With the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaching, the Arlington Water Utilities Department wants to remind residents to prevent backed-up sanitary sewers and clogged pipes by properly disposing of fats, oils and grease.

Residents should not place meat fats, cooking oil, butter- and margarine-based goods, or dairy products down drains and garbage disposals. Grease can build up and eventually block sewer pipes, causing overflows into homes or neighborhoods, according to Water Resource Manager Joe Gildersleeve.

Survive your holiday "plumber-free' by following our tips to cease the grease.

Do:

• Use a paper towel to soak up small amounts of cooking oil before placing in garbage.
• Store small amounts of grease mixed with coffee grounds or kitty litter in a sealed container and throw away when full.
• Table scraps can be placed in the garbage. Smaller food items rinsed from utensils can be caught for disposal in the trash with the use of drain baskets and strainers. Food items such as vegetables and fruit can be placed in a backyard composting pile.
• Recycle large amounts of used cooking oil. Large amounts of cooking oil from fried turkeys can be taken to the Tierra Verde Golf Course, 7005 Golf Club, on December 1, from 8 a.m. through Noon. The golf course will then recycle the used cooking oil to create biodiesel to fuel its lawnmowers.

Do Not:

• Pour fats, oils and grease directly into the drain.
• Dispose of fats, oils and grease down the garbage disposal.
• Use soap or hot water to rinse fats, oils and grease into your drain.