| grease and food wastes every day. If this | | | | grease traps and periodic maintenance and |
| waste is not managed properly, it can cause | | | | inspections for specified businesses. This is |
| major environmental problems. Much of the | | | | because untrapped oil and grease in the |
| waste is in solid form and can be safely put | | | | wastewater decreases pipe capacity over time |
| in packages and placed in the trash. Liquid | | | | and eventually will cause the pipe to clog. |
| waste containing oil and grease dumped | | | | Piping systems without grease traps need to |
| directly into the sewer, however, can block | | | | be cleaned more often and some piping may |
| the system and cause wastewater to flow | | | | have to be replaced sooner than otherwise |
| back-up .To avoid this you have to install | | | | expected. Excessive grease sent to the |
| and properly maintain a grease trap. | | | | wastewater treatment plant can also overload |
| | | | their system and cause the facility to exceed |
| Grease traps capture the oil and grease from | | | | its allowable discharge limits. Running |
| the flow of wastewater by slowing down the | | | | extremely hot water down the drain only moves |
| flow of hot greasy water through the grease | | | | the problem down stream, and may only make it |
| trap (actually a tank) and allowing it to | | | | worse. Fixing a sewer line blockage can be |
| cool. As it cools, the grease and oil | | | | expensive, both in terms of potentially lost |
| separate out of the water and float to the | | | | customers and repair cost. If the pipe clog |
| top of the trap. The cooler water continues | | | | is within your building sewer line, you will |
| to flow down the drain pipe to the sewer | | | | be responsible for fixing the problem and |
| while baffles prevent the accumulated grease | | | | paying all costs. If the clog is in the |
| and oil from flowing out of the grease trap. | | | | public sewer line, but can be traced to your |
| The size of the grease trap depends largely | | | | restaurant, you will be liable for paying all |
| on how much waste your business produces and | | | | or a portion of the repair costs. |
| how often you perform trap maintenance. | | | | Accumulating the oil and grease close to the |
| Grease traps may be located inside or outside | | | | source in a properly maintained grease trap |
| of the building. Traps that are located | | | | is the most cost-effective way. |
| inside the building tend to be smaller and | | | | |
| require more frequent maintenance. Traps that | | | | There are several ways to maintain a grease |
| are located outside the building tend to be | | | | trap and dispose of the wastes. Your decision |
| larger and may be less disruptive to | | | | will likely be based on cost, availability of |
| maintain. Outside grease traps will operate | | | | services, and disposal/ recycling |
| differently in winter versus summer and are | | | | opportunities in your area. Most restaurants |
| more prone to clogging during cold weather. | | | | hire a professional pumping service to remove |
| As a business owner/manager, you should know | | | | the waste from the grease trap and dispose of |
| where the grease trap, drain lines, and | | | | it properly. Some areas have service |
| clean-outs are located at your restaurant. | | | | companies that specialize in grease trap |
| | | | wastes, while other areas may have pumping |
| Proper cleaning and maintenance of the grease | | | | contractors that service grease traps, sand |
| trap and drain line reduces the amount of | | | | traps, and septic tanks. Pumping service |
| solids and grease going into the public sewer | | | | contractors can usually be found in the |
| system and minimizes the likelihood of | | | | yellow pages of the telephone book under the |
| back-ups or blockages. Some sanitation | | | | listings for "Grease Traps and Service", |
| districts and/or municipalities require | | | | "Septic Tanks". |