Clearing Up the FOG The Price of a Fats, Oils, and Grease Program

Many cities are implementing Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) programs, costing utilities and their sewer users thousands of dollars. The industries in these cities are subject to strict and expensive FOG regulations. A FOG program based on risk rankings can make the costs more reasonable than a one-size-fits-all type of program. A comparative study was conducted for one such program, implemented as a result of an EPA Consent Decree in Winchester, Kentucky, of the costs and benefits to both the food and beverage industry and the utility. Risk ranking, rather than a blanket approach in which all of the facilities are treated as high-risk, made the costs more reasonable for both the utility and the industries in the program.