CEASE THE GREASE PROJECT A SUCCESS
The year-long "Cease the Grease" project at Baruch Houses is complete. The pilot project was a collaboration between NYCHA and the New York City Department of Environmental protection (DEP) that educates residents about the proper disposal of kitchen grease to improve their internal environment; to avoid costly sewer backups; and to understand the impact on the city's infrastructure. The key lesson learned by the residents was to never pour used cooking oil or grease into any drain in their homes — instead cool it down, seal it, and dispose it with the regular trash.
Two buildings took part in the project — residents at 296-298 Delancey Street got an intensive education on the effects that grease has on the city's sewer system, and the best ways to avoid adding to the problem, including a visit to the city's largest wastewater treatment plant. At the same time, the residents at 70-72 Baruch Drive only received basic information. The buildings were chosen based on recommendations by NYCHA plumbers — the buildings had frequent backups in the past. However, from February 2013 through December 2013, 296-298 Delancey had no sewer stoppages, and at 70-72 Baruch Drive, there only were a few, including two major stoppages within one week of each other in November.
Before the project started, NYCHA vacuumed out the buildings' internal sewer lines. After the project was done, NYCHA took video of the sewer lines to see how they looked. The Baruch Drive building had some large grease chunks lying in the bottom of the sewer pipe that slowed the flow of water, which potentially could create a sewer stoppage. There also was some grease built up on the interior walls of the sewer. The Delancey Street building, where the intensive education was conducted, had a sewer line that was fairly clean with the exception of some grease lining the walls, had no large chunks of grease, and the water was flowing freely.
A new "Cease The Grease" education effort started this spring in Ocean Bay Apartments in Queens. The NYCHA Resident Green Committee there hosted a workshop for residents, and DEP was asked to help raise residents' awareness. Meetings for Ocean Bay residents are expected to be held on a monthly basis.
Grease is not the only scourge of New York City's sewers. Most manufactured brands of baby wipes are not flushable. They should be thrown out with diapers and regular trash. Baby wipes do not break down and dissolve, they build up inside the piping by clinging to chunks of grease or the inside of a sewer fitting. They can keep building up until they form a solid blockage inside the sewer.