Keep these things out of the sewer
Flushing certain items down your toilet or putting them down your drain can cause clogged pipes. It can also result in costly sewer flushing.
In partnership with the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) and the Clean Water Foundation, the Region is raising awareness about how to properly throw away items that can damage our wastewater system.
For more information, visit the I don’t flush website.
The facts on fats, oil and grease (FOG)
- Never pour FOG down the sink drain or toilet. FOG can’t be broken down during the wastewater treatment process.
- FOG clings to pipes and builds up over time.
- Cold weather solidifies FOG.
- Blocked sewage (sewer backup) can surge up through sinks, floor drains and toilets. This makes for a stinky, messy cleanup!
How to throw away FOG
To properly throw away FOG, cool it, scrape it, then green bin it.
Throwing away hardened FOG
- After cooking, pour FOG into a heat-safe container or leave it in the pan to cool and harden.
- Scrape hardened FOG into your organics kitchen container or straight into your green bin.
- If you don’t have a kitchen container or green bin, scrape FOG into the trash.
Throwing away liquid FOG
Some FOG won’t harden once cooled.
Pour small liquid amounts of FOG into your kitchen container or green bin. Drop off large amounts of cooking oil for free at a Household Hazardous Waste Facility at any Community Recycling Centre.
Other items that shouldn’t be dumped or flushed
- diapers
- household hazardous waste
- paper towels
- rags
- sanitary napkins
- disposable wipes
All storm sewers lead to your water.
- Our storm sewer system drains into rivers, streams and lakes and can seep into the ground.
- What goes in the storm sewer can contaminate drinking water sources.
