Unclog the FOG: Mixing Facts, Fun, and Flash for a Community Outreach Program on Fats, Oils, and Grease

In the water/wastewater industry, the acronym FOG (fats, oil, and grease) brings up images of overflows, extra maintenance on pipes, and potential payouts for property damage. Many communities have ordinances in place that have helped them get a handle on FOG from restaurants and businesses. But often the challenge is getting residents to do their part by changing their habits in the kitchen. Information on FOG is often buried on a utility's website or is listed under the Industrial Pretreatment Program making it difficult for the general public to find.The Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources (DWR) chose to create a branded outreach program that took a fun approach to educating the public. “Unclog the FOG” incorporates FOG “characters” into a content-rich website and support materials geared toward different audiences. The goal is to raise awareness of the program and the role everyone plays in preventing FOG by creating something that stands out and is easily accessible by the public. Everything ties into each other to help build a consistent message so the community can understand its role in unclogging the FOG and have fun while they're learning.