If a business, institution or organization in Georgia has any type of food preparation in their facilities, they will need grease traps. That means many businesses, even those that aren’t strictly food service businesses, require grease traps.

Schools, office buildings, municipal buildings, sports arenas and museums are just a handful of non-food service structures that likely require grease traps. Any facilities or property that has a cafeteria will need to separate fats, oils and grease (FOG) and prevent them from entering the sewer.

Traditional Food Service or Food-Service-Adjacent Businesses That Require Grease Traps

Restaurants – The most obvious answer to the question, “Which businesses need grease traps?” is restaurants. From a volume standpoint, restaurants generate the most FOG, which is why they often need a robust solution for capturing fats, oils and grease. The number, size and placement of restaurant grease traps is highly dependent on the volume of business they do, the types of food they make and local ordinances on FOG collection.

Bakeries and Coffee Shops – Coffee shops or bakeries that exclusively sell food offerings made at a separate premises, like a commercial commissary, might not always require grease traps. Those businesses would require grease traps at the site where they prepare food, but they might not require one at the coffee shop itself.

However, there are many businesses like these that do make or prepare some food on their premises. Even if they don’t prepare food, they may wash dishes, cutlery and other serving equipment, which is why they may require some form of grease trap, even if it’s just an under-the-sink grease trap.

Malls – Although the malls and shopping centers of the late 20^th century and early 21^st century have become less common, there are still many food courts in Georgia. These food courts can generate a massive amount of FOG. In many cases the mall will have several large grease traps to meet the needs of every food service business on the premises.

Educational Institutions – Cafeterias or commissaries are a mainstay of educational institutions of all types, from grade schools and high schools to universities and community colleges. Any educational institution that has food service facilities for faculty and students will require grease traps. In some cases, especially on large campuses, there may be many different structures that require robust grease trap setups.

Catering Companies and Food Trucks – Catering companies and any other businesses, like food trucks, frequently use communal commercial commissary kitchens. One of the reasons commissary kitchens are so convenient for catering companies and food truck operators is their adherence to local ordinances for things like FOG disposal. It greatly simplifies the business of a catering company or food truck operator if they know the commissary they use is equipped with properly maintained grease traps.

Food Manufacturers – Grocery stores, convenience stores and countless other businesses sell prepackaged foods. The creation of those food staples is more akin to manufacturing than cooking, but they still generate FOG. Factories that create large quantities of popular packaged foods frequently require large, complex FOG capture capabilities.

Convenience Stores – There have always been some convenience stores that sell fresh products, but in recent years many have tried to get into the fast-food market by offering a diverse menu of freshly made food offerings. That means many convenience stores now require grease traps on their properties.

Healthcare and Elder Care Facilities – You would be hard pressed to find a hospital, large medical complex, nursing home or assisted living facility that doesn’t have at least one cafeteria. These facilities frequently generate enough FOG to require relatively large underground grease traps.

Hotels – Any hotel with a bar or room service likely has a kitchen, and any commercial kitchen in Georgia will need to have at least one grease trap. The type and size of a hotel’s grease trap really depends on how much business they do.

Does Your Georgia Business Have Grease Traps That Need Cleaning and Maintenance?

Southern Green Industries is committed to keeping grease traps in Atlanta and the surrounding areas properly maintained and compliant with all local ordinances for FOG disposal. We are meticulous with our records and client manifests to ensure each of our customers can easily prove their compliance to local regulators. We also strive to be flexible with our services and scheduling to ensure your grease trap cleaning and servicing is as turnkey and unobtrusive as possible.

Call us at (404) 419-6887 to schedule your free grease trap cleaning and maintenance quote.