What is US F.O.G. Alliance?
US F.O.G. Alliance is a non-profit organization created and designed to bring together industry professionals that have experience and expertise within the handling and management of food grade fats, oils and grease. We are comprised of industry professionals throughout the United States. We welcome a wide range of individuals with various expertise to our alliance. This allows members to share information and experiences by networking throughout our expansive resources of knowledge and expertise.
Our Mission
USFOGA is dedicated to advancing national education, certification, collaboration, and operational standards for responsible fats, oils, and grease management in order to protect infrastructure, support municipalities, strengthen industry professionalism, and promote environmental responsibility.
Our Vision
To create a nationally unified and professionally recognized fats, oils, and grease industry built on education, accountability, collaboration, and operational excellence.
Core Values
Collaboration
We believe lasting progress is achieved when municipalities, industry professionals, service providers, and commercial organizations work together toward shared solutions.
Education
We are committed to advancing knowledge, training, and professional development that improve fats, oils, and grease management across all levels of the industry.
Integrity
We promote honest communication, ethical practices, accountability, and responsible decision-making in support of the communities and industries we serve.
Operational Excellence
We encourage consistent, measurable, and responsible operational practices that improve compliance, safety, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.
Environmental Responsibility
We support practices that protect infrastructure, wastewater systems, public health, and the environment through responsible fats, oils, and grease management.
Professionalism
We strive to elevate the professionalism, credibility, and recognition of all individuals and organizations serving the fats, oils, and grease industry.
Community
We believe strong communities are built through connection, shared responsibility, and mutual support. USFOGA is committed to fostering relationships between municipalities, industry professionals, commercial organizations, and service providers to encourage collaboration, strengthen local and national networks, and create positive long-term impact through responsible fats, oils, and grease management.
Fats, Oils & Grease (F.O.G.) Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about fats, oils and grease (F.O.G.) management, municipal F.O.G. programs, commercial kitchens, grease interceptors, training, certification, service providers, and USFOGA membership.
What is F.O.G.?
F.O.G. stands for fats, oils, and grease. These materials are commonly generated by restaurants, commercial kitchens, food manufacturers, and other food service operations. When improperly discharged into drains and sewer systems, F.O.G. can accumulate inside pipes and contribute to blockages, backups, sanitary sewer overflows, increased maintenance, and wastewater system problems.
Why is F.O.G. a problem for sewer and wastewater systems?
Fats, oils, and grease can cool, solidify, and accumulate inside sewer lines. Over time, this buildup can restrict wastewater flow and contribute to sewer blockages, backups, overflows, equipment problems, and increased maintenance costs. Effective F.O.G. management helps protect wastewater infrastructure and the communities it serves.
What is a municipal F.O.G. program?
A municipal F.O.G. program is a coordinated approach used by municipalities and wastewater utilities to reduce the amount of fats, oils, and grease entering the sewer system. Programs may include ordinances, inspections, education, grease interceptor requirements, documentation, enforcement, communication, and partnerships with food service establishments and service providers.
Why should a municipality have a F.O.G. program?
A well-managed F.O.G. program can help municipalities prevent sewer blockages and sanitary sewer overflows, protect infrastructure, improve compliance, educate food service establishments, and reduce avoidable maintenance. An effective program provides a consistent framework for managing F.O.G. throughout the community.
What is a F.O.G. ordinance?
A F.O.G. ordinance establishes local requirements for the management and disposal of fats, oils, and grease. Depending on the jurisdiction, an ordinance may address grease interceptors, maintenance schedules, inspections, recordkeeping, waste hauling, prohibited discharges, enforcement, and other F.O.G. management requirements.
Because requirements vary by jurisdiction, businesses should always consult their local municipality or wastewater authority for applicable regulations.
What does a F.O.G. Coordinator do?
A F.O.G. Coordinator may oversee or support a municipality's fats, oils, and grease management program. Responsibilities can include educating food service establishments, conducting or coordinating inspections, reviewing records, communicating requirements, supporting enforcement efforts, working with service providers, and helping improve the effectiveness of the local F.O.G. program.
Does USFOGA offer F.O.G. training and certification?
Yes. USFOGA provides education and training designed to strengthen knowledge of fats, oils, and grease management and support professionals involved in municipal F.O.G. programs and related industries.
USFOGA's training opportunities include its Municipal F.O.G. Coordinator Certification program as well as additional educational opportunities offered throughout the year.
Who should participate in F.O.G. training?
F.O.G. education can benefit municipal F.O.G. coordinators, wastewater professionals, pretreatment personnel, inspectors, public works employees, environmental professionals, restaurant and commercial kitchen operators, service providers, waste haulers, plumbers, manufacturers, vendors, consultants, and others involved in F.O.G. management.
What is the difference between a grease trap and a grease interceptor?
Both are designed to help prevent fats, oils, and grease from entering the sewer system, but their size, design, location, capacity, and maintenance requirements can differ. Requirements and terminology may also vary by jurisdiction.
Facilities should follow manufacturer specifications and applicable local plumbing, sewer, and F.O.G. requirements when selecting, operating, and maintaining grease control equipment.
How often should a grease interceptor be cleaned?
There is no single cleaning schedule that applies to every facility. Cleaning frequency can depend on interceptor size, facility activity, food preparation practices, local regulations, accumulated solids and grease, and other operating conditions.
Commercial kitchens should follow applicable local requirements and maintain their grease control equipment frequently enough to ensure it continues to operate effectively.
What can restaurants and commercial kitchens do to reduce F.O.G.?
Commercial kitchens can reduce F.O.G. entering the wastewater system by following proper disposal procedures, training employees, scraping food and grease from cookware before washing, maintaining grease interceptors, keeping service records, using appropriate waste collection practices, and following local F.O.G. requirements.
Consistent employee education is an important part of an effective F.O.G. management program.
Can fats, oils, and grease be poured down the drain with hot water?
Hot water may temporarily keep some grease in liquid form, but it does not eliminate the grease. As wastewater travels through the sewer system and cools, F.O.G. can solidify or accumulate elsewhere in the system.
F.O.G. should be managed and disposed of according to applicable local requirements rather than intentionally discharged into the drain.
What types of businesses are considered F.O.G. service providers?
F.O.G. service providers may include grease and waste haulers, grease interceptor cleaning companies, plumbers, commercial hood and exhaust cleaning companies, power washing and commercial cleaning companies, wastewater service companies, inspection providers, maintenance contractors, and other businesses that support F.O.G. management.
What is USFOGA?
The U.S. Fats, Oils & Grease Alliance (USFOGA) is an organization focused on advancing education, collaboration, training, resources, and best practices related to fats, oils, and grease management.
USFOGA brings together municipalities, wastewater professionals, commercial food facilities, service providers, manufacturers, vendors, consultants, and other industry stakeholders to help improve F.O.G. management and protect wastewater infrastructure.
Who can become a USFOGA member?
USFOGA membership is designed for organizations and professionals involved in or affected by fats, oils, and grease management. This can include municipalities, wastewater utilities, F.O.G. coordinators, commercial restaurants and kitchens, service providers, manufacturers, vendors, consultants, and other industry professionals.
What are the benefits of joining USFOGA?
Membership benefits may include access to USFOGA events, education and training opportunities, industry resources, newsletters, networking, committee participation, project spotlights, member resources, and opportunities to connect with professionals throughout the F.O.G. industry.
Specific benefits may vary by membership category.
Can USFOGA members become vendors at USFOGA events?
USFOGA members may have opportunities to participate as vendors, exhibitors, or sponsors at eligible events. Vendor and exhibitor opportunities may require separate registration, fees, and approval and are subject to availability.
Membership does not automatically guarantee vendor or exhibitor participation.
How does a company become a USFOGA Partner?
Organizations interested in becoming a USFOGA Partner may be required to complete a separate partnership application and provide information requested by USFOGA.
Partnership applications are reviewed according to USFOGA's partnership requirements. Membership alone does not automatically provide Partner status.
Does USFOGA endorse its members, vendors, or products?
USFOGA membership, event participation, directory inclusion, sponsorship, or vendor participation does not automatically constitute an endorsement of a company, individual, product, or service.
USFOGA's role is to encourage education, collaboration, professional development, and the exchange of information throughout the F.O.G. community.
Does USFOGA host F.O.G. conferences and events?
Yes. USFOGA provides and promotes educational events, training opportunities, industry conferences, networking, and other programs related to fats, oils, and grease management.
USFOGA also shares relevant industry events that may benefit members and F.O.G. professionals.
Where can I find upcoming F.O.G. conferences and training?
Upcoming USFOGA events, F.O.G. conferences, training programs, and relevant industry events can be found on the USFOGA Events page at USFOGA.com.
Some participating conferences and organizations may also offer special registration opportunities or discounts to USFOGA members.
Where can I learn more about F.O.G. management?
USFOGA.com provides educational resources covering municipal F.O.G. programs, ordinances, commercial kitchen practices, wastewater management, training, certification, industry best practices, and other fats, oils, and grease topics.
USFOGA will continue expanding its Resource Center to provide practical information for municipalities, food service facilities, service providers, and other F.O.G. professionals.
How can I get involved with USFOGA?
You can become involved by joining USFOGA, participating in training and events, serving on eligible committees, attending industry programs, contributing educational information, exploring partnership opportunities, or connecting with other members of the F.O.G. community.
Visit USFOGA.com to learn more about membership and current opportunities.