Just because your garbage disposal works doesn’t mean you should use it for everything. Not only are those massive holiday treats bad for your weight and health; they can wreak havoc on your garbage disposals and pipes.

Sewer back-ups are an unfortunate holiday tradition, and Ironhouse Sanitary District (ISD) is urging Oakley and Bethel Island residents to prevent backed-up sanitary sewers and clogged pipes by properly disposing of fats, oils and grease (FOG).

Residents should not place meat fats, cooking oil, butter and margarine-based goods or dairy products down drains and garbage disposals. According to ISD District Manager Tom Williams, such grease can build up and eventually block sewer pipes, causing overflows into homes or neighborhoods.

Survive your holiday plumber fee by following the following tips to cease the grease build-up in residential drains:

• Do not pour FOG directly into the drain or dispose of it in the garbage disposal. Do not use soap or hot water to FOG into your drain.

• Collect FOG in a heatproof container and drop it off at the ISD offices, 450 Walnut Meadows Drive in Oakley, Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding holidays). The district is provided an additional drop-off opportunity on Saturday, Jan. 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The district transfers the FOG to an organization that recycles it into bio-diesel used to fuel school buses.

“This is a great program that not only helps the district by keeping the grease from going down the drain,” said Williams, “but helps schools keep the cost of fuel down.”

For more information, call the ISD at 925-625-2279 or visit www.ISDP2.org.