Many Arlington families will be feasting on turkey dinners with all of the trimmings this holiday season. The Arlington Water Utilities Department is reminding Arlington residents to properly dispose of fats, oils, grease and food scraps to avoid clogged pipes.

The Arlington Water Utilities Department, in partnership with the North Texas Central Council of Governments, has named the holiday campaign FOG, which focuses primarily on the proper disposal of fats, oil, grease and food scraps.

Large amounts of used cooking oil from fried turkeys can be filtered, frozen and reused for the preparation of another meal. To place large amounts of oil in the trash, kitty litter can be used to absorb the oil, which can then be placed in the garbage.

Table scraps can be placed in the garbage. Food items such as vegetables and fruit can be placed in a backyard composting pile.

According to Julie Hunt, the city’s Acting Director of Utilities, these items can block an entire pipeline, and cause sewer backups and overflows when they are poured down a drain. As sewer pipelines clog, sewage and food particles can attract insects and create potential environmental health hazards.

Dumping oil, grease and food scraps into kitchen sinks, drains, toilets and storm drains can be costly to homeowners. The City of Arlington spends nearly half a million dollars annually responding to grease-related backups and overflows.