Will your facility pass the grease traps test?

Several factors can lure pests into a processing facility, but the obvious culprit is food and food waste. The grease and sludge in your grease trap are hugely attractive to flies and other cockroaches.

WHAT IS A GREASE TRAP?

This is a plumbing device designed to slow down the flow of greasy wastewater by separating grease and solid waste before it enters the sewerage system. Water flows into the sewer and grease floats to the top and is retained in the trap. The design has remained largely the same since its invention in Victorian times.

South Africa’s sewerage system is geared to accept toilet, sink, basin and bath waste, while the stormwater system is only geared to accept rainwater. Anything else puts a severe strain on the system, causing blockages.

Industrial cooking facilities and kitchens produce large volumes of waste grease - present in drain lines from various sinks, dishwashers and cooking equipment. The law* requires that all premises engaged in the cooking and preparation of food must install and maintain adequately sized grease traps.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WASTE?

Fats, oils, grease and starch (Fogs) separated by a grease trap forms a scummy layer, which must be disposed of regularly. If the grease trap is not regularly cleaned out, the accumulation of Fog’s and foodstuffs will start to rot and give off the characteristic rotten egg/drain smell.

This rotting sludge is extremely attractive to pests.

Proper maintenance of grease traps is critical. A biological dosing system offered by Initial is an environmentally friendly, non-chemical maintenance programme. The bio-dosing unit pumps a measured dose of bio-enzymes into the trap. This starts a biological process, which digests and liquefies solid organic waste, fasts starch and grease.

Organic waste remains free-flowing. The quality of the effluent released into the municipal sewerage system is improved. Importantly, pest problems are eliminated by reducing the available food source. The elimination of bacteria means the characteristic bad drain smell is controlled.

‘When aiming for a spotless facility it’s critical to remember that your dirty trap could be attracting pests to your kitchen. Initial can assist with information on its bio-dosing service and Rentokil can asisst with pest control,’ concludes Nathalie Leblond, marketing communications manager - Rentokil Initial.