Fats, Oils and Greases (FOGs) are a common subject when it comes to starting the conversation on what cannot go down your household drains. Fats, Oils and Greases are usually placed down your drain systems as liquids, and become solids or highly dense liquids very quickly. When these undesirable materials become solidified, they take the shape of the pipe and fully clog the opening from releasing new liquids.

Common forms of FOGs are:

• Butter
• Lard
• Food scraps
• Sauces
• Grease from meat
• Salad dressings
• Dairy products 
• Cooking oils 
• Margarines
• Cosmetics

Proper disposal

Fats, oils and greases should never be put down your drains or toilets. These items should be hardened and disposed of in your grey or green bins or household composter. These items can also be put into FOG Cups.

Medications should never be disposed of in your household garbage or drainage systems. Through better understanding of the wastewater disposal process, it is understood that all dissolved solids and untreatable products are placed back into the North Saskatchewan River and re-enter the water supply for the municipalities down river.  

When medications are placed into your household garbage they are taken to the Lloydminster Sanitary Landfill, and often become a part of the liquid waste steam, which goes to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Environmental Services team then attempts to treat the waste,but because medications are often untreatable the wastewater remains in a medicated state when it re-enters the North Saskatchewan River. 

Proper disposal

Medications should always be taken back to your local pharmacist or disposed of in the City's annual Household Hazardous Waste Round-Up event.

Wipes are designed to be stronger than facial tissue and toilet paper and often have plastic fibres, thus reducing their ability to decompose on their own. When wipes are placed down your drains they have the ability to gather in low spots with other heavy materials and clog the system. They also have the ability to wrap around equipment in the Wastewater Treatment Plant and require an Enviromental Services Team member to remove them by hand, which is both dangerous and laborious. 

These wipes include:

• Baby Wipes
• Bathroom Wipes
• Cosmetic Wipes
• Personal Hygiene Wipes
• Disinfecting Wipes
• Floor Cleaning or Dusting Wipes
• Toilet Bowl Scrub Pads

Proper disposal

These items should be placed in your household garbage or grey bin. 

Feminine Hygiene Products

Feminine hygiene products such as sanitary napkins, tampons and pads have fibres made of cotton and rayon. These fibres are designed to absorb liquids instead of breaking down like toilet paper. These products have a extremely high potential to clog both the sewer system and the equipment within the Wastewater Treatment Plant. 

Proper disposal

These items should be placed in your household garbage or grey bin.

Personal Toiletries

Personal toiletries are often placed down household drains and toilets because they are in such small quantities. These items however, have the potential to build up in low areas throughout the drainage systems and block the wastewater flow. 

These items include, but are not limited to:

• Dental Floss
• Cotton Swabs
• Cotton Balls
• Condoms
• Contact Lenses

Proper disposal

Personal care items should be disposed of in your household garbage or grey bin.

Paper towels are similar to feminine hygiene products in that they are designed to absorb liquids with their strong fibres. These towels do not break down easily in water. These items are not intended to be placed down your toilet system as they have the potential to clog the sewer system. 

Proper disposal

These items should be placed in your green bin. They can also be reused multiple times before they are thrown away. 

Cleaning products are okay to be washed down your drains and toilets in small quantities. When residents spray their sinks, clean their floors, or sanitize their toilets, small amounts of cleaning products are washed down their plumbing systems, and that's OK! 

When large quantities are disposed of down your household plumbing systems, an issue is created. More often than not, chemicals which are found in cleaning supplies are untreatable in the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Similar to medications, when undesirable liquids are placed in your drains and are unable to be treated, they are released back into the North Saskatchewan River and become hazards for animals and other municipalities downstream. 

The general rule of thumb when disposing of cleaning products is, if it is less than one cup (250 mL) it is okay to go down your drains. Anything more than that should be disposed of properly.

Proper disposal

Cleaning supplies should be stored in a safe place away from all children and environmental hazards, such as heat, and can be taken to the City's annual Household Hazardous Waste Round-Up event.

Paint, paint thinner and pesticides are commonly placed down household drains because they are liquids; however not all liquids should be disposed of in your drain systems.

When chemical based liquids such as these are disposed of in your systems they have the potential to release hazardous odours into both your house and the Wastewater Treatment Plant. These odours are dangerous for your family as well as the City's Environmental Team. In addition, when these chemicals are released into your drainage systems they are sent to the Wastewater Treatment Plant where the paint has the ability to become sludge. It can then clog the Plant's equipment, while the liquids remain in the water and are passed to the lagoons. When dangerous chemicals are added to the waste lagoons they are unable to be treated and are then released into the natural water supply. These have negative effects on animals in the North Saskatchewan River and the habitats in which they reside. 

Proper disposal

Cleaning supplies should be stored in a safe place away from all children and environmental hazards, such as heat, and can be taken to the City's annual Household Hazardous Waste Round-Up event.