About Grease Hero

The Grease Hero built out of a personal need—Shawn Santos, owner of multifamily rental units, had a recurring problem: plumbing pipes clogged with fats, oils and grease (FOG) that had been poured down drains; “I needed to educate tenants.” His father was a plumber and from a young age Shawn tagged along with him on his various plumbing calls, with this hands-on education he had extensive knowledge on the issues and dangers of grease-clogged pipes. “It can turn a 4-inch pipe into a 2-inch pipe.” He also knew that much of that oil ends up in Hawaii’s waterways and, eventually, the ocean. The Grease Hero was developed to help people properly dispose of cooking fats, oils and grease (FOG); however, protecting the environment has always been the mission. FOG clogs are dangerous for both people and animals. When FOG makes its way into waterways, lakes, streams, fresh water supplies and the ocean through raw sewage overflows we are all at risk. Aside from health risks to humans – animals and ecosystems are also put in danger by sewage overflows. A key concern with sewage overflows that enter rivers, lakes, streams, or wetlands is their effect on water quality. The environmental impacts of sewage include hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, habitat degradation, floating debris, and impacts to threatened or endangered speciesRead their story