Don't Flush Turkey Grease! Littleton Grease Recycling Program

Littleton, co – A holiday turkey that feeds a family gathering can generate about a cup of fat – even more for those who deep fry their birds.

Have you ever thought about what happens to all that fat after the holiday? Many people pour the fat down their sinks or flush it down the toilet, causing congealed buildups in their pipes and the nation's sewer systems.

Last year, the City of Baltimore discovered a congealed "fatberg" of kitchen fat, oil and grease (called FOG) that had blocked sewer pipes under Penn Station, causing a sewage backup.

"It is quite a spectacle to see dark brown tanks turn silver every Thanksgiving," says Nick Hansen, a senior wastewater treatment plant operator in California, in a statement. "It's the turkey grease floating to the surface and the sunlight reflecting off of it."

What to do with leftover cooking oil this Thanksgiving?

The Cities of Littleton and Englewood will host their second-annual Grease and Oil Take-Back on Saturday, Nov. 24 from 9 a.m. to noon at the South Platte Water Renewal Partners (SPWRP) facility.

Littleton and Englewood residents who live within the SPWRP service areas can drop off used cooking oil and/or automotive engine oil free of charge. There will be be free hot dogs, educational resources, and a chance to win prizes, organizers said.

• Drop off is free;
• Must be a resident of Littleton, Englewood, or the connector districts;
• Maximum of 10 gallons per household;
• Oil from commercial businesses will not be accepted;
• Only liquid oil can be accepted (no hardened grease);
• No oils contaminated with fuels, solvents, or water;
• No oil filters or antifreeze;
• Proof of residency may be required.

According to South Platte, recycling oil and keeping it out of the water system prevents clogs and blockages in your home water system, as well as community water collection systems. Floating fat "contributes to dangerous conditions in the collections systems and damages the health of the useful bacteria in water renewal," the agency said in a press release.

Bring your Thanksgiving fat Saturday to the SWRP at this address:

2900 S Platte River Dr Englewood, CO

Find out more at SPWRP Community Events page