LATHAM, N.Y. (WRGB) — A McDonald’s crew member was caught on camera dumping cooking oil and grease into Latham’s stormwater system. Some watering systems may be affected if not repaired.
A customer took the photos while eating in the McDonald’s parking lot on Route 9 Thursday evening. Colonie Town Supervisor Peter Crummey confirmed the crew member threw grease where it didn’t belong.
“It’s harmful to the environment and it’s not an appropriate substance to put into our storm water system. They’re going to have to clean it up. And it not only comes into that, it started in a city system where they put it, but it also flows into the state system along Highway 9,” Crummey said.
The customer stated that he had informed DEC. CBS6’s Anthony Krolikowski spoke with the McDonald’s regional supervisor who said a DEC agent came and said the water system needed to be cleaned by Monday. The supervisor added that the container was full of grease and instead of calling the 1-800 number to retrieve it, the crew member threw it away.
Colonie Public Works Commissioner Chrétien Voerg said contaminated liquid waste, including grease, should be discharged through the sanitary sewer system, which is treated at a wastewater treatment plant before being discharged. The McDonald’s has sanitary facilities, including toilets and sinks, which are connected in this way. Verge explained that the owner must remediate whatever was dumped and demonstrate it to the city through an inspection.
Illegal disposal of cooking oil down storm drains can impact nearby bodies of water, in this case the Hudson River, and is a violation of the DEC Environmental Conservation Act. There is currently no immediate threat to public health and environmental impacts are minimal. The DEC investigation is ongoing.
Colonie city officials are focused on repairs. Legal action may be taken if the waste is not cleaned up, but the area supervisor said someone was hired to do the job Monday. To report a spill, call DEC’s 24/7 dispatch line at 1-844-DEC-ECOS (1-844-332-3267).
Gn bussni
