How to Prevent FOG Backups

For any business in the food and hospitality sector, the importance of maintaining a clean and functional kitchen cannot be overstated. Within this complex ecosystem, one often overlooked yet critical component is the grease trap. Properly caring for your grease trap, and in turn your plumbing and sewer line, means understanding and mitigating the risks associated with fats, oils and grease (FOG) backups. Such backups not only pose operational challenges, but they can also lead to significant financial and regulatory consequences.

Why Is FOG Such a Big Deal?

Understanding FOG Backups

When FOG accumulates in significant amounts in your pipes, sewer lines or even your grease trap, they can lead to backups. These backups can:

Preventing FOG Backups in Your Business

Employee Training: The first line of defense against FOG backups is a well-informed staff. Make sure everyone understands the correct procedures for scraping dishes and cookware before washing. Train managers to recognize the warning signs of grease trap issues and provide the tools for them to seek help from grease trap service professionals should the need arise.

Maintain the Necessary Grease Trap Capacity: It’s difficult to legally operate a food service business in Atlanta without meeting all the necessary capacity requirements for grease traps. However, you don’t necessarily have to settle for the minimum. Extra grease trap capacity to accommodate changing demand or seasonal business fluctuation can be beneficial.

Regular Maintenance and Cleaning: Like any device, grease traps require regular maintenance. Depending on the volume of your kitchen's output:

• Check the trap levels weekly.
• Schedule routine professional cleaning at the necessary time intervals or before reaching 25 percent FOG buildup in your grease traps.

Recycle Used Cooking Oils: Instead of treating used cooking oils as waste, consider them as a resource. Southern Green Industries will collect and recycle used waste oils, turning them into biodiesel or other valuable products.

Use Strainers: Installing strainers in sinks will catch solids that could accompany FOG into the trap, filling it prematurely. Regularly empty and clean these strainers.

Post Signage: Reminders can be helpful. Put up signs near sinks and dishwashing stations to remind staff about the importance of keeping FOG out of the drains.

Monitor High-Risk Areas: Some areas, like fryer stations or grill areas, will naturally produce more FOG. Pay extra attention to these areas, ensuring they have the necessary tools and procedures in place to handle the waste.

Stay Up to Date with Regulations: Your local municipal or Atlanta grease trap regulations can potentially change. It’s not a bad idea to periodically ask your grease trap service company whether there are any new rules or regulations that may impact your business.



Trust Your Fog Elimination to the Atlanta Grease Trap Experts at Southern Green Industries

Healthy, properly functioning grease traps are a vital part of every food service business. In addition to being good for business owners, managers and customers, properly functioning grease traps are also the law. Every food service business in Atlanta is subject to strict regulations regarding cleaning schedules and FOG levels in their grease traps.



Thankfully, the team at Southern Green Industries offer a turnkey, worry-free solution that allows you to put cleanings out of mind and focus on your business. Talk to us about setting up a grease trap cleaning schedule that will allow you to remain in compliance and enjoy clean, convenient FOG elimination. Call us at (404) 419-6887 to learn more.