Grease traps are an essential part of any food service business and have been around since the 1800s. The metal or concrete tank takes the wastewater and FOGS (Fat, Oils, Grease, Solids) and separates the FOGS from the water until it needs to be pumped out of the grease trap by a certified liquid waste hauler. Because of the thousands of gallons of FOGS that restaurants produce, having a functional grease trap is a necessary component of a working restaurant that protects the environment as well as the community. So what if you don’t have a grease trap?
Not Having a Grease Trap is Bad for the Environment
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, roughly 3 to 10 billion gallons of sewage that unfortunately spills annually, 50% is estimated to come from grease blockages from either a non-functioning grease trap, or not having one at all. The environment can suffer by not disposing of the brown grease properly and the solution of installing a grease trap is not as difficult as one may think. Grease traps do require maintenance in order to keep up to date with standards as well as to pump them out. Depending on the size of the grease trap, best practices include regular inspections for defects, ensuring proper use, and a professional clean out every 1-3 months or when the trap reaches one-fourth of its contents with FOGS. See these examples of what happens when grease traps are not well maintained and are overdue for service.
Lacking a Grease Trap Can Be Dangerous and Expensive
By not properly disposing of the fat and grease with a grease trap, the discarded FOGS will harden when cooled, sticking to the inside of sewer pipes. This leads to sewer overflows in both streets and parking lots, which can be dangerous and slippery to both cars and people. Complications can also arise with clogged drains because the foul smell from the overflowing waste can take away business for a restaurant or any food service establishment as well as wasted time from a backed up sink. Don’t let FOG keep you from seeing the importance of grease traps.
Why it May Be Illegal to Not Have a Grease Trap
Disposing of grease unethically is not only bad for the environment and dangerous, it is also illegal and can be a serious problem to a community. A helpful resource can be to find your city’s ordinances to see what regulations your city requires for your restaurant. Restaurants can also be fined by government agencies and any overflow of FOGS can be highly expensive to clean. Don’t risk safety, health, or business by not investing in a grease trap for your restaurant.
At Food Grease Trappers we are dedicated to providing a safer and healthier environment for your restaurant and customers. With two decades of experience and a desire to pursue environmentally beneficial methods, we would be happy to connect with you and answer any questions you may have about your current grease trap or how to install and maintain grease traps for your restaurant. We would love to offer a free quote
