Managing

FATS, OIL and GREASE

“It’s Easier than YOU Think!”
THE THE

WRONG WAY RIGHT WAY

1 1
La Forma Incorrecta La Forma Correcta

Do not pour cooking Wipe pots, pans, and

residue directly work areas prior to
into the drain. washing.

No tire residuos de Limpie las ollas, sarténes,

cocinar directamente y áreas de trabajo con
en el desagüe. una toalla antes de

2 2
lavarlos.

Do not dispose of Dispose of food waste

food waste into the directly into the trash.
garbage disposal.
Deseche los desperdicios
No ponga desperdicios de comida en el bote
de comida en el moledor de basura.
de comida.

3 3
Do not pour waste oil Collect waste oil and store
directly into the drain. for recycling.

No tire aceite Junte el aceite usado

usado directamente y guárdelo para que
en el desagüe. sea reciclado.

4 4
Do not wash floor Clean mats inside
mats where water will over a utility sink.
run off directly into
the storm drain. Limpie los tapetes de
piso dentro de una tina
No lave tapetes de piso o fregador.
en un lugar donde el agua
corra hacia el desagüe.

Courtesy of Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County and City of San Jose
 Grease Management

Grease Trap
Maintenance
What is the Purpose Cleaning Frequency Common Problems
of a Grease Trap? • Grease traps shall be cleaned at Leading to Grease Trap
• A grease trap is designed to least once every 30 days. More Repair or Replacement
separate Fats, Oils, and Grease frequent cleaning may be • Grease trap installed
(FOG) and solid food waste necessary if: backwards, without flow
from your kitchen wastewater. • Your sinks are draining slowly, controls, or otherwise in
• Buildup of FOG and solid possibly due to buildups in the trap. violation of plumbing codes or
food waste in your plumbing manufacturer specifications.
• Water levels in the trap or floor drains
may cause blockages in either are high, possibly due to grease-related • Missing or damaged parts,
your plumbing or the sanitary blockages in your plumbing. such as the removable
sewer lines. This can lead to an baffle plates.
overflow into your building, a • The grease trap smells bad because
solids are filling the bottom of the • Leaks due to rust holes or
neighbor’s building, streets, or
trap quickly. punctures in the walls or floors.
the environment. It is important
to clean your grease trap regularly. • Your trap is not sized correctly for • Illegal connection to the
your restaurant operations, menu, dishwasher or garbage grinder
or number of meals served. to the grease trap.

Grease Trap

Your G
reas
Trap m e
look diff ay
erent.

Grease in the system causes problems in storm drains and sanitary sewers — and increases your operating costs.
 You must maintain records on site for a minimum of three years. See the
FPUD FOG Ordinance more information.

Kitchen Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Discharging used cooking • Scraping grease and food waste to the garbage before washing dishes will
minimize the amount of grease and solids going into the grease trap and
or deep fryer oil, rotisserie will often improve trap performance.
fat, or solid food waste
into kitchen sinks, mop
sinks, and floor drains in
her or
your kitchen that are Dishwas der
grin
garbage
connected to the wa m
ste ust
o w to
sanitary sewer system NOT fl
th e trap !
is a violation of your local
sewer use ordinances.

Tips on Routine Grease Trap Maintenance

• To ensure proper maintenance, we recommend using a professional
grease hauling company.
• Cleaning consists of emptying the entire trap, including FOG,
Discharging anything, wastewater, and solid food waste; making sure the removable baffle
including oil, grease plates and parts are thoroughly cleaned and replaced properly after each
waste, wash water, or cleaning.
rinse water to the • Keep a maintenance log sheet posted near the grease trap if you
storm drain system self-clean the trap.
is a violation of the local • Melt ice in the sink plumbed to the grease trap an hour or two before
sewer use ordinance. cleaning. This helps cool and harden the grease in the trap, making
cleaning easier and reducing odors.
• Have an extra gasket available for your grease trap lid and use allen
screws (which resist stripping) to secure the lid.
• Run your hood fans during cleaning to reduce odors.
• Call a plumber to snake or hydro-flush your sewer lateral (plumbing)
pipes to the street periodically to remove any blockages.
• If you choose to self-clean your grease trap, please see the "How to Clean
Your Grease Trap" poster for guidance.

Courtesy of the City of San Jose Environmental Services

 Grease Management

Grease Interceptor
Maintenance
What is the Purpose of Cleaning Frequency Standards for Evaluating
a Grease Interceptor? • Grease interceptors shall be Grease Interceptors
• A grease interceptor is designed cleaned at least once every • Manhole and sample box lids
to separate Fats, Oils, and Grease 90 days. More frequent cleaning should be easily removable
(FOG) and solid food waste from may be necessary to keep your for cleaning and inspections.
your kitchen wastewater. interceptor operating properly.
• The baffle wall and all three
• Buildup of FOG and solid standpipes must be in place
food waste in your plumbing and unbroken, above and below
may cause blockages in either the water and grease levels.
your plumbing or the sanitary
• If any standpipes are under
sewer lines. This can lead to a
water or grease, they must be
sanitary sewer overflow into your
raised above the grease level.
building, a neighbor’s building,
High water or grease level
streets, or the environment. It is
could result from a blockage
important to clean your grease
in the downstream pipes.
interceptor regularly.
• Downstream blockages could
indicate inadequate interceptor
cleaning frequency.

Grease
Interceptor

Grease in the system causes problems in storm drains and sanitary sewers — and increases your operating costs.
 You must maintain records on site for a minimum of three years. See the
FPUD FOG Ordinance more information.

Kitchen Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Discharging used cooking • Grease and solid food waste can build up inside the interceptor and may
cause the interceptor to operate less efficiently.
or deep fryer oil, rotisserie
fat, or solid food waste • Scraping grease and food waste to the garbage before washing dishes
into kitchen sinks, mop will minimize the amount of grease and solids going into the grease
interceptor and will improve interceptor performance.
sinks, and floor drains in
your kitchen that are Tips on Routine Grease Interceptor Maintenance
connected to the
• The pumping service should wash and scrape all sides, standpipes, and
sanitary sewer system
surfaces inside the interceptor and completely pump out all contents.
is a violation of your local
• The pumping service shall not decant (return) wastewater back into the
sewer use ordinances.
interceptor; the grease concentration in interceptor wastewater is very high.
• Make sure your pumping service cleans the sample box and effluent
standpipe of the interceptor. You may need to pump more often if you see
fresh grease being discharged into your sample box.
• Require the pumping service to show the disposal destination for your
Discharging anything, waste on the pumping invoice. Your business may be liable for any illegal
including oil, grease dumping or discharge of waste from your facility.
waste, wash water, or • Do visual inspections after pumping services are performed or when
rinse water to the plumbers snake or hydro-jet plumbing or laterals to make sure the
storm drain system interceptor standpipes are not damaged.
is a violation of the local • Keep grease interceptor pumping records on site for a minimum of three
sewer use ordinance. years. Refer to the Grease Control Device Maintenance Recordkeeping
sheet for more information.

Courtesy of the City of San Jose Environmental Services

 Grease Management

Proper Cleaning and Rinse

Water Disposal for Exhaust Hoods,
Filters, Ducting, Roof Fans, and Floor Mats

Cleaning Exhaust Hoods Cleaning Frequency Cleaning Exhaust

and Exhaust Hood Filters • Check your lease agreements and Ducting and Rooftop
On Site fire insurance policies to determine Exhaust Fans
• Dry-wipe and scrape grease off of the minimum frequency that you • Do not allow wash and rinse
all surfaces before washing. must clean your equipment. water to go into downspouts.
• Empty and clean the grease • More frequent cleaning may be • Do not leave pooled wash and
collection trays located inside of necessary if grease collects quickly. rinse water on the roof.
the exhaust hoods regularly.
• Collect the wash and rinse
water and discharge to the
Cleaning Exhaust sanitary sewer drains inside
Hood Filters Off Site your business.
• The business owner may choose
to use professional services to
exchange dirty exhaust hood
filters for clean ones.

Whether you contract with

a professional service,
perform the cleaning yourself,
or do both, you are liable
for any illegal disposal
of waste or rinse water
resulting from cleaning Never clean exhaust hoods
your exhaust hood, filters, or filters outdoors where
ducting, and roof fans. This wash water may flow to a
includes any cleaning that storm drain.
occurs off site.

Grease in the system causes problems in storm drains and sanitary sewers — and increases your operating costs.
 Proper Disposal of Filter Bath Solution
Discharging used cooking • Used bath solution from soaking exhaust hood filters (both hazardous and
non-hazardous) should be taken to an off-site disposal facility. You and
or deep fryer oil, rotisserie
your property manager are liable for any illegal disposal of your waste.
fat, or solid food waste
into kitchen sinks, mop Proper Disposal of Water from Equipment Cleaning
sinks, and floor drains in • Do not dispose of the concentrated solution, wash water, or rinse
your kitchen that are water from cleaning or degreasing equipment or exhaust hood surfaces
connected to the into sinks leading to a grease trap or mechanical grease removal device.
sanitary sewer system • Do dispose of the concentrated solution, wash water, or rinse water
is a violation of your local into a mop-sink, sink, or floor drain connected directly to the
sewer use ordinances. sanitary sewer system.
• Do dispose of wastewater from steam cleaning without chemicals
to a grease trap or mechanical grease removal device.
• Do not pour concentrated chemicals into sinks, mop sinks, or
floor drains plumbed to grease control devices. This may cause
liquefied grease to escape the grease control device and could cause
Discharging anything, a blockage in your drainage system.
including oil, grease
waste, wash water, or Proper Disposal of Water from Cleaning Floor Mats
rinse water to the Wash water from cleaning floor mats must never flow out the back door,
storm drain system onto the parking lots, into a gutter, or into a storm drain. Clean mats:
is a violation of the local • In a mop sink or near a floor drain, or
sewer use ordinance.
• Outside in a designated area that flows to a sanitary sewer drain, or
• In a garbage can; then dispose of the wash water into a mop sink.

Courtesy of the City of San Jose Environmental Services

 Grease Management

Prohibitions on using
Chemicals, Enzymes, or Bacteria
in Grease Traps and Interceptors

CHEMICALS ENZYMES BACTERIA

Chemicals: the use Enzymes: the use Bacteria: the use

of chemicals to of enzymes to of bacteria to
clean grease traps clean grease traps clean grease traps
or interceptors is or interceptors is or interceptors is
strictly prohibited strictly prohibited strictly prohibited
because: because: because:
• Local sewer use ordinances • Whether produced synthetically • Bacteria need a reliable
prohibit the use of chemicals as or from animals, enzymes cannot environment to grow and
a method to remove grease from be used to dissolve grease from are sensitive to changes in
your grease trap or interceptor. your grease trap or interceptor. temperature, pH, oil and
• Cleaners, solvents, caustics, • Enzymes can temporarily grease loading, water flow
or other chemicals cannot be alter the chemical form of the changes, etc. It is difficult
used to dissolve accumulated grease, allowing it to dissolve to maintain the conditions
grease from your grease trap into the water. However, the necessary for bacteria to thrive
or grease interceptor. These altered grease may reform into in a kitchen environment.
chemicals cause grease to flow solid matter downstream from Biological expertise and ongoing
out of your trap or interceptor your business, obstructing sampling are often needed for
in violation of local ordinances. sewer pipes. bacteria to be sustainable.
The grease may deposit on • Even if bacteria survive and
sewer pipes downstream of your flourish, their effectiveness in
business, obstructing them and removing grease is limited.
contributing to sewer overflows. “Partially eaten” (i.e., not broken
down completely) grease may
still enter the plumbing and over
time reform into solid matter
downstream, obstructing the
sewer pipes.

Grease in the system causes problems in storm drains and sanitary sewers — and increases your operating costs.
 In general…
Per the sewer use ordinance: • Greasy wastewater may not be discharged to the sanitary sewer system
unless it has been treated using a grease trap or interceptor approved by
“ No person shall the Environmental Services Department.
discharge…any
• Floating or solid grease matter must be physically removed from your
substance of any kind
grease removal device by pumping, scraping, scooping, etc.
whatsoever tending
to obstruct or injure • Maintain your grease trap and interceptor in efficient operating condition
by regular removal of accumulated grease.
the sanitary sewer
system, or to cause a • The minimum cleaning frequency required for grease interceptors
nuisance or hazard, installed in food service facilities is once every 90 days. However, more
frequent cleaning may be necessary.
or which will in any
manner interfere with • The minimum cleaning frequency required for grease traps installed
the proper operation or in food service facilities is once every 30 days. However, more frequent
cleaning may be necessary.
maintenance of the
sanitary sewer system.”

Courtesy of the City of San Jose Environmental Services