Beware of ‘FOG’ in restaurants: Program launched for proper grease disposal

Published: April 24, 2012

Coastal Waccamaw Stormwater Education Consortium image by: Coastal Waccamaw Stormwater Education Consortium

CONWAY — Watch out for “FOG” in Horry and Georgetown counties. It may end up affecting your quality of life.

The Coastal Waccamaw Stormwater Education Consortium has launched an initiative to help explain the importance of correct disposal by area restaurants of fats, oil and grease, known collectively as FOG.

The consortium has produced free postcards and other educational materials to distribute to restaurants throughout Horry and Georgetown counties.

The materials focus on the proper disposal of FOG that is generated from restaurant kitchens. When the FOGs are not collected in the correct grease containers, or if the grease containers are not sealed, the grease ends up on the ground.

Ultimately, FOG runs off into local waterways during storm events or clogs storm drains, leading to local water pollution and possible fines for restaurants.

The postcards are designed to be on display in restaurant kitchens and serving stations to remind staff of correct disposal.

To obtain postcards, see Associated Documents at right, or contact Christopher Ramaglia at the Coastal Waccamaw Stormwater Education Consortium at 843-365-6715, ext. 125, or cramagl@clemson.edu.

Ramaglia, a Carolina Clear natural resources Extension agent for Georgetown and Horry counties, said that stormwater is not treated before it is released to local waters. When fats, oil and grease flow through the stormwater system, they pose a serious threat to the health of downstream rivers, lakes and ocean, which receive the pollutants. 

“FOG solidifies, leading to blockages that cause localized flooding,” Ramaglia said. “Accumulation in storm drains and pipes causes foul odors, bacterial contamination and harm to local waterways.”

In Horry and Georgetown counties, the Coastal Waccamaw consortium is a regional collaboration involving Clemson University’s Carolina Clear program in partnership with communities and educators from universities, state agencies and nonprofits.

Carolina Clear’s goal is to minimize polluted stormwater runoff by educating the general public, youth, builders, developers, homeowners and government officials about how they can keep water in the state’s streams, rivers and basins as clean as possible.

The Coastal Waccamaw consortium includes the Coastal Carolina University Waccamaw Watershed Academy, Murrells Inlet 2020, the North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and the Winyah Rivers Foundation Waccamaw Riverkeeper Program.

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