Christmas is almost here and millions of people will soon be preparing the biggest roast dinner of the year. Unfortunately, our beaches can suffer as a result due to the huge volume of fats, oils and greases (FOGs) poured down kitchen sinks. When FOGs are poured down sinks or drains, they quickly cool and congeal on sewer walls, restricting the amount of sewage the system can process resulting in raw sewage overflows into rivers, the sea or, even worse, into our homes.

To highlight this problem, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) and the Environment Agency are teaming up to launch the new FOGS campaign – Protect Your Beaches, Stop Pouring Fats, Oils and Greases – this Christmas to remind the public that simple actions in our kitchens can help protect the beach environment and coastline. 

The UK Water industry estimates there are 150,000 sewer blockages caused by FOGs being poured down the sink. These blockages can result in sewage discharges from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) at many popular beaches across Cornwall.

The new FOGs campaign, Protect Your Beaches, Stop Pouring Fats, Oils and Greases was launched to business communities in Seaton and East Looe in Cornwall, which are both failing basic European water quality standards in part due to fats, oils and greases in the system. In early December SAS distributed FOGs posters, leaflets & stickers packed full of handy hints and top tips to help businesses manage their kitchen, protect local beaches and improve water quality at over 150 local businesses.

SAS is now inviting the public to help play their part. For a free Protect Your Beaches, Stop Poring Fats, Oils and Greases resource pack simply email info [at] sas [dot] org [dot] uk or call 01872 553 001. Seaton and East Looe are now best placed to adopt simple actions in household and commercial kitchens to help protect local beaches and improve water quality.