Food businesses (or institutions that prepare food) need a grease trap installed and maintained.
A well maintained grease trap will capture fats and food solids that are washed down the sink when preparing or cooking food and when cleaning. Capturing fats and food solids (greasy waste) in a grease trap prevents blockages from occurring in both your and our sewer pipes.
You must ensure a licensed plumber installs an appropriately sized and constructed grease trap and get an EPA-licensed liquid waste collector to pump out the grease trap at the frequency specified in your trade waste agreement.
Video
Get to know Grease Traps
MUSIC starts. Text on screen: Grease traps.
Commercial waste - also known as greasy waste - can cause blockages in the sewer systems if it is not managed properly.
This means sewage could come into your property or you may be responsible for sewage spilling elsewhere.
A grease trap is a device designed to prevent fats, oils grease and solids from entering the sewer system preventing, blockages and spills.
Grease traps generally work by allowing time for the fats oils and grease in the wastewater to flow to the surface of the grease trap and solids to settle at the bottom.
Image on screen of animation of grease trap.
The water that remains can now enter the sewer system. To ensure your grease trap continues to work as intended it needs to be sized correctly and pumped out at a suitable frequency.
Your trade waste consent will contain these requirements: the size of the grease trap will vary depending on the usage and size of your business.
You can use our grease trap size calculator to determine the grease trap size required for your business.
Image on screen of grease trap calculator.
You should always check the size with one of our trade waste team members before you proceed with installation. Council may also require the grease be installed in certain locations.
You will need to have a licensed plumber install the grease trap for your business.
Your plumber should ensure appropriate plumbing approvals are obtained from City West Water's Connections and technical services team.
The trade Waste consent outlines the frequency at which the consent holder must organize the pump out of the grease trap.
You'll need an EPA licensed waste Collector to pump out your grease trap. Our website lists a number of licensed waste collectors.
Typically grease traps must be pumped out every three months.
By installing and maintaining a grease trap you will not only be compliant with your trade waste consent,
you'll be helping protect the sewer system and the environment
End of transcript.
Can't view YouTube? You can download the following video, captions and transcript files:
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Grease trap installation
- Confirm the size of the grease trap required for your business with our Trade Waste team.
- Make sure you check with you local council on the proposed location for the grease trap.
- Obtain installation quotes from licensed plumbers and have your preferred professional install the grease trap.
- If you have a small space or concerns about the size or placement of your grease trap please contact us before installing.
