Up to 3% of properties in the UK have off-mains drainage and sewage treatment systems. These properties are typically homes or businesses situated in more remote, rural, locations where a connection to the main sewer is not possible.
Wastewater is taken away from a property in two ways:
Using these systems means that it is exceptionally important to dispose of fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) correctly to avert plumbing, environmental, and economic problems.
It is a common misconception that you can wash FOGs away with soap and warm water, but water and FOGs cannot mix as water is denser with means they remain in the pipes causing damage and putting more washing-up liquid down the sink to counter the problem causes pipes to harden and the washing-up liquid to stick to other debris.
Clogging: FOGs solidify and stick to the sides of pipes, forming a clog that blocks water from flowing. This can lead to slow-moving or completely stalled off main treatment systems.
Burning pipes: Pouring hot oil down a sink can burn plastic piping by eroding the inside.
Odours: FOGs decompose over time and produce unpleasant odours in the treatment system.
Environmental issues: When FOGs enter a treatment system, they can disrupt the treatment process, causing overflowing. If they enter bodies of water, they can cause severe damage to the environment and human health.
Economic issues: Not correctly disposing of FOGs can cost home and business owners a lot on plumbing repairs.
Restaurants and bars operating in the UK's food industry are legally required to dispose of FOGs correctly. Non-compliance can result in fines and forces closures - as stipulated in the Food Safety Act (FSA) 1990.
Installing a grease trap can prevent a build-up of FOGs and commercial food services should be aware of regulatory requirements regarding their use and maintenance to ensure compliance and prevent environmental damage.
A grease trap, or grease interceptor, prevents blockages in off mains drainage and sewage treatment systems caused by FOGs. Grease traps efficiently collect FOGs before they enter the treatment system, storing them in a separate container to be discarded correctly and legally.
A wide selection of grease traps are available to suit different businesses for different reasons including above and below ground grease traps, grease dosing systems, and grease removal units.
There are several different ways of disposing of FOGs:
If you have a large amount of oil, and it is still in good condition and has not been contaminated, you can reuse it for cooking.