While a small bakery or coffee shop and a cafeteria at a business or university campus fundamentally meet the same needs, they’re very different types of businesses in a variety of important ways. From supply chains and inventory management to staffing and utensils, food service facilities and food courts have some very different needs. One of those differences are grease traps.

Underground grease traps, which are standard for medium to large food service businesses, handle larger volumes of wastewater and have their own unique cleaning demands. Professional grease trap cleaning service providers use specialized techniques and equipment to manage these extensive systems.

The Significance of Underground Grease Traps

Underground grease traps are typically buried containers that can handle anywhere from 1,000 to 50,000 gallons or more. Their primary role remains the same: to prevent FOG from entering the municipal sewage system. Due to their large size and the volume of FOG they handle, their cleaning requires expertise and heavy-duty equipment.

Pre-Cleaning Preparation

Safety First

Service providers may put on personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, protective eyewear and sometimes masks. Given that underground traps produce stronger odors and are harder to access, ensuring safety and proper protection is paramount.

Accessing the Trap

Using manhole keys or hook tools, technicians access the grease trap's manhole cover. This often requires navigating parking lots, landscape areas, alleys or other tough-to-navigate spaces, emphasizing the need for correct tools and caution.

The Cleaning Process

Pumping the Trap

Given the large volume of these traps, service providers employ powerful vacuum trucks. These trucks suck out both the floating FOG layer and the settled solids at the bottom. This method ensures a comprehensive cleaning without needing technicians to enter the trap.

High-Pressure Washing

Once the bulk of the waste is removed, technicians use high-pressure washing systems to break down stubborn grease layers clinging to the trap's walls and baffles. This ensures that even the hard-to-reach corners are cleaned thoroughly.

Inspection

After cleaning, our service providers thoroughly inspect grease traps to identify any potential issues that may need to be addressed in the future. This allows us to ensure the ongoing integrity and effectiveness of the grease traps we clean and gives us the ability to recommend repairs or solutions before they turn into serious or expensive grease trap failures.

Post-Cleaning Procedures

Disposal of Waste

Professional grease trap cleaners follow strict environmental regulations when disposing of the extracted waste. At Southern Green Industries, we operate our own facilities and wastewater treatment to ensure optimal environmental responsibility.

Reporting and Documentation

To comply with local regulations and help businesses maintain their records, companies like Southern Green Industries provide detailed post-cleaning reports and manifests. To make things easier for our customers, we’re happy to forward copies of manifests to the necessary regulators on your behalf. These documents highlight the volume of waste removed, the condition of the grease trap and any recommendations for future maintenance. They also serve as proof that your business is keeping up with the required professional grease trap cleaning intervals.

For businesses in Atlanta and other localities where strict grease trap cleaning schedules are mandated, this type of automation can greatly enhance the peace of mind for business owners. We can ensure grease trap cleaning and servicing is never something you need to worry about.

Setting a Cleaning Schedule

Any food service business in Atlanta with underground grease traps will likely be subject to both the 25 percent rule and the 90 days rule. The primary rule, the 25 percent rule, requires the bottom solid layer and top FOG layer of the grease trap to make up no more than 25 percent of the grease trap’s total volume. Before you exceed 25 percent FOG and solid volume, you’ll need to have your grease trap cleaned. Businesses that don’t exceed the 25 percent threshold will still be subject to the 90 days rule.

Many large-scale businesses that have been in operation for many years know their typical service volume and the speed with which their grease traps fill. If you’re not sure how frequently to schedule grease trap cleaning, we can help. 

Best Practices to Manager Grease for Large-Scale Operations

While regular professional cleaning is essential, large-scale kitchens can adopt practices to optimize the grease trap's function:

• Install FOG Reduction Tools: While there are some fancy and sometimes expensive grease recovery strategies or or automatic grease removal devices that can help reduce grease buildup, there are also some basic and low-cost dishwashing and waste disposal practices that can reduce FOG buildup, like basic sink strainers to catch food waste before it makes it into pipes.
• Routine Inspections: Even if not due for cleaning, regular inspections of the trap can help detect issues early. Does your grease trap start smelling bad earlier than normal? It may be time to schedule a maintenance check.
• Employee Training: Ensure all kitchen staff are aware of best practices like scraping plates before washing and not pouring oils down the sink.

Get Reliable Grease Trap Services from a Trusted Team Who Can Handle Any Sized Job

For large-scale kitchens and cafeterias, an efficiently running grease trap is the unsung hero ensuring smooth operations. The team at Southern Green Industries understands the importance of grease traps to the functioning of your kitchen, the cleanliness of the inside and outside of your business and your plumbing. We will go the extra mile to ensure grease traps are never a problem for Atlanta businesses. Call us today at (404) 419-6887 for a free grease trap cleaning quote.