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Published On: 9 January 2017Categories: Latest News, Plumbing

If you live in Calgary, you’re probably aware that composting is an awesome way to limit the amount of waste that heads to landfills. What you might not know is that Calgary’s green cart services (rolling out spring-fall 2017) is one of the most inclusive and rigorous systems in all of Canada. That’s great news because it means you can stop rinsing food scraps down the drain (which you shouldn’t have been doing in the first place) and start composting them!

Scrape Dishes.

Whether you’re a strict vegan or a steak and potatoes kind of Albertan, all of your food scraps from the leftover salad to the chicken bones should be dumped into your green cart. Even things like paper plates, paper napkins, and your coffee filter can go into the compost. So before you bring your plates to the sink, have everyone scrape them thoroughly into your compost bin. Even grandma’s toothpick can be tossed in!

Compost the Grease Too!

Grease creates terrible plugs in drains across Calgary. If you have a clogged kitchen sink, grease, lards, and sauces are probably a big contributing factor to that. But no longer! Come spring, all of that food waste can also go into your green cart. So just like dinner dishes, remember to thoroughly scrape all of your cookware and baking dishes. Fry bacon? Drain the (cooled) grease into the compost. Sauce coating the edges of your pot? Use a spatula to scrape unwanted leftovers into the bin. Not only will you save your drains, you’ll be helping to create soil!

Throw Away Drain Cleaners.

There are a lot of drain cleaners out there that promise to unclog sink pipes and bathtubs, but the vast majority of these cleaners aren’t recommended by plumbers. This is because most of them don’t work very well, and many of these cleaners permanently damage your pipes. Instead, use old fashioned baking soda, vinegar, and hot water. Generously powder the sink with baking soda, follow up with 2-3 cups of vinegar, and finish with 2L of freshly boiled water. This should melt any build up so that the drain works again. If it doesn’t, you’ll need professional help to clear the pipes. Fortunately, if you remember to scrape all your dishes and cookware, you may find your kitchen sink just doesn’t clog up like it used to.

There are a lot of great New Year Resolutions out there. You may want to go to the gym or write a book or make all your meals at home. Regardless of what your big goal for 2017 is, try and remember to compost your food waste. It’s better for your plumbing and for the planet. If you have any questions about having your drains cleaned or plumbing in general, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (403) 452-2911.

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