Grease Removal Considerations

Food Service Facilities

Do you need a grease removal device? Wash water may seem clean and therefore not in need of treatment; however, as the water flows from the sink to the sanitary sewer the grease, which was suspended in the water, is deposited on the walls of the city sewer line.

Grease and oily wastewater from restaurants, delicatessens, and other food service facilities clog sewer drains when improperly disposed. Installation of a grease removal device by facilities that generate oil, fats, or grease is required by ordinance in most cities.

Grease removal devices are important to minimize the amount of grease in local sewer lines and to provide appropriate disposal for the kinds of restaurant cleaning wastes that commonly reached a street or storm drain in the past. Fry hoods, floor mats, and other greasy equipment should be cleaned in an area where cleaning water will be captured in a grease removal device.

Other Regulatory Requirements

In order to install a grease removal device you will likely need a plumbing permit from your city. Contact Guardian Waste Group or a local plumbing contractor.

A grease interceptor is required by many local ordinances for full-service restaurants. Smaller-capacity grease traps provide inadequate retention time for efficient grease recovery. To calculate the size of the grease interceptor you need, have Guardian Waste Group, Inc. determine this based on the International Plumbing Code.

Obtaining Necessary Permits

1. Building departments prefer in-ground installations that drain by gravity to the sanitary sewer. Avoid pumps and other mechanical devices in your connection to the sewer if possible.
2. Size your interceptor in accordance with the International Plumbing Code.
3. For more information about grease removal device installation and grease service management please call Guardian Waste Group at 888-549-2233

Other Types of Devices

Grease traps are often approved in lieu of an interceptor for full service food service facilities in most parts of the country. Grease traps are also usually approved for facilities such as delicatessens and small bakeries that produce small quantities of oil, grease, or fat. Refer to the International Plumbing Code for requirements related to grease traps such as installation of flow-control devices, flow rates, and other structural requirements. Please Note: flow restrict ors are sometimes required for grease traps because they increase retention time and efficiency. Automatic grease skimming devices collect small volumes of water and remove grease into a side container at preset times each day. Most municipalities requiring grease interceptors will need special approval to install one of these devices in lieu of a grease interceptor. Manufacturers of bacterial additives claim that their products break down grease and enhance the performance of grease traps and interceptors . Such additives cannot be substituted for a grease removal device and regular inspection and maintenance. If you decide to use an additive, make sure the product you select is not an emulsifier, which simply keeps grease in suspension temporarily and allows it to flow to the sewer system.

Guidelines for selecting and installing the right grease removal device for your business Installation

Guardian Waste Group utilizes licensed plumbing contractors to install grease interceptors. We handle all aspects of installation including equipment procurement, plumbing, and in-ground installations that include excavations and concrete/ asphalt cutting and repair. The cost of installation will vary depending on your site. Cost factors include the size of the device, space, grade, proximity to a sewer line, and aboveground or in-ground installation.

Maintenance

Regular inspection and maintenance is essential to the proper operation of a grease removal device. Most local ordinances require a minimum cleaning of once every six months. However, that frequency will increase depending on the capacity of the device, the amount of grease in the wastewater, and the degree to which the facility has contributed to blockages in the past. Regular cleaning at the appropriate interval is necessary to maintain the rated efficiency of the device. Equipment that is not regularly maintained puts the food service facility at risk of violating sewer use ordinances, and this may not be known until an overflow and violation have occurred. Guardian Waste Group suggests businesses start with quarterly cleanings. The Manual of Practice FD-3 published by the Water Environment Federations technical practice committee suggests cleaning should be done when 75 percent of the retention capacity of the unit is 75 percent full of accumulated grease. A large measuring stick and/or a clear piece of conduit may be used to determine the depth of the depth of grease accumulation. You must contract with a licensed grease hauler to remove it from your premises for appropriate disposal.

Choosing a grease hauler

When selecting a grease hauler, be aware that services and prices can vary. Guardian Waste Group ensures that minimum services include:

1. Deodorizing and thorough cleaning of affected areas, as necessary.
2. Disposal/reclamation at an approved location.
3. Notes concerning the condition of the interceptor
4. Complete pumping and cleaning record.
   We seek an adequate cleaning frequency to avoid blockage of the line without paying for unnecessary cleanings.

Birmingham, AL (December 1, 2005) Guardian Waste Group, Inc. announces the use of a new interactive internet platform. This website platform is designed to integrate work orders, service history, invoices, customer satisfaction and the payment process. The process is an innovative technology platform that is based on ASP (application service provider) technology that allows both internal and external users to utilize the same application and share information throughout the entire contractor management and work order process.

This electronically driven platform requires minimal support staff training and is completely paperless; therefore, transaction time is greatly reduced and extremely efficient. Each step of the user-friendly process is initiated by an email which includes a link to the application's next step. Transactions are easily accessible, completely visible and include work order approval, invoice status and payment information. The site is also easily configured with familiar screens; enabling users both within and external to the organization to quickly deploy solutions.

Ultimately, this innovative platform will aid the Guardian Waste Group and its clients and customers by effectively and efficiently integrating and coordinating the many vendor and maintenance aspects of contract management. The work order driven implementation will assist in the vendor and maintenance and repair aspects of the business process by:

• Interactively tracking and monitoring each step,
• Providing the ability to solicit and attract electronic bids from vendors,
• Including information on:
  • Contractor certification and selection,
  • Maintenance planning and scheduling.

Furthermore, the platform provides access to detailed information about company assets, maintenance requirements, including equipment details, maintenance history, warranty information and any documents, procedures, logs or schematic diagrams that have been loaded into the system. All of these components will augment traditional proprietary software for waste and recycling collections that are presently in place.

Guardian Waste Group, Inc. President and CEO Tom Allen adds, "We are excited and pleased by this announcement. The Guardian Waste Group continues to be an innovative industry leader through the deployment of this website platform."

Guardian Waste Group is utilizing WorkOasis™ as the technology platform provider for managing this new initiative, which is owned and operated by FM Solutions, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia. www.workoasis.com