Fats, Oils, & Grease (FOG) Program

The Fats, Oils, and Greases (FOG) program exists to reduce/eliminate sanitary sewer overflows. The leading preventable cause of non-weather related sanitary sewer overflows nation-wide has been build-up and blockages from FOG material restricting the flow of sewage. Blocked or restricted sewer pipes can cause raw sewage to back up into homes or businesses, or overflow into streets and streams.

Wastewater discharges from commercial food service facilities are the main sources of FOG and other food waste in the city's sewer system. Food service establishments can include bakeries, donut shops, hotels, supermarkets, meat processors, commercial kitchens, coffee shops and restaurants. By requiring FOG abatement by the parties responsible for its generation, costly sewer back-ups can be reduced or eliminated on both private and public properties.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has prohibited sanitary sewer overflows and communities that suffer sanitary sewer overflows can be penalized for sewer spills/overflows. FOG abatement is the most cost- effective method of reducing sanitary sewer overflows caused by grease from the public collection system by requiring that FOG be treated at its source.

City staff is available to assist Milwaukie businesses with technical assistance and adopting practices that can reduce FOG and food waste discharges to the sewer system.