As the holiday feasts draw near, the City of Raleigh rolls out a seasoned initiative aimed to safeguard the sewers by keeping the greasy by-products of our festive cooking out of the drains. It's the time of the year when the aroma of roasted turkeys, simmering gravies, and fried latkes fill the air, but also the season when sinks get clogged the most with fats and oils. To combat potential sewer overflows, Raleigh is extending a free curbside grease collection service for its residents and places of worship beginning on Friday, through January 10, 2025, as reported by the City of Raleigh's news release.
This eco-conscious program is quite straightforward; citizens need to have at least 1 gallon of cooking oil, though they can also set up to have collected a maximum of three containers. Animal grease and vegetable oil are the only types accepted curbside. Residents should be cautious not to accidentally include motor oil or other petroleum products, which are a no-go. On collection day, have your oil ready to go by 7:30 a.m., preferably stored in a plastic container—jugs, bottles, or even old coffee tins will do, just slap a "cooking oil" label on its outside, as mentioned on the City of Raleigh website. Glass, however, isn't an option; it’s too fragile for this line of work.
The impact of this service is more significant than one might initially think. Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) are a plumber's nightmare when they make their way into the sewer system. They stick to pipes like unwanted guests and band together with other non-flushable offenders, giving rise to monstrous blockages known as "fatbergs," as per the City of Raleigh website These blockages are responsible for a host of unspeakable sewer overflows,
However, it's not all about prevention. There's a silver lining to this grease collection story: sustainability. The grease rounded up from the households and places of worship won't just be disposed of; it gets a second life as biofuel. It becomes a renewable energy source that can be used to again warm houses, power vehicles, or cook meals.
