The tip of the Fatberg...

What happens when fatty grease combines with some non-degradable sanitary product? That’s right, a fatberg. Fatbergs can become as strong as concrete and can grow big enough to clog up whole sewer systems. The largest fatberg was discovered growing under London’s sewer systems, all 143 tons of it choking a 820 ft section of piping.¹

Fatbergs are preventable. By throwing away cooking oil in the trash and not down the drain you prevent the oil from congealing and hardening inside the pipes. So don’t throw cooking oil down the drain. Instead, wait until the oil solidifies and then throw it away. If the oil is still a liquid, put it inside of a container and throw the entire thing away. Flush only toilet paper down the drain and throw wet wipes, condoms, and sanitary napkins into the trash.

In high school for 6 weeks I stayed in Japan on a foreign exchange. After one particular dinner I observed my host family taking small pieces of cloth and wiping down each plate before placing it in their small tabletop dishwasher. I believe they were on to something here. 
 

1.     http://www.businessinsider.com/this-130-tonne-fatberg-has-been-discovered-under-the-streets-of-east-london-2017-9. Accessed Sept 26, 2017.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/10-tonne-fatberg-removed-from-west-london-sewer-after-causing-400000-worth-of-damage-10194474.html