Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG)

Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) is commonly found in household kitchens and restaurants. Examples of FOG are:

  • Meat fats
  • Lard
  • Cooking oil
  • Shortening
  • Butter and margarine
  • Food scraps
  • Baked goods
  • Sauces
  • Soups
  • Dairy products

The Problem with FOG

When FOG is poured down the drain, it solidifies and sticks to the insides of sewer pipes, both on your property and in the City's collection system, which over time causes obstructions and eventually blockages. Once these blockages are formed, they can cause sanitary sewer overflows. Sewer overflows can cause raw sewage to enter:

  • Streets
  • Storm drains
  • Streams
  • Businesses
  • Yards and even homes

Sanitary sewer overflows pose a risk to public health, adversely affect aquatic life, and are costly to clean up.

Cooking oil disposalManage & Dispose of FOG Properly

  • Don't pour FOG down your sink drains or toilets; they will clog your pipes and sewer/septic systems
  • For small amounts of FOG, scrape out or use paper towels to wipe your pans, then place the FOG or soiled paper towels in the food scraps side of your gray garbage/food scraps split cart
  • For large amounts of FOG, use the curbside cooking oil collection program! Residents may place up to two gallons of used cooking oil (in accepted containers) at the curb for collection each week. Oil containers can be requested from Milpitas Sanitation
  • For even larger amounts of FOG, collect cooled oil in a sealable container (no larger than 15 gallons) and take it to a Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility. Limits apply. Please visit the Santa Clara County HHW website or call 408-299-7300 for more information
  • Learn more with the County's How to Recycle Kitchen Grease and Cooking Oil Handout (PDF)

FOG Education

In an effort to prevent the introduction of FOG into the City's sanitary sewer system, the City developed a FOG Program. This program is intended to educate businesses, as well as residents, on the problems associated with FOG and the measures that can be taken to limit or prevent the introduction of fats, oils and grease into the City's sanitary sewer system.

To find more information on City of Milpitas FOG Inspection Program for Food Service Establishments, visit our Grease Inspections page.