Louth households urged not to pour grease down the sink this Christmas

Louth households have been urged against pouring fats, greases and oils (FOGs) down the sink this festive period as it could cause blockages.

Uisce Éireann have warned households that FOGs should "never go down the sink" and instead it should be binned.

It is part of the "Think Before You Pour Campaign". 

It advises people, particularly who use air fryers, to let the FOGs cool, before wiping it with kitchen paper and throwing it in the bin. 

It said there has been an improvement with fewer households disposing of FOGs down the sink. A national survey found that 36% of households in 2024 disposed of FOGs in the sink compared to 44% in 2018. 

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Uisce Éireann's Senior Manager for Wastewater and Maintenance, Jonathan Deane said there is a rise in blockages every Christmas. 

"We're appealing to households to take one simple action that protects their home, their community and our environment: keep FOGs out of the sink," he said.

Think Before You Pour Campaign Officer, Patrick Cross said that although FOGs seem harmless, once they reach pipes they can cause "serious disruption".