Many times grease accumulates and solidifies inside the pipes and restricts free flow of raw sewage on its way to the wastewater treatment plant. This overloads the system, causing sewage to overflow into streets, yards, and storm ditches, which eventually will pollute the bayous and Galveston Bay. The grease that blocks the sewer pipes generally comes from two sources - commercial and residential kitchens.

Commercial establishments, such as restaurants, institutional cafeterias and other public kitchens, are regulated by City ordinance. They are required to install grease traps that must be cleaned periodically. Residents don't have grease traps. The most practical way to reduce grease from residential kitchens is to offer easy ways to prevent grease from entering the sewer pipes in the first place. This can be done as follows:

• Residents collect grease in containers (i.e. used cans, glass jars, etc,)

• Residents dispose of the hardened grease with their regular trash

For questions or suggestions concerning the Corral the Grease website, please contact us via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Or download a Corral the Grease Flyer. Or, you can view the Corral the Grease public Service announcement.