We all know that piece of kitchen wisdom passed down from our grandma: don’t dump grease down the drain! But it may not be as much of a no-brainer as you’d think. The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) reports that cooking oil is still one of the biggest problems facing the city’s sewer system.
“Oil and water don’t mix” isn’t just a cliche. Grease, fat, and oil won’t break down in water when you wash it down the drain. That means it sticks around sewers, building up and eventually clogging them. Blocked sewers lead to back-ups and even spillage into homes and businesses (yuck).
It can also cost you. Damaged pipes aren’t cheap to repair, and if PWD traces improper disposal back to your home or business, it could mean hefty fines.
But what, then, should you do with that pan full of leftover oil? Whether you own a restaurant or just cook at home, this edition of Where Can I Wednesday breaks it down (pun fully intended).
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