All food service facilities should be aware of the importance of installation and proper maintenance of grease removal devices. Existing ordinance provisions and several new requirements for food service facilities are designed to help minimize the impact that these businesses have on the sewage collection system in Palo Alto.
Grease Removal Devices
Since 1992, new and remodeled Palo Alto food service facilities have been required to install a grease interceptor with a minimum capacity of 750 gallons. Food service facilities already operating in 1992 were required to install either a grease interceptor or a grease trap by 1997. Grease interceptors are installed underground, outside of the food service facility. Grease traps are much smaller than grease interceptors, and are typically installed underneath or adjacent to a three-compartment sink. Only food service facilities having no "grease-generating activities", such as ice cream parlors, bagel shops, and coffee bars, may legally operate without a grease removal device. Currently, all Palo Alto food service facilities with grease-generating activities have installed either a grease interceptor or a grease trap.
Once a food service facility is using a grease removal device to prevent discharge of FOG to the sanitary sewer, it is very important that the device be properly maintained at an appropriate frequency. Palo Alto's city ordinance requires that the contents of grease removal devices be completely removed at least every six months. This means that each food service facility must hire a grease hauler to pump out its grease removal devices. Poorly maintained (and undersized) grease removal devices are the cause of frequent backups, spills, and increased maintenance costs for several areas of the City.
Grease Haulers
Grease haulers pump out the contents of grease removal devices and dispose of the grease at landfills that accept grease waste, or at sewage treatment facilities. There is more information on the Grease Hauler Page.
Food Waste Disposers (Garbage Grinders)
Food waste disposers are another source of FOG discharge from food service facilities. Ground food waste from disposers bypasses grease removal devices and enters the sewer directly. The City of Palo Alto passed an ordinance revision in August 2002 to prohibit the use of food waste disposers in food service facilities. Effective January 1, 2003, it will be illegal to install a food waste disposer in a Palo Alto food service facility. Use of currently existing disposers in food service facilities must be ended by January 1, 2007.
Existing food service facilities were given until 2007 to remove food waste disposers because the City recognizes that there may be logistical difficulties in meeting the requirement. For instance, space may need to be provided to accommodate containers for temporary storage of food waste that was previously disposed of with a food waste disposer. The City is interested in tracking the progress food service facilities make in phasing out the use of food waste disposers, and in helping to resolve problems encountered in meeting this requirement whenever possible.
Overview
The discharge of fats, oils, and greases to the sanitary sewer system is an important environmental and public health issue. Fats, oils, and greases (called FOG for short) build up in sewer lines over time, restricting the capacity of the pipes. Attempts to keep the sewer collection system flowing is a very costly and time consuming effort. Eventually, the pipes can become blocked completely, leading to overflows of raw sewage into streets, storm drains, and our creeks. There is more information on the Overview Page.
