FOG
What is F.O.G.?
F.O.G. stands for Fats, Oils and Grease that are found in common food and food ingredients such as: meat, fish, butter, cooking oil, mayonnaise, gravies, sauces and food scraps.
Best Practices to Fight Fats, Oils and Grease
Always remove leftover fat, oil, grease and food waste from all dishes, pots, pans and cooking equipment prior to pre-rinsing or washing.
Remove your garbage grinder and install a solids interceptor. This will reduce the amount of food waste that will accumulate in your grease interceptor and your side sewer.
Install and maintain screens in all floor and sink drains. This will also reduce the amount of food waste that will accumulate in your grease interceptor or side sewer.
Maintain your grease interceptor frequently to keep the accumulation of food and F.O.G. at less than 25% of the volume of the device.
Hire a contractor to maintain the vent hood and filters and dispose of the waste properly.
Wash all floor mats, grills and greasy kitchen equipment in a sink that goes to a grease interceptor. Never wash outside where it can flow to a storm drain.
Recycle your food scraps whenever possible.
FOG Means Trouble!
If not handled properly, F.O.G. can solidify and stick to the sides of your kitchen drain and sewer pipe.
The most common accumulation comes from your daily dish washing process. Over time, buildup of F.O.G. can plug your pipes and cause a sewage back up right into your business. Accumulated F.O.G. can also cause operational problems with the City's sanitary sewer collection system and wastewater treatment facility.
F.O.G. Can Cost You Money!
The City of Baytown's Industrial Waste Ordinance holds business owners liable for all clean-up costs related to a sewer back-up, including damage to adjoining personal property, parking lots, streets and sewer system repairs.
What Can You Do?
The first thing to do is to teach your employees the importance of controlling F.O.G.. However, even with the best practices, F.O.G. finds ways to accumulate in your side sewer and cause major problems. Your best line of defense from accumulation is to install and maintain a grease interceptor.
What is a Grease Interceptor?
Grease interceptors are designed to catch F.O.G. before it gets into your sewer. Grease interceptors (previously called grease traps) are usually found under or near sinks in your cooking area. Gravity grease interceptors are usually large underground vaults found outdoors. We recommend you contact a local contractor for help with the appropriate selection, installation and maintenance for your interceptor.
Maintain a F.O.G. Log
Keep a maintenance log for your interceptor. Your log should indicate who performed maintenance, the date cleaned, how much waste was removed, and where it was disposed of. More than 25% accumulation, by volume, of food and F.O.G. indicates that your system is not working properly.
Educate Your Employees
Teach your employees the importance of controlling F.O.G.