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Protect Your Property and the Monterey Bay from Sewage

Backups and Overfl ows!

Kitchen grease and solids in sewer lines can cause sewage overfl ows in the street. They can also clog sink drains and cause backups in your home. Prevent sewer spills and backups by following these simple steps:

• Pour or scrape cooled fats, oils and grease into a covered, disposable container and throw it into your garbage. Never pour fats, oils or grease down sink drains or toilets.

• Soak up remaining oils and grease with an absorbent material such as paper towels.

• Do not push large amounts of food into your garbage disposal. Scrape leftover food scraps into your garbage or compost.

• Use sink strainers to catch any remaining food waste while doing dishes.

• Drain cleaning chemicals such as liquid plumbing products, lye, and bleach can harm pipes. To clear a clog, snake the line or use a plunger.

in the

kitchen

• Do not push large amounts

• Use sink strainers to catch any remaining food waste

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE!Many household products are considered hazardous. Leftover paint, paint thinner, automotive chemicals or any product that has a CAUTION-WARNING-DANGER-POISON label should never be poured down the drain. Instead, bring these materials to a household hazardous waste drop-off facility. It’s free to County residents. For more information call 831-454-2606 or visit santacruzcountyrecycles.org.

Note: It is illegal to dispose of household hazardous waste in the sewer, garbage, on soil or in storm drains. ©

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Kitchen grease and solids in sewer lines can cause sewage overfl ows in the street. They can also clog sink drains and cause backups in your home. Prevent sewer spills and backups by following these

• Pour or scrape cooled fats, oils and grease into a covered, disposable container and throw it into

Never pour fats, oils or grease

kitchen

CLOG

An overfl owing toilet can ruin your home in an instant!

Baby & facial wipes Diapers

Tampons, maxi pads & their applicators/

wrappers

Bandages & sticker backs

Cleaning wipes

Whitening strips & their wrappers

Cleaning wipes

Whitening strips & their wrappers

Cotton swabs & makeup pads

Dental fl oss Hair

Just a small amount of household waste fl ushed down the toilet (or dumped down the drain or garbage disposal) can clog pipes and cause expensive sewer backups in your home, on your property and throughout our community.

AVOID SEWER BACKUPS BY KEEPING THIS STUFF OUT OF YOUR TOILET!

Kitty litter

Take unused prescription drugs, over the counter

medicines and used sharps to free collection sites.

Call 831-454-2160 or visit www.sharpmedsolutions.org for locations.Condoms &

their wrappers

Photo illustration © 2013 Goldstreet Design Agency, Inc.

Did you know?“Flushable Wipes” clog sewer pipes and cause sewer backups in our community? That’s right, even if the package says “fl ushable,” NEVER fl ush them. They belong in the trash.

If you see a sewer spill in the street or fl owing into a water body please call the Sanitation District at 831-477-3907.