The Latest in FOG News

It’s long been known that the place to dispose of fats, oil, and grease for private individuals or small businesses is not down the kitchen sink or other plumbing, whether that plumbing is connected to a sewer system or a septic system. And yet, the issue of FOG (fats, oil, and grease) clogging up wastewater systems remains a worldwide issue. 

For those involved in the wastewater field, the unpleasant reality of FOG buildup and the massive fatbergs it can lead to is part of day-to-day life, and it probably isn’t something anyone wants to spend more time thinking about than necessary. But widely sharing the stories of why FOG pollution is such an issue might be one of the best things we can do to help homeowners and industries to reverse the tide of inappropriate substances flushing into wastewater systems. And, as technology advances, more and more technological solutions for FOG management are being explored!

In this post, we’ve collected links to recent news stories covering FOG challenges in municipal sewer systems, both domestically and internationally. Consider sharing them with people you meet who might not know why they shouldn’t put bacon grease down the drain or flush their wet wipes, and find some hope in the pursuit of technological fixes!

What are fatbergs and why are they a problem?

• Beneath the surface: the rise of fatbergs and the cost of what we flush away | Smart Water Magazine, 3/20/2026
• Burger King worker caught red-handed pouring gallons of grease into storm sewer. How fatbergs cost U.S. taxpayers millions | MoneyWise, 4/28/2026

Recent FOG stories in the United States

• Tyler targets fats, oils, grease as leading cause of sewer backups (video) | KLTV, 5/25/2026
• The price of grease disposal going up for Evansville restaurants | 14 News, 5/4/2026
• Guam Waterworks Authority seeks changes to fat, oil and grease disposal program | Guam Daily Post, 3/6/2026

“Supersized” 2026 fatberg in Sydney

• Supersized fatberg clogging Sydney sewer blamed for mysterious debris balls on beach | Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2/10/2026
• Sydney Water blames food outlets for illegally adding to fatberg. But restaurants say ‘if it’s a problem, it’s their problem’ | The Guardian, 1/26/2026
• Behind this door is the huge fatberg that can’t stop depositing poo balls on Sydney’s beaches | The Guardian, 4/9/2026
• Engineering a solution to Sydney’s fatberg crisis | Engineers Australia, 3/5/2026

Fatbergs in London

• How oil collection keeps London’s kitchens running smoothly | London Post, 6/19/2026
• Alan Carr plunged into crisis as workmen make shocking discovery under his multi-million pound home | The Sun, 4/10/2026
• Heathrow Airport sewer produces 500-metre fatberg | London Now, 3/20/2026
• New 100 tonne fatberg uncovered in Whitechapel, dubbed ‘the grandchild’ of the 2017 fatberg | Water Magazine, 12/23/2025
• The world’s largest city museum is opening in London this year with more than seven million objects on display — featuring Banksy, Roman treasures and the Whitechapel Fatberg | Secret London, 6/18/2026 

Solutions on the rise

• ‘Fatbergs’ are taking over city sewers — scientists are fighting back | BBC, 5/12/2026
• Yorkshire Water completes trials of ‘fatberg’ buster | The Press, 6/3/2026
• Southern Water uses AI to prevent pollution in Hampshire | Hampshire Chronicle, 4/29/2026
• Miami-Dade launches $300,000 search for water tech solutions | Smart Water Magazine, 5/25/2026

Prior coverage of FOG at the WaterOperator.org blog

• FOG in Sewer Systems vs. Septic Systems
• Flushable Wipes: The Bane of the Wastewater Industry
• Fatbergs, the Icebergs of a Wastewater Collection System

FOG in Sewer Systems vs. Septic Systems

The use of FOG (fats, oils, and grease) in the average household typically cannot be avoided. Once these substances are rinsed or flushed down the drain, they have the potential to build up and create blockages within the pipes of the home. When these clogs form they can cause a variety of problems like: raw sewage backing up into the property, basement flooding, raw sewage overflowing into public spaces like parks, streets, rivers, etc., and increased maintenance costs to clean and repair damaged pipes.

It is important to make sure that community members are educated on ways to avoid the damage that can be done when these substances are not handled properly. Here are some ways you can educate the public on FOG:

Dos and Don’ts 

• Consider providing a dos and don’ts list, pamphlet, or flyer to community members outlining best practices for handling FOG substances. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) created a poster that does this well.
• For outreach to non-community water systems, specifically restaurants, there are resources that can be provided like this FOG Toolkit from the National Restaurant Association’s Conserve Program. You can also collaborate with your local health department on educational materials to distribute.

Recycle

• If your area has a Household Hazardous Waste program that accepts used cooking oil, provide the contact information to community members or consider hosting a collection event. For an example of how to provide this resource, TCEQ has a webpage with more information. If there is no program available, contact your local Solid Waste Authority for specifics on their recycling program.

SepticSmart

• For homeowners that use septic systems, provide information about EPA’s SepticSmart program. Not only does this program include insights on how FOG impacts a septic system, but it also provides valuable information on general septic maintenance.

Videos

• Nobody forgets the first time they see a "fatberg" and it can be helpful to trigger awareness and a potential behavior change. There are plenty of videos online so choose one that best represents your system to share with utility customers.

Providing resources like the ones above will help to ensure your ratepayers understand the importance of these best practices.