With the fall and winter holidays approaching, many Tuolumne County residents will be busy cooking in their kitchens.  To avoid potential plumbing and sewer problems, 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.