Water companies across the UK have joined forces with two leading supermarkets to tackle the problem of festive fats like cooking fat, oil and grease being poured down kitchen sinks.
The behaviour causes thousands of sewer blockages every year – the resulting blockages can lead to flooding inside homes and businesses and are expensive to clear - money that could be saved on customers’ bills.
The water companies are now working with the two supermarkets on a joint to give away free fat traps and fat funnels to people pre-ordering their turkey or roast from Waitrose, or Sainsbury’s this Christmas.
The traps and funnels can be used to collect waste fat, oil and grease for recycling or disposal via the bin.
Paul Crewe, Head of Sustainability for Sainsbury’s, commented:
“We’re proud to be distributing over 130,000 fat traps and funnels nationwide this year. As well as keeping Britain’s waste water network flowing, the cooking oil and fat captured from your roast this Christmas could be turned into bio-fuel to power vehicles.’
Quentin Clark, Waitrose’s Head of Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing, added: “Fat in the sewers is a big problem, particularly at this time of year. Here at Waitrose, we are committed to supporting local communities and helping to reduce this problem across the country.
“By encouraging our customers to use our free fat-traps, we can dramatically cut the percentage of damage caused to drains by fat, oil and grease”
Free fat traps will be available, while stocks last, at participating Waitrose stores. Sainsbury’s will be sending out 130,000 fat traps and funnels with online deliveries.
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