Message to Mayo washer-uppers: oil I want for Christmas is clear drains!

This Christmas, Clean Coasts and Uisce Éireann are teaming up to urge every home cook, chef-in-the-making, and, of course, the washer-uppers of Mayo to 'think before you pour' – especially when it comes to fats, oils and greases (FOGs) from cooking. The advice instead is: cool, collect and bin.

Joining forces with TV presenter and passionate food lover Cassie Stokes, this festive campaign reminds us all that while those leftover cooking fats might seem harmless, they can cause serious damage to homes, communities and the environment.

FOGs, when poured down the sink, can cause expensive blockages in home plumbing, pipes and wastewater networks, leading to sewage overflows that can pollute rivers, beaches and oceans.

The solution is simple: let FOGs cool, collect them, and stick them in the bin. It’s also a great idea to scrape your plates and wipe your pots and pans before washing them, and use a sink strainer to collect any smaller food scraps.

A new survey has revealed that as a country, we’ve made progress around the proper disposal of FOGs (with the number of people regularly pouring them down the sink dropping from 44% to 36% since 2018). However, many people are still guilty of this kitchen no-no. And when FOGs harden in pipes, they can form fatbergs – giant masses of waste that clog sewers and wreak havoc on the environment.

Welcoming the advice, Mary Hussey, wastewater regional operations senior manager at Uisce Éireann, said: “This Christmas, let’s reduce the number of blockages that lead to wastewater backups, sewage overflows, and environmental pollution. We all have a role to play in protecting our homes, our communities, and our beautiful natural spaces.

“Let’s keep our kitchen sinks fat-free – and remember to think before you pour. Instead of pouring your cooking oils down the sink, collect them in a heatproof container, let them cool, and then dispose of them in the bin. It’s a simple action that can make a big difference.”

Patrick Cross, Think Before You Pour campaign officer at Clean Coasts, added: “This Christmas, Clean Coasts is calling on everyone to think before you pour. It’s a small change in your kitchen habits that will have a massive impact on our environment and wastewater systems. Let's work together to protect our drains, rivers, and beaches – all by making a simple effort to dispose of FOGs the right way.”

By simply thinking before you pour, you’re already making a huge difference. Not only will you prevent blockages in your own home and avoid unnecessary repairs, but you’ll also be helping to protect the environment and reduce pollution in rivers, beaches and oceans. It’s a small change that makes a big impact.