Sonora, CA…When Cooking – Trap the Grease! With the Thanksgiving holiday this week, many Tuolumne County residents will be busy cooking in their kitchens.

To avoid potential plumbing and sewer disasters, Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) would like to remind residents how to properly dispose of fats, oils and grease. Sewer blockages can cause backups into homes resulting in an unpleasant mess that can cost hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars to clean up.

Listed below are safe disposal tips of waste fats, oil and grease to help you avoid
a plumbing emergency:
• Avoid pouring fats or vegetable cooking oils down the drain because
liquid fats solidfy in the pipes and create clogs.
• After grease has cooled, scrape the grease into a container with a tight
fitting lid. Solidify in the refrigerator before putting it in the trash.
• Never put hard to grind items in your garbage disposal, including
poultry skins, egg shells, carrots, potato skins, celery, pumpkin
pulp, banana peels or pasta.
The Tuolumne County Solid Waste Division has begun collecting
used liquid cooking oil, 10 gallons or less, by appointment only
at their permanent household hazardous waste facility. This is
available to residential customers only. Note that small quantities
of grease solid at room temperature, such as lard & bacon fat, may be
place in a sealed container and put in the trash. Call (209) 533-5588 to
make an appointment for disposal of residential liquid cooking oil.

Find out how to dispose of grease properly