The City of Clearwater Says ‘Don’t Pour The Turkey Grease Down The Drain’

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pouring cooking fats, oils, and greases down the drain this holiday season can cause serious and expensive pipe blockages. Clearwater Public Utilities and the Solid Waste/Recycling Department ask residents to repurpose their cooking fats, oils, and grease this holiday season.

Follow these steps to repurpose cooking greases:

• Place leftover cooking greases, frying oils, meat drippings, and bacon fats into a container.
• Bring the grease to the city’s Solid Waste/Recycling drop-off center at 1701 N. Hercules Ave.
• Pour the contents of the container into the large barrel that is on-site.
• Take the empty container home or place it in the trash afterward, as a container with a layer of grease inside is not recyclable.

The Solid Waste Recycling Drop-off Center accepts fats, oils and greases, and it is open to residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. No commercial material will be accepted.

Grease that is poured down the drain causes costly plumbing problems, resulting in sewer backups, blockages, and sewer overflow. If you see or smell something you think might be a sewer overflow, report it immediately by calling (727) 562-4960 Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. After hours, report the spill by calling (727) 462-6633.

For more information about the city’s grease repurposing program, visit myclearwater.com/recycling or call the Solid Waste Operations Center at (727) 562-4920.

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