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