Where Is the London Fatberg?

By Alice Nichols

The London Fatberg is a monstrous mass of fat, oil, grease, and other non-biodegradable waste that clogs the city’s sewers. It first made headlines in 2017 when it was discovered in the Whitechapel area of East London.

The fatberg was estimated to be as large as a double-decker bus and weighed over 130 tonnes. It took Thames Water workers over three weeks to remove the blockage manually.

Since then, there have been several other fatbergs found in different parts of London, but none have been as massive or as infamous as the original Whitechapel Fatberg. So, where is the London Fatberg now?

Well, after its removal from the sewers, parts of the fatberg were sent for analysis and research purposes. Scientists were particularly interested in studying the bacteria present in the mass and how they could potentially be used to break down similar waste products.

Other portions of the fatberg were sent to be turned into biofuel. The oil extracted from the fat and grease could be converted into biodiesel or used for energy production.

However, not all of the fatberg was put to good use. Some pieces were put on display in museums and exhibitions across London. The Museum of London even had a section dedicated to showcasing a piece of the Whitechapel Fatberg.

As for the rest of it? Well, unfortunately, most of it was disposed of in landfills. While efforts were made to repurpose some parts of it, there simply wasn’t enough demand or capacity to make use of all 130 tonnes.

The discovery and removal of the London Fatberg brought attention to an important issue – that our cities’ sewer systems are not equipped to handle large amounts of non-biodegradable waste products like fats and oils. Since then, measures have been taken to prevent similar blockages from occurring again.

Restaurants and food establishments are required by law to dispose of their waste properly, and residents are encouraged to dispose of their cooking fats and oils in sealed containers rather than pouring them down the drain.

In conclusion, while the London Fatberg may no longer exist as a single mass, its legacy lives on. It serves as a reminder that we need to be mindful of what we put down our drains and how we dispose of our waste. With small changes in our behavior, we can prevent future fatbergs from forming and keep our sewer systems running smoothly.