A water company, fed up with fats clogging the drains, has backed a national competition for people from across the UK catering industry to put their artistic skills to the test and submit their greasy sculptures to 'Works in Fat' at the trade show Hospitality 2009, held at Birmingham's NEC --- all in the name of artistry and promoting a green message.

Works in Fat is one of the biggest events of its kind, with 200 food industry competitors from across the UK battling it out.

The competition, featuring sculptures made from lard, is being sponsored by Anglian Water as part of a campaign to raise awareness about potential pollution caused by the incorrect disposal of waste fats, oils and grease in sewers.

Collette Nicholls, of Anglian Water, said: “Pollution which results from blockages in the sewer can be devastating for the environment. It is therefore important we do all we can to raise awareness about the issues. The Works in Fat competition is a wonderful way to promote artistic and creative flair whilst also drawing attention to a potentially very serious problem for communities.

“The best and most sustainable way of maintaining a sewer and helping it to do its job is to keep it fat-free. A sewer blocked with fats attracts vermin, causes a terrible stench, and slows down its flow, requiring more use of energy and taking up valuable space, if following flash floods, storm water gets into the sewer.”

Anglian Water has pioneered a partnership scheme working closely with restaurants, takeaways, catering establishments and local authorities to raise awareness about fats, oils and grease (FOG), and promote free waste FOG collection services. It is hoped the scheme will be rolled out across the country to encourage better disposal of waste FOG.

Ten per cent of British sewers are taken up with waste FOG – that’s around 170,000  tonnes – enough to fill 68 Olympic sized swimming pools. If converted into biodiesel, there would be enough to power 130,000 average family cars for a year.

Approximately £20 million is spent on clearing the 200,000 drain and sewer blockages which occur throughout the UK every year. The production of oils and fats for cooking has trebled since the 1960s and around three out of every four sewerage blockages are due to a build up of FOG placed down the sink in catering establishments, restaurants and  pubs as well as homes and industrial outlets. 

Top Fat Busting Tips

* There are so many other ways to dispose of FOG responsibly. Commerical establishments should contact an approved, free, regular and regulated service for the collection of FOG and conversion into biodiesel or biofuel (telephone 0800 6123018).

* Domestic households should dispose of FOG in the dustbin, or collect hard fat from pork, lamb or beef in a tub and make into a tasty feed for birds by adding seeds, nuts, oatmeal and dried fruit (see the Anglian Water website www.anglianwater.co.uk).

Results form 'Works in Fat' competition at Hospitality 2009

Salon Display Awards
Class JK1 – Works in Fat
Sponsor Anglian Water Services Ltd.

Christopher Zammit, Camilleri Caterers, Eastbourne (gold);
John Berry, NEC (silver);
Michelle Wibowo, Michelle Sugar Art, Burgess Hill (silver);
Palash Gomes, Radisson SAS Hotel, Stansted (silver);
Robert Stordy, University of Derby (bronze);
Jayant Dhawale, Radisson SAS Hotel, Stansted (bronze);
Paneer Elumalai, Accor Novotel Cardiff (merit).

JUNIOR SECTION
Gold           Teal Flanagan         National Exhibition Centre
Bronze        Clare Willett            Bedford College
Bronze        Nicolina Cortiano    Bedford College
Merit           Gina Dart                Bedford College
Merit           Aaron Ullah             Bedford College
Merit           Clare Willett            Bedford College
Merit           Clare Willett            Bedford College
Merit           Richard Gentle       Bedford College
Merit           Dimos Harris           Bedford College

Posted on Environment Times online on 27th January 2009.