When grease is poured down sinks it can solidify and cause sewer backups into houses or onto streets. The result is a greasy, smelly mess of pollutants entering storm drains, creeks, and the Bay. It harms wildlife both on land and in water and is expensive to clean up!

Be a good neighbor

• Never pour fats, oil, or grease down drains, even if you have a garbage disposal.
• Pour cooking oil and grease into a sealable container with an absorbent such as paper garbage and discard with your other garbage.
• Recycle large amounts of grease or cooking oil (including from deep fryers) at the Palo Alto Recycling Center.
• Use food strainers in kitchen sinks to catch food particles and scrape leftover food waste into the garbage or compost container instead of the garbage disposal.
• Wastewater backups require fast attention. To report sewer problems in your neighborhood, call your local non-emergency police department hotline.