It’s already been a year of the “In the News” series, where we look and highlight various grease trap related news located in and around the United States. As always, we’re highlighting the various issues that can arise around grease traps, from failing to meet regulation and regular maintenance to grease trap safety and legislation. This time around, we’re covering the importance of certified maintenance, the “Uber for grease traps,” and a new UK association to help prevent fatbergs from forming.
Across the Pond: The UK Forms the Grease Contractors Association to Fight Fatbergs
June 5th: The UK is taking the fight to the fatbergs by establishing the Grease Contractors Association (GCA), an initiative focused on best practices for installation and maintenance of grease traps, including correctly sizing them. Often when we talk about fatbergs, the first place we turn to is the UK where year-after-year a new and more monstrous berg surfaces and causes havoc with their sewer systems. We hope with the GCA helping coordinate, there will be no more fatbergs to talk about.
Estes Park: Unauthorized Grease Trap Services Causes 3,000 Gallons of Headaches
July 14th: In the Colorado town of Estes Park, there was a foul smell throughout the district. The Estes Park Sanitation District suddenly had their water treatment plant bombarded by 3,000 gallons of greasy brown water that had entered the sewers. Tracing them back to the source, they found a dripping storm drain behind the businesses in Upper Stanley Village at a Safeway that had just had its grease traps serviced. Two week later, as grease continues to linger in the plant, they are tracking down the vendor who failed to meet Colorado regulations including a town business license, proof of insurance, on-site superintendent, notification to the town, and cleaning the grease traps after pumping – highlighting the importance of working with a licensed vendor.
Kansas City: Using Big Data to Empower Contractors and Track Grease Overflows
August 27th: There’s a man in Mississippi named Luke Ismert who has a dream. A dream where big data can help make the world a cleaner and less smelly place. Luke, who is a plumber and a son of plumbers, has created an app called Snorkel for grease trap contractors, allowing them to collect and share data about the grease traps they service with the government to help track and enforce grease trap cleanings. Just like with Uber, the contractors are grading the restaurant’s grease traps (such as condition, amount of sediment or floating grease, underfilled or overfilled) while the restaurants can also rate the contractors to help others find grease trap service easier. Another win for technology in Kansas City.
While it’s a new year for the grease trap news, the stories are often the same. Grease traps problems keep popping up in the news. Make sure your restaurant doesn’t. Food Grease Trappers are experts in the field of grease trap maintenance and waste vegetable oil (WVO) collections for the foodservice industry, and we have been doing so for over 20 years. If you need assistance with your grease trap in New England, make sure to contact us.
