In the restaurant business, grease is a natural waste product that can pose hazards for the local municipal water systems.
If restaurant grease isn’t properly managed, it can cause harm to the environment. In fact, grease can make its way into plumbing systems and sanitary sewer systems during normal daily tasks, such as washing dishes, cleaning the floors, and sanitizing their equipment.
If you are a sole proprietor or a franchise owner who owns a restaurant within the Johnson County Wastewater Department region, you must follow the agency’s grease management program. The program states that all new food service facilities are required to install an external grease trap, otherwise known as a grease interceptor, that fulfills department’s established criteria. Further, all newer establishments are prohibited from using garbage disposals and interior grease traps.
Exterior Grease Traps
Each municipality has its own laws about grease traps and interceptors. These laws are in place because they want as much waste in foods and solids contained in kitchen wastewater removed before they cause problems in the municipal water system.
Grease traps collect fats, oils, and grease, which are commonly referred to in the restaurant industry as “FOGs.” The grease trap itself is a concrete tank located somewhere outside the food establishment, someplace near the kitchen.
Exterior grease traps must be cleaned periodically, otherwise, they can cause backups and overflows in the sanitary sewer lines.
Tips for Reducing Restaurant Grease
To minimize the level of grease that is introduced into our region’s plumbing system, it’s beneficial to adopt these strategies:
- Remove food waste before adding water to the mix. You do this by scraping, wiping or sweeping.
- Never pour any fats, oils, or grease down the drain.
- To avoid grease spills, empty containers before they fill up and use the proper containers for transporting materials.
- Be sure to properly maintain and clean all equipment used for storing fats, oils, and grease.
- Use an oil-rendering tank for collecting and disposing of fryer oil.
- Skim the fryer grease on a daily basis.
- Changer the fryer oil when needed.
- Don’t let the area around the grease dumpster get dirty, keep it clean.