Two men were arrested after being caught pouring cooking grease into a storm drain (an illegal practice) after the Miami-Dade Department of Environmental Resources Management received an anonymous tip and launched an investigation, WTVJ reported.
The men admitted to improperly removing grease, similar to a recent case in Texas, and said it was common practice at the restaurant where they both worked. Both men were charged with the environmental crime of intentional contempt.
Pouring cooking grease down a storm drain, as one homeowner discovered his neighbor was doing, is illegal because it can cause serious plumbing problems and environmental problems. Grease can quickly solidify in pipes and clog entire sewer systems. If a sewage system is blocked, it can cause flooding.
While it may seem easy and harmless to simply pour cooking grease down the drain, it is important to dispose of it properly, whether from a restaurant (especially harmful due to its generally large quantity) or from home. The grease can be recycled at specialized facilities, a great option for restaurants, or simply place it in a container once it cools and dispose of it with regular trash.
Pouring grease down the drain or into the sewer can contaminate water, harm wildlife, and disrupt local ecosystems. If severe enough, blockages can cause raw sewage to spill into waterways and pollute rivers, lakes and oceans. If cooking oil and grease are absorbed into the soil, groundwater contamination can also occur. This affects drinking water supply and irrigation resources, which in turn affects human health.
Grease can travel hundreds of kilometers through water and not only cause problems in the local area where it is dumped, but also in distant ecosystems.
Oil and grease can also affect wildlife, coating fur and feathers and causing immobility, suffocation or hypothermia. Improperly dumped grease can suffocate aquatic plants, upsetting the balance of the ecosystem by threatening a food source for other marine life.
Unfortunately, it is common for restaurants and homes to dispose of cooking grease incorrectly.
By properly disposing of cooking oil and grease, we can help protect the environment and avoid legal consequences. By staying informed and taking local action against those who violate environmental laws, we can support our local ecosystems and the environment as a whole.
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