Yorkshire water warning over pouring oil down the sink

The company say ‘bin it, don’t block it’ this Christmas

Author: Kathy GreenPublished 24th Dec 2023

If you're on Christmas dinner duty tomorrow Yorkshire Water are urging you not to pour fats and oils down the sink because it causes a big risk of blocked pipes.

The company's dealt with 27,000 blockages in our region this year 1677 of those were in York and 403 in Harrogate.

The company also revealed some of the most bizarre blockages.

James Harrison's from Yorkshire Water and advises what you should do instead: "That traditional Christmas dinner can produce an awful lot of waste, fats, oils and grease and it's really important they don't go down the kitchen sink. As they go down the pipes they can solidify and cause a real risk of blockage."

"Bin it, not block it"

Ben Roche, director of wastewater at Yorkshire Water, said: “We’re urging people to really consider what they flush and pour down their drains this Christmas season."

“It’s always best to bin it, not block it. The next time you go to pour away any oil from your Christmas turkey or your roasties, make sure it goes in the bin rather than down the drain. Once inside the pipes, fats and oils build up and cause blockages that can stop your wastewater moving away from your house – even if you use boiling water.”

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