Houston Regional Group - News

At the beginning of May the Houston City Council passed the long- delayed fats, oils, and grease (FOG) ordinance. The ordinance had been under consideration for over a year before it finally passed. The Houston Sierra Club testified at the City Council Environment and Health Committee in favor of the ordinance and then did the same twice before City Council. The Houston Sierra Club also visited and lobbied several City Council Members on behalf of the ordinance.

The ordinance requires that those who have grease traps pay a $50 permit fee; clean-out (maintain) the traps quarterly or meet a waiver to clean-out the traps twice a year; implement a manifest system to track FOG from generator to transporter to disposal site; and fund a compliance inspection and enforcement program. The ordinance will reduce blockages of sewer pipes; stop unsafe overflows of sewage into streets and streams; and save the City of Houston $100,000's each year.

In particular kudos to Mayor White and his staff for pushing the ordinance; Jeff Taylor of the Public Works and Engineering Department for ensuring that back-up information was available in support of the ordinance; Council Member Alvarado for keeping the ordinance in political play; and Council Member Clutterbuck for writing a positively glowing article for the Southwest News in favor of FOG.

We all won one for clean water. Celebrate!!!

July 2007

Last updated:  06/02/2007.   Content © 1999-2007 by the Sierra Club.