Los Angeles - Today, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez and Los Angeles Sanitation & Environment announced the Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) Pilot Program, an initiative to support street vendors along the Salvadoran Corridor while addressing critical environmental and public health challenges.
Beginning in January 2025, the program will install three heavy-duty grease disposal containers along Vermont Avenue (1101, 1133, and 1159 S. Vermont). These accessible containers will provide street vendors with a safe and convenient way to dispose of cooking byproducts, fostering sustainable practices, protecting waterways, and preventing infrastructure damage caused by improper grease disposal.
Sidewalk vending has been a cornerstone of Los Angeles culture and economy for over a century, providing vital income for immigrant communities and contributing to the city’s vibrant street life. Despite its formal legalization in 2018 and the introduction of a permitting system in January 2020, vendors continue to face challenges adapting to regulatory frameworks designed for traditional businesses—challenges that were only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The FOG Pilot Program offers a practical solution by equipping vendors with resources that simplify compliance while maintaining public health and environmental standards.
“Los Angeles is known worldwide for our vending economy and incredible food culture, but as a City we have not invested in the infrastructure to adequately support vendors or neighborhoods,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. “I am proud to roll out this first-in-nation pilot program to bring an innovative solution to the disposal of cooking oils. My office will be conducting outreach to make sure street vendors are aware of this amazing resource and can take full advantage of it for their businesses."
"Angelenos love street vendors, but our laws, policies, and programs haven't always reflected that love," said Doug Smith, Vice President of Policy and Legal Strategy at Inclusive Action for the City. "In order to strengthen the contributions that vendors make to our economy and our communities, we need policy to be paired with new infrastructure that helps vendors and neighborhoods alike. The FOG pilot program is an example of how the City can lead by investing in critical community infrastructure that promotes both economic justice and public and environmental health."
Addressing Environmental and Public Health Concerns
Baseline studies conducted by LASAN revealed grease concentrations in stormwater runoff from the area as high as 113 mg/L—well above the safety limit of 15 mg/L. E. coli levels were also found to be as high as 160,000 Most Probable Number/100mL, far exceeding the acceptable threshold of 320. These pollutants harm aquatic ecosystems, endanger public health, and lead to costly maintenance and repairs of the city’s storm drain systems.
Without a sustainable disposal solution, grease and food waste could clog storm drains, triggering flooding, traffic disruptions, and expensive repairs. These disruptions can halt vendors’ operations, posing additional challenges to their livelihoods.
"LASAN has designed a before-and-after monitoring program for the runoff from this area, " said Dr. Mas Dojiri, Assistant General Manager, LA Sanitation & Environment. "We have already conducted the before testing and found elevated levels of oil and grease, as well as E.coli bacteria. The after testing should show much lower levels of both, reflecting the effectiveness of this program."
Turning Waste into Opportunity
The FOG Pilot Program addresses these challenges by providing street vendors with practical tools and education to manage waste responsibly:
- Grease disposal containers: Strategically placed along Vermont Avenue to ensure accessibility and ease of use for vendors.
- Educational outreach: Guides and training materials will instruct vendors on proper usage, spill management, and maintaining cleanliness.
The program also creates a circular economy by recycling collected fats and oils into biodiesel and animal feed, transforming environmental hazards into valuable resources. Ongoing monitoring will assess improvements in water quality and the program’s effectiveness in reducing pollution.
"The pilot program will protect the environment by keeping fats, oils, and grease (FOG) from polluting our storm drain system, Ballona Creek, and Santa Monica Bay; and the FOG will be repurposed into biodiesel fuel,” said Barbara Romero, Director and General Manager, LA Sanitation & Environment. “The pilot will give the City the opportunity to provide a safe place for the disposal of FOG material, while allowing us to educate those who utilize it about their role in this critical environmental stewardship."
For more details on the FOG Pilot Program and supporting materials, visit lacitysan.org/fogpilot or click on the following resources:
CLICK HERE for event photos and B-Roll.