Every housewife knows that pouring grease down a drain is a sure fire way to clog the drain and earn a costly plumbing bill. The amount of grease discharged in waste water from a regular household is enormous but as yet unregulated but now some private homes are now using small grease trap interceptors. However, the grease problem is so expensive and prone to clog the main sewer systems that steps to regulate grease discharge into waste water have been taken and the first to be regulated are restaurants.
A restaurant or cafeteria is an entirely different matter and even the grease from routine cleaning and cooking, produces grease and fat which may not only clog the plumbing of the restaurant, but can cause city wide sewer issues. Grease trap interceptors were invented and engineered to avoid that and make the grease available for recycling as well. Large cities such as Seattle have found from one third to one half of their city sewer problems have come from grease discharged into the sewer system.
Not every commercial kitchen or restaurant will have the same needs and budget though even in interceptors. Therefore there are a wide range of traps and interceptors designed to fit the kitchen and operate cleanly and efficiently. Because of the severity of the problem, increasing numbers of sewer and water systems have instituted testing and fines are levied if the grease content of waste water from a facility is too high.
The different types of grease trap interceptors come with various advantages as well as limitations. Automatic grease removal units are designed to remove particulate grease from waste water flowing from a dishwasher or pot cleaning area. Dishwashers in restaurants can be responsible for a high level of grease from plates and pots and pans. This particular interceptor captures it and stores it beside the dishwasher or drain. This type of trap may well be emptied on a daily basis and is often maintained by the staff of the restaurant.
Although dishwashers certainly produce a high level of grease which can be intercepted, trapped and recycled they are not the only possible culprits. Facilities that regularly bake or roast chicken and meats can use this grease interceptor for grease recycling grease drippings. This type of grease is eminently suitable for recycling purposes as well.
Although in many cities all commercial kitchens are required to have grease interceptors not all establishments have the room for a large setup. Where space is an issue but storage is needed, then a compact grease interceptor with an increased storage capacity is used which may store up to 200 gallons of this waste material. Engineering has stepped up to decrease size and increase capacity of these interceptors. While these may be suitable for a smaller facility there are systems which also can store up to 2000 gallons of grease.
An efficient grease trap interceptor will remove up to 98% of free floating grease particles from the water and thus help the problem city sewers are encountering in grease clogs. When stored properly in an interceptor's tank the grease is ideal for recycling purposes. Interceptors take the load off the sewer system and put this all too common waste to excellent use.
Some systems are designed to be professionally maintained as they are not easily accessible to staff. In addition the grease trap maintenance company may well dispose of the waste grease for the kitchen or restaurant. Waste grease must be disposed of in an appropriate manner and professional maintenance assures this detail is taken care of by the service provider.
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