was the FOG improperly disposed of in a storm drain or waterbody?

Select 'yes' if FOG has potential to enter a storm drain or waterbody

Description of Activity

You can enter additional details for improper FOG disposal. Reference helpful information for investigation found on the left side of the screen under 'Reporting Improper FOG Disposal'.

Email Address- NOT REQUIRED

If you want to be contacted and not report anonymously, you may enter your email here.

Phone # - NOT REQUIRED

If you want to be contacted and not report anonymously, you may enter your phone number here.

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Hello! I’m Inspector Bret…

Did you know that modern landfills are designed with liners to prevent dangerous materials from leeching out, whereas wastewater treatment systems might not even detect – let alone eliminate- substances in the water that can harm wildlife? Everything poured into our sinks and flushed down our toilets ends up in our waterbodies. So if it’s not good for us to drink or eat- it probably won’t be good for frogs, insects, birds, or fish. Therefore, if any product says “hazardous waste” on the label, it must be taken to a hazardous waste disposal facility! All other products in question can likely go in the trash for disposal, but if you have any doubt about environmentally responsible disposal, you can email questions to publicworksfogprogram@memphistn.gov.

In summary…

Wipes and grease clogging pipes and the resulting sanitary sewer overflows are not only a health hazard to the neighborhood, but also the City’s storm water drainage system. Polluted storm water runoff that enters our storm water drainage systems can discharge into nearby lakes, rivers, or streams. Sewage entering these waterbodies is a threat to fish and other aquatic wildlife there.

Properly dispose of both!