Have you ever worked in a kitchen or visited a restaurant that was having grease trap problems? If so, you’ve likely experienced some of the effects of grease trap failures up close. Some of those consequences include:

• Rotten smelling odors that won’t go away no matter how rigorously you clean
• Severely clogged drains and sewage overflows
• Fats, oils and grease (FOG) sewer clogs leading to contaminated wastewater overflowing into local groundwater

Business owners often aren’t thrilled about government-mandated safety checks and maintenance requirements, even if they understand their necessity. Surprise inspection of any kind can be an imposition. However, a local Atlanta grease trap inspector is always preferable to the business-disrupting consequences that result from failures to stay in compliance.

Grease traps aren’t just there to protect each business’s own plumbing infrastructure, they also prevent systemic problems that can have far-reaching negative consequences for everyone in an area.

No one in Atlanta wants to face a Georgia version of the great British fatbergs. These massive sewer obstructions, often measuring hundreds of feet in length, aren’t just composed of wet wipes and tampons. They’re also comprised in large part by fats, oils and grease (FOG).

Studies have suggested 47 percent of sanitary sewer overflows in the United States are related to improper FOG disposal. A lot of people cooking at home decide the easiest way to dispose of their cooking FOG is to pour it down the drain.

The problem would be far worse if restaurants were equally lax with their FOG disposal.  

What You Can Do to Protect Your Grease Trap

How your kitchen operates will have a significant impact on the health of your grease trap. Following food and FOG disposal best practices can prevent premature buildup, plumbing breakdowns and will help keep your business in compliance with local ordinances.

• Train your employees in proper grease and oil disposal and spot check them to ensure they’re following the procedures you’ve put in place
• Scrape plates prior to rinsing
• Install drain screens and clean them at appropriate intervals
• Clean grease and oil spills with a disposable towel or rag
• Consult with your grease trap maintenance technician and regulator to ensure your business is adhering to grease trap best practices

It’s often not employees who suffer the plumbing bills or citations stemming from improper FOG disposal and grease trap maintenance – it’s the business owner. Holding workers accountable, setting a good example and making sure people know the consequences of improper FOG disposal can help curtail grease trap-related plumbing issues.

Atlanta Takes Its Grease Trap Enforcement Seriously

Grease trap cleaning is mandatory for food service business in Atlanta. Restaurants, cafeteria and other food preparation businesses are required to keep records (manifests) of grease trap cleaning and maintenance on the premises for at least three years. Manifests can be subject to commissioner review without prior notification. Businesses are also required to submit their records for annual permit renewal.

Each manifest contains all the pertinent grease trap cleaning information, including:

• Business location and contact info
• Grease trap types and sizes
• Your grease trap cleaner and waste hauler’s contact info
• Total gallons removed from the grease trap during the cleaning
• Disposal method
• Date of service
• Disposal site contact information and permit number

At a minimum, your grease traps will be inspected three times a year, but some business may be subject to additional inspections.

New and existing business owners that don’t comply with Atlanta grease trap ordinances can face steep penalties, including:

• First offense: A fine of $1,000
• Second offense: A fine of $1,000 fine and 90 days of probation with no more than 30 days in jail
• Third offense: A fine of $1,000, 180 days of probation and a minimum of seven days in jail with a maximum of 60 days
• Four or more offenses: More than three violations of grease discharge ordinances in a 24-month period will get your permit revoked and potentially result in disconnection of water services to the property 

Those penalties aren’t incurred immediately upon inspection failure. If your business fails a grease trap inspection you have three days to get a licensed grease trap service provider out to your business. The inspector will come out again after cleaning and repair is complete. If you pass your second inspection, you’ll still be subject to an additional compliance inspection within 90 days (outside grease traps) or 14 days (inside grease traps).

If you pass that third inspection without issue your inspection schedule will revert back to its pre-violation frequency.

Avoid Regulatory and Plumbing Headaches at Your Atlanta Business

Your business can avoid disruptive plumbing and inspection-related problems by working with a reputable local FOG disposal and grease trap cleaning company in Atlanta. Southern Green Inc. is committed to being flexible and making grease trap maintenance and oil disposal as easy as possible for businesses.

We offer scheduled service at your preferred intervals as well as fast, one-off grease trap maintenance and cleaning calls when necessary. Your technician can provide digital copies and hardcopies of your service manifest and we’ll even send a copy to your regulator.

Get started with worry-free grease trap service and oil recycling from Southern Green by calling (404) 419-6887.