Metro Vancouver Removes 50 Tonnes of 'Fatbergs' from Richmond Sewers

Metro Vancouver crews have removed around 50 tonnes of hardened fat deposits, known as fatbergs, from sewers in Richmond, B.C., prompting officials to urge residents to stop pouring grease down the drain. Dana Zheng, a program manager with Metro Vancouver, said the accumulation of grease has been a recurring issue, but the problem reached a critical point this summer.

"The grease buildup became so severe that it broke off in chunks and damaged the Lulu Island Wastewater Treatment Plant," said Zheng, noting the damage cost about $25,000 to repair. She added that fatbergs can cause serious damage to infrastructure, leading to expensive repairs and even sewer backups that send raw sewage into homes and businesses.

The cleanup has been ongoing for the last three months, costing the district nearly $1 million so far. Crews have used high-pressure water jets and vacuum trucks to remove the mounds of solidified fat. Richmond’s flat terrain has made it a hotspot for grease buildup, as the slower-moving sewage allows fats and oils to settle and harden inside the pipes.

Metro Vancouver is reminding residents to dispose of fats, oils, and grease in their green bins rather than down the drain. "While it may seem like a small amount of grease going down the drain, it accumulates over time," Zheng warned.

Practical tips include freezing cooking oils before composting them to control odors and storing bacon drippings in containers to avoid clogging pipes. The district also promotes its "Wipe it, Green Bin it" campaign to raise awareness about the financial and environmental costs of improper grease disposal.

Metro Vancouver estimates it spends over $2.7 million annually to address grease-related damage across the region.