For too long the kitchen sink has been a place where people pour liquids they can’t dispose of easily. This is especially the case with fat, oil and grease that is left on plates and cooking trays after a meal.

But those who dispose of fat and grease in this way will inevitably end up with a clogged sink, as the fat and grease congeals in the pipe, picks up other food items and ends up causing a blockage. This leaves homeowners with the potential of flooding and overflows occurring and the undesirable task of unblocking a kitchen sink or having to pay someone else to do it.

Further down the line, the build-up of fat and grease in the sewer system is a major problem for the country as a whole.

According to Water UK, water and sewerage companies in the UK respond to approximately 366,000 sewer blockages every year and in some parts of the country three-quarters of these are caused by fats, oils and grease.

The industry body says clean-up costs for the water industry run to millions of pounds, costs which are ultimately passed on to customers through wastewater bills.

As an alternative to pouring it all down the sink, the best method is to wipe plates free of fat with a kitchen towel before washing them up, to reduce the amount of residual fat or food that goes down the plughole.

Any leftover cooking fat in a roasting tray, for example, should be emptied into a container such as a fat trap or an old margarine tub. Here fats and grease can be collected and allowed to sit, cool and solidify. At this point the contents can be disposed of in the bin.

This routine won’t take long at all and will not only help wider society but also reduce the potential for a clogged sink in your home.

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