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Wastewater Source Control
Free FOG disposal is available at the cooking oil collection tank at the Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village - 6505 176th Ave NE, Redmond
Pour cooled leftover oil into a sealable container
- After it solidifies in the container, it can go into the garbage. Don’t pour it down the drain!
- Or drop it off, at no cost, at the cooking oil collection tank at Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village - 6505 176th Ave NE, Redmond
Wipes - Don't Flush Them
Even if it says flushable wipes can clog pipes and create costly repairs.
Why can't "flushable wipes" be flushed?
Flushable wipes are not environmentally friendly because they are made of plastic and do not break down in the wastewater system.
FOG SOURCE CONTROL
FOG solidifies and builds up over time to cause blockages. These blockages cause backups and overflows of raw sewage that can enter homes, businesses, and the environment. This can lead to human contact with disease-causing organisms, environmental damage, increased maintenance costs, and higher wastewater utility rates.
It is unlawful to discharge any of the following in the wastewater system: any water or waste which contains greater than 100 parts per million by weight of fat, oil or grease; any flammable or explosive liquid, solid, or gas; any solid or viscous substances capable of causing an obstruction to the flow of sewers; any waste containing toxic or corrosive substances.
FOG comes from many sources, here are some examples:
- Meat
- Lard/cooking oil
- Shortening/butter & margarine
- Any food scraps
- Dairy products
- Salad dressings
- Mayonnaise
Residential homeowners may be held liable for all clean-up costs related to a sanitary sewer overflow.
Such costs can include damage to:
- adjoining personal property
- parking lots
- streets
- wastewater pumps
- piping
- treatment plants
The best tool to deal with FOG is PREVENTION!
Here are some ways to prevent FOG:
- Pour cooled leftover oil into a sealable container
- Recycle it or dispose of it in the garbage. Don’t pour it down the drain!
- Or drop it off, at no cost, at the cooking oil collection tank at Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village - 6505 176th Ave NE, Redmond
- Wipe your food scraps or grease with a paper towel before pre-rinsing. These can go into a compost bin, yard waste cart, or your trashcan. The yard waste cart items are composted by Cedar Grove Composting. Visit the Waste Management Compositing page or our Garbage/Recycling page for more information on composting.
- Limit the use of in-sink garbage disposals. Install and maintain screens in all sink drains to catch any grease and food scraps you’ve missed with your paper towel or scraper.
- Be an advocate! Share this information with your family, friends, and neighbors.
Properly Dispose of Household Hazardous Materials
Many common products are hazardous if introduced into our wastewater system.
Here are ways to prevent that:
- Proper disposal of oil-based paint, pesticides, gasoline, and toxic cleaners.
- King County Factory Transfer Station - Visit King County Household Hazardous Waste page for more information and locations.
- Wastemobile - Another King County service. Visit King County Traveling Wastemobile page for more information and locations.
- Return unused or no longer needed medicine to any Group Health Pharmacy location or select Bartell Drugs pharmacies. Visit the Take Your Meds Back site for more information and locations.
- Residents with curbside garbage service can recycle motor oil at the curb following these guidelines:
- Put motor oil in 1-gallon milk jugs with screw-on lids
- Label with name and address
- Put 2 feet from recycling cart
- Limit 2 gallons per collection. Only uncontaminated used motor oil is accepted
For more information on disposing of hazardous waste, visit the Waste Management site or our Garbage/Recycling page.
Business owners may be held liable for all clean-up costs related to a sanitary sewer overflow.
Such costs can include damage to:
- adjoining personal property
- parking lots
- streets
- wastewater pumps
- piping
- treatment plants
The best tool to deal with FOG is PREVENTION!
Here are some ways to prevent FOG:
- Teach your employees the importance of controlling FOG. Post “No Grease” signs above your sinks and dishwasher.
- Maintain your grease removal device (GRD) to keep the accumulation of FOG and food waste less than 25% of the volume of the device. GRDs catch FOG before it enters your wastewater system.
- Record self-cleanings on a simple maintenance log that includes the date, the amount of grease, and the cleaner’s initials.
- Remove your garbage grinder and install a solids interceptor. This will reduce the amount of grease and food waste that accumulate in your GRD and help minimize blockages in your business’ side sewer pipe.
- Maintain your grease interceptor (a large devices usually located outside your business). Have your grease interceptor cleaned at least every 90 days.
- Clean your grease trap (generally, under or near a kitchen sink) at least once per week and have a contractor clean it every 60 days.
- Compost your food scraps! Wipe off food scraps with a paper towel and deposit into the composting cart prior to pre-rinsing. Businesses may request up to three 64-gallon food composting carts to be picked up twice a week by Waste Management at no additional charge. The compost cart items are composted locally by Cedar Grove Composting.
- Recycle cooking oil using a collection service or drop-off site (examples: SeQuential, Mahoney Environmental Solutions)
- Install and maintain screens in all floor and sink drains to catch any grease and food scraps you’ve missed with your paper towel or scraper.
- Visit the City’s Recycling & Waste Reduction page for more information on composting and recycling.
- Hire a contractor to maintain the vent hood and filters and dispose of the waste properly.
- Wash all floor mats, grills, and greasy kitchen equipment in a sink that goes to a grease trap or interceptor. Never wash these items outside where wastewater can flow into a storm drain.
- Display the Redmond FOG poster (PDF).
Industrial Wastewater
The City of Redmond Source Control Program has partnered with King County. The King County Industrial Waste Program is intended to protect the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) and focuses on companies that discharge wastewater during manufacturing, remediation, cleaning, or rinsing processes. King County’s Industrial Waste Program currently regulates nearly 30 industrial users within the City of Redmond.
Visit our Recycling & Waste Reduction page, King County Hazardous Waste Management Program for more information on commercial garbage and recycling, or King County’s Industrial Waste page for information on an industrial discharge permit.
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Report an Issue
Use the City’s request management system to report non-emergency issues, make requests, and find answers to common questions.
In case of emergency, call 911.
Report Issue or Make Request