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Why You Shouldn't Clean Your Own Grease Traps and the Benefits of Hiring Professional Grease Trap Cleaners

What’s Wrong With DIY Grease Trap Cleaning?

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DIY grease trap cleaning can be a temptation for many, whether you’ve looked at the price vs the self-labor and decided you wanted to cut out the middle man and learn, or you’ve been in the business long enough to think that it would be an easy enough task. And while some have success with DIY cleaning, the costs, risks, and losses don’t usually justify the DIY method when professional grease trap cleaners exist for your comfort, efficiency, and safety.

The Grease Just Keeps Coming Back

Since grease trap require regular, consistent cleaning to keep within regulatory compliance, the job is unfortunately not a one-and-done type. For the convenience and efficiency that come with regular, auto-scheduled grease trap cleaning services, it is well worth the responsibility to be taken out of your hands and into those of professionals so that you can spend your time doing all the jobs specific to your individual business that can’t be done by outside services, like grease trap cleaning can.

In addition to the economics of saved time, the grease has to go somewhere – and not just any old place, but the correct waste disposal plants. Do you have the time to do the proper research on correct disposal? Do you have the means to transport the waste?

If you’ve answered yes to all these considerations and if the time is available, then what’s the harm in DIYing it?

Serious Consequences for Small Mistakes

Well, the harm manifests in different ways that have effects ranging from venue-specific to city-wide. If cleaned incorrectly, grease traps have the high potential to smoke out your customers and your employees with rancid odors, putrid grease runoff, and contaminated plumbing that can run all the way to the city’s sewer system to collect and back-up – which, if traced back to your establishment, can incur some serious fines and consequences for damages and lack of regulation standards.

Not only does it have likely consequences for you personally, but you also run the risk of damaging the environment. Grease runoff into grass, soil, or waterways is non-soluble pollution that can throw ecosystems off and invite pests to breed in conditions that you unintentionally created.

Acquiring Long-Term Costs

After taking a look at professional cleaning processes, it might be a good time to look at the tools and materials you’d need to match the quality of a professional clean; with the high-end instruments they use because it’s their specialty, the question, then, becomes one of:

“Are you willing to sacrifice quality for small cost-cuts?”

If the answer is still yes, there are factors to consider about long-term costs that may arise with DIY cleaning, such as:

  • Money from Time-Loss
  • Proper Equipment Costs
  • Responsibility for Fines Incurred by Improper Cleaning
  • Transportation of Waste to the Proper Facilities
  • Equipment and Plumbing Damage
  • Spill Clean-Up
  • Safety Measures

All of these facets are included in professional grease trap cleaning, and with Moon Grease Trap Cleaning being locally owned and operated, you’d be contributing to small businesses of Louisville, as well, by allowing them to do their jobs so that your business can thrive.

The Unpleasant Reality

When it all comes down to it, grease trap cleaning is just not a pleasant job to do without the correct tools. It’s smelly, dirty, tedious, and the risk of toxic fumes and grease spills are not fun to have to consider.

Whether it’s you or your employees, DIY grease trap cleaning will always leave the job to someone who may not have known the undesirable task was included in their job description, and that’s not a surprise anyone wants to find sitting at the top of their to-do list, especially not when the process usually happens either before customers begin arriving or after everyone else has left for the day.

Professional grease trap cleaners?

Fortunately for any restaurant owner out there, regular grease trap cleaning is in our job description – anytime, anywhere, anyone. Moon Grease Trap Cleaning offers you a service that is fast, reliable, efficient, and convenient so that the dirty work is out of your hands and into those of our experts.

Ready to get started? Visit our website for a free estimate, or give us a call at 502-776-2199. We look forward to working with you! 

Own or Operate a Restaurant in St. Matthews, Kentucky?

Grease Trap Cleaning in St. Matthews, Kentucky

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If you live in Louisville, you may know of “St. Matthews” as a neighborhood, but it’s actually considered the 23rd largest city in Kentucky! With a population of over 17,000 and consistent rankings as one of the best places to live in the state, St. Matthews is anything but just a suburb of Louisville.

What makes St. Matthews so special? This flourishing community has the best of both commercial and residential fixings: the fifth largest mall in the state, huge shopping plazas, desirable homes, incredible parks, great restaurants, highly-rated schools, and year-round community activity. Being centrally-located and minutes away from major interstates such as I-64 and the Watterson Expressway, St. Matthews residents can access any part of the metro area in minutes. 

Where should I eat in St. Matthews?

One of St. Matthews’ most attractive qualities is its vast variety of good restaurants. While we can’t even begin to include every great spot on our list, here are a few of the top-rated eateries in the area, based on what you’re craving.

Love Cuban and Latin food? Check out Mojitos Tapas or Havana Rumba. These local-favorites have been around for years, offering live music as well as an incredible variety of food and drink.

Big fan of brunch? Try Wild Eggs, a popular local chain, Biscuit Belly’s incredible Southern-style biscuits, or Cheddar Box Too’s extensive breakfast, brunch, and lunch menu for some delicious fare. 

Enjoy Italian? Silvio’s Italian Restaurant, Porcini Italian, or Volare Italian Ristorante are all upscale and well-regarded Italian restaurants in the St. Matthews area.  

Vegetarian, vegan, or trying to eat healthier? Half-Peach Bakery and Cafe offers an entirely-vegan selection of desserts and healthy eats. In addition, Taziki’s offers a variety of homemade Mediterranean food and Nam Nam Cafe offers a wide selection of authentic, organic Vietnamese cuisine.

Have a sweet tooth? You can’t go wrong with The Comfy Cow, a local ice cream joint, the Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Kitchen, Graeter’s Ice Cream, Duck Donuts, or Nothing Bundt Cakes. 

Barbecue Connoisseur? You’re in luck! Mission BBQ is a consistent favorite with a cause, or try Momma’s Mustard, Pickles & BBQ for Kansas-style fare, or FABD Smokehouse for some of the best barrel smoked-meats in the city. 

Need something to “taco” ‘bout? Taco Luchador is an iconic local chain, in addition to MexA Tacos and Taco Choza.

How can Moon Grease Trap Cleaning help my restaurant?

As a locally-owned full-service company with over 30 years of experience, Moon Grease Trap Cleaning offers restaurants and food-industry organizations a variety of services, including routine grease trap cleaning and grease interceptor cleaning. We are passionate about disposing of waste in an environmentally-friendly manner and maintain complete records to make sure your grease trap is one less thing you have to worry about.

Our team of experts is ready to manage and schedule your restaurant grease trap service on a timely basis,. This ensures that you meet all required MSD regulations. Setting up a regular service schedule is recommended in order to avoid issues that can arise from clogged or congested pipelines leading to the main sewer line.

How does a grease trap cleaning work?

Once you’ve scheduled your grease trap service appointment, we’ll come to your location and pump your grease trap or grease trap interceptor using our top-of-the-line equipment, such as the PROvac unit. With the quick, quiet, and efficient PROVac unit, our service techs can easily maneuver through cramped kitchen areas, providing minimal business disruption. 

Where are grease traps located?

Our team is equipped to handle both interior and exterior grease traps. Most restaurant grease traps are located inside of the building and under a sink, ranging in size from 10 to 50 gallons. Grease traps are often used on a sink-by-sink basis, so each sink within an establishment typically has its own grease trap. Exterior grease traps are generally much larger, with capacities that can handle thousands of gallons of grease. Grease traps should be regularly serviced. Depending on the size and the amount of usage, we often recommend monthly servicing to avoid any technical issues or health code violations.

Own or Operate a Restaurant in St. Matthews, Kentucky?

If you work in the food business in the Louisville or Southern Indiana area, call the pros at Moon Grease Trap Cleaning! Visit our website for a free estimate, or give us a call at 502-776-2199. We look forward to working with you! 

 

 

Moon Companies offers grease trap cleaning to Louisville and New Albany, Indiana

Grease Trap Cleaning in New Albany, Indiana

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New Albany, Indiana is located 4 miles northeast of Louisville, a short trip across the Ohio River. With a population of 37,000, New Albany offers a small town charm and a vibrant, growing culinary, retail and arts scene. Popular sites of interest include the Carnegie Art and History Center, the Riverfront Amphitheatre, the River Run Family Water Park, and the New Albany Farmer’s Market. Top-rated restaurants include The Exchange Pub and Kitchen, Dragon King’s Daughter, Agave + Rye, Brooklyn and The Butcher, and the New Albanian Brewing Company. Foodies, families, antique lovers, theatre-goers and history nerds alike can all find something to do in New Albany!

Founded in 1813 as a hub of shipping and boat building, New Albany grew to be the largest city in Indiana. While it no longer holds that title, New Albany is still home to five historic preservation districts . New Albany’s rich history is evident in structures like the stunning Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site, the Scribner House, the nearby Falls of the Ohio State Park. 

Moon Grease Trap Cleaning is proud to service New Albany, Indiana, and the surrounding areas. We provide regularly scheduled grease trap cleaning services for any size restaurant or food preparation location. Our highly-skilled grease trap cleaning technicians will thoroughly remove, clean and dispose of all grease, wastewater, and solid material from your grease trap system. Keep reading to find out about how our professional grease trap cleaning services in New Albany works. 

How Do I Schedule A Grease Trap Cleaning with Moon?

Are you a business owner, wondering how to book a grease trap cleaning appointment with Moon? Just give us a call at 502-776-2199 or fill out our website contact form! We’ll schedule your service, provide you with a free cost estimate and answer any questions you may have. 

How Does Grease Trap Cleaning Work?

Once you’ve confirmed your grease trap service appointment, our professional team members will come to your location.  Most grease traps are a small metal tank, under the sink in your building. We’ll use a top-of-the-line PROvac hose to efficiently and safely pump your grease trap or grease trap interceptor. The entire process is incredibly quick and very quiet, so that the grease trap cleaning can be done during your business hours.

Why Should I Get A Grease Trap Cleaning?

You can’t ignore your grease traps. Failing to properly handle your grease traps can lead to law violations, expensive servicing, or business closures, due to unsanitary conditions. That’s why choosing to invest in a local company that cares about your continual success and quality of service is of the highest importance.

As a MSD Certified Hauler and member of the Kentucky Restaurant Association, we are certified experts in grease trap cleaning, fully committed to keeping your business compliant with state and federal laws. Whether your business requires monthly servicing or chooses to use us on a needed basis, our skilled and hardworking team is happy to provide affordable and environmentally-friendly service. Contact us today!

How to and where to recycle old grease in your restaurant

Recycling Old Grease

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If you own a restaurant, you’re probably familiar with the large amount of grease associated with cooking at scale. But did you know that old grease found in your grease traps can be recycled? Here’s what you need to know.

How Grease Traps Capture Waste

To start out, it’s helpful to consider how grease traps capture waste in the first place. Grease traps are small metal boxes located inside of food-producing businesses. They help remove greases and solids from wastewater before it enters the sewersystem. Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) that are commonly disposed of in food-producing businesses can build up in wastewater treatment facilities and septic tanks. When unaddressed, this can overwhelm infrastructure and lead to the release of untreated sewage. These oils can also cool and solidify, combining with other solids in the waste system to block pipes. Grease traps help prevent all of this from happening.

Liquids from sinks flow into the traps, and solids that are more dense than water drop to the bottom while greases float to the top. The remaining water, which is mostly grease free, is then put into the sewer system. Businesses service grease traps on a monthly basis. Health code regulations specify cleaning schedules and procedures.

The Recycling Process

So where does recycling come in? When a business like Moon comes to your establishment to clean your grease trap, we end up taking away lots of used FOGs so you can have a clean grease trap. We can thoroughly pump out, clean and dispose of all grease, wastewater, and solid material from your grease trap system by suctioning it out with a hose system. Also, we suction into a holding tank on a truck.

We then take the grease, in a liquid form at this point, to a treatment facility. This facility sorts out the FOGs from the water even further. They put brown grease so it is ready for recycling. Some recycling methods re-purpose the grease to be used as a fertilizer in farm fields. Other times, the FOGs can be purified to the point that they are made into usable fuel. In all cases, your wastewater is transformed into something useful.

How Moon Can Help

Professionals like Moon can thoroughly clean and monitor your grease trap system. Plus, we can help keep track of your maintenance schedule and adherence to regulations.

This has several benefits. For one, properly functioning systems prevent a negative environmental impact from sewage overflow. Plus, it saves time and money by preventing a backed up system that can shut down business. We can also make recommendations about cleaning commercial kitchens to mitigate the impact of FOGs on your grease trap or interceptor system and the environment.

Schedule your next grease service by contacting Moon Grease Trap Cleaning at 502-776-2199. We are happy to answer any and all questions you may have.

The history of grease traps and how they came to be

History of the Grease Trap

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Grease traps play a key role in properly capturing and disposing of grease in food-related establishments today. Both grease traps and grease interceptors are a standard and required feature in many businesses. How did this come to be such a staple of modern life? Today on the blog, we’re taking a look at the history of the grease trap. 

History of the Grease Trap: 19th Century

As long as there have been sewage systems, there has been a need to deal with the fats, oils, and greases (FOG)  humans have put into them. FOG can be a major issue on sewage systems, causing backups that severely damage a community’s ability to properly manage waste and wastewater. The first official patent for a grease trap system was filed in the late 19th century by Nathaniel Whiting, an American inventor. This first design has the same core elements we see in modern day grease traps. An interceptor box is connected to the source of FOG (a kitchen sink, for example) and removes unwanted material before wastewater is put into the sewage system. The box holds the FOG for later removal. 

History of the Grease Trap: 20th Century and Today

While that core design is still at the root of grease traps today, there are several improvements that have been made over time. For example, in the 1930’s a gravity grease trap was developed, which used more water than previously to slow the flow through the grease trap. This allowed for a greater removal of FOG from kitchen wastewater. 

Since then, some other common types of grease trap have emerged. The modern hydro-mechanical grease trap is one such innovation. It utilizes heat, water, and gravity within a steel or carbon trap to more efficiently remove and store FOG. Another modern innovation is the automatic grease trap. This leverages electrical and mechanical features to remove a high percentage of FOG.  

Scheduling Grease Trap Servicing

If you own an establishment with a grease trap or interceptor, quality servicing is important for your business. Professionals like Moon Grease Trap Cleaning can thoroughly pump out, clean and dispose of all grease, wastewater, and solid material from your grease trap system. It’s important to regularly schedule cleaning. Properly functioning systems prevent a negative environmental impact from sewage overflow or blockage. Plus, it can save time and money by preventing a backed up system that can shut down business.

Moon can help keep track of your maintenance schedule and adherence to regulations. This is important- for any business that prepares food, it is mandatory by law to have a grease trap installed and cleaned regularly. As a Kentucky Restaurant Association Member, Moon stays up to date with regulations and follows best practices.

No service request is too big or too small for Moon Grease Trap Cleaning. We provide quality service in a prompt manner. Schedule your next grease service by contacting Moon at 502-776-2199. Or, visit our website for a quote! We are happy to answer any and all questions you may have. 

 

How grease traps can contribute to restaurant pests

Kitchen Pests: Maintaining Your Grease Traps

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Grease traps are a crucial element of any commercial kitchen or business that serves food. Unfortunately, improperly maintained grease traps can attract all sorts of nasty pests if you aren’t careful. Not to fear! Here are our top tips for avoiding pests in your commercial kitchen.

FOG Build-up Attracts Kitchen Pests

First, you should know why this is so important. When you do not properly keep a grease trap maintained, FOGs can build up and lead to several issues like clogged pipes, damage, and inefficient draining (learn more about FOGs from our previous blog on the topic). Additionally, it can attract pests to your establishment. Pests love to feed off of organic matter like FOG. This can be both unsightly and unsanitary- bugs and mice can carry disease around the food you serve customers. Plus, FOG build-up tends to produce a distinctly stinky smell. This is pretty noticeable too, and is a huge issue both for pest control and customer satisfaction.

Look Out for Drain Flies

One common pest you may find in your kitchen is the drain fly. These tiny flies often congregate around drains or other areas that harbor food waste or grease. They like standing water and leftover organic matter- they lay eggs in these areas, and their larvae feed upon the organic matter. Even if a drain appears clean from the outside, the pipes below may be caked with a layer of grease. To prevent this from happening and attracting drain flies, always be careful about what goes down drains. Do not put solids down your drains. Also, you should make sure your grease traps are maintained properly to help reduce the amount of FOGS that make it into your pipes. You can also pour hot water down drains on a weekly basis to help break down any buildup.

Clean Grease Traps Are The Answer

A clean grease trap means fewer pests, less risk of disease spread, more passed inspections, and better business. Professionals like Moon Grease Trap Cleaning can get you on a schedule for grease trap cleaning. You’ll meet all necessary regulations and you’ll have access to an expert who can help get to the root cause of any pest issues. Our technicians remove all FOGs from your traps and interceptors, clean your systems, and properly dispose of FOGs. You’ll also be less likely to have untimely and expensive system failures like sewer backups. Plus, we service grease traps and interceptors of all capacities. So, your business will benefit from our work whether you have a small establishment or an enormous one.

All of this means your business will be able to run smoothly, avoid costly problems, and focus more on what matters: the food and service you provide to your customers.

Are you ready for pest problems to be a thing of the past? Look no further! Moon is the one-stop shop for your grease trap needs. Schedule your next grease service by contacting Moon Grease Trap Cleaning at 502-776-2199. We are happy to answer any and all questions you may have!

Fats oils grease FOG restrictions violations and regulations

10 FOG Guidelines in Louisville, Kentucky

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Fats, oil, and grease (FOG) can clog up the sewer system like nothing else. As FOG escapes from kitchens and into the sewer lines and pump stations, grease coats pipes and systems. These blockages eventually can cause sewer overflows into homes and businesses, degrade the quality of water sources, and corrode pipes.  That’s why cities implement best practices for grease traps and FOG rules. In Louisville, Kentucky, there are several Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG) Management Guidelines that all commercial kitchens must follow.

FOG Guidelines in Louisville

The Louisville/Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) is a regional non-profit agency that monitors and maintains the wastewater treatment system in the metropolitan area. MSD has a significant amount of guidance and sets of rules related to FOG disposal. Food service establishments (FSEs) need to be in compliance with the FOG management guidelines MSD sets. These guidelines, which outline 17 points (excluding subpoints) can be found in a PDF available on the MSD website. However, for ease of access, we will be outlining 10 of the most important points here.

1. FSEs must use certified plumbers/haulers to manage FOG.

Grease traps and interceptors require specific cleaning. MSD requires FSEs to have certified plumbers/haulers perform cleaning and removal procedures. Moon Grease Trap Cleaning is one of the certified haulers for Louisville, KY and Lexington, KY. Certified plumbers/haulers go through MSD-led training to stay up to date with procedures. This is a safeguard and a seal of approval from the government that says we know how to correctly pump grease traps and interceptors, as well as how to safely dispose of the waste. These professionals are the people you should work closely with for your regular trap and interceptor maintenance and certification. MSD requires documentation of all cleanings and inspections too. Working with these professionals ensures that you will be up to code and have all of the paperwork you need in an organized fashion.

2. Grease Trap Cleaning and Maintenance Requirements

The frequency of grease trap cleanings in Louisville, KY should be consistent with the following requirements:

  1. Grease traps shall be cleaned of complete fats, oils, and grease and food solids by an approved MSD Certified Grease Waste Hauler monthly (minimum) OR
  2. If the FOG and food solids content of the grease trap is greater than 25% of the water depth capacity of the grease trap.
    1. If this the case, then the grease trap needs to be cleaned weekly or as frequently as needed to prevent surpassing 25%.

3.  Grease Interceptor Cleaning and Maintenance Requirements

The frequency of grease interceptor cleanings in Louisville, KY should be consistent with the following requirements:

  1. Grease interceptors must be pumped-in-full by an approved MSD Certified Grease Waste Hauler when the total accumulations of surface FOG (including floating solids) and settled solids reaches twenty-five percent (25%) of the grease interceptor’s overall liquid depth.
    1. This is known as the 25% rule.
  2. At no time, shall the cleaning frequency of the grease interceptor exceed 90 days, unless approved by MSD.
  3. Some existing FSEs in Class 2 through 5 will need to consider a 30 day pumping frequency or a 60 day pumping frequency to meet the 25 Percent Rule requirement.
  4. Partial pump of interceptor contents or on-site pump & treatment of GI contents will not be allowed due to reintroduction of fats, oils and grease to the interceptor and pursuant.

4. Food establishments are classified by size and need to satisfy the grease trap size requirements of their class.

Depending on the type of establishment you run, MSD assigned a different FSE class. There are 5 classes with different minimum acceptable sizes of GCE:

  1. Class 1: 25 gallons per minute/50 pound grease trap if an exemption has not been granted by MSD.
    1. Delis
    2. Daycare Facilities
    3. Frozen Yogurt Ships
    4. Ice Cream Shops
    5. Beverage Bars
    6. Coffee Shops
    7. Mobile Food Vendors
  2. Class 2: 1,000 gallon grease trap or equivalent device which has been approved by the Kentucky Division of Plumbing and MSD.
    1. Limited-Service Restaurants
    2. Fast Food Facilities
    3. Catering Restaurants
    4. Grocery/Food Marts
  3. Class 3: 1,000 gallon Grease Interceptor or equivalent device which has been approved by the Kentucky Division of Plumbing and MSD.
    1. Full-Service Restaurants
  4. Class 4: 1,500 gallon Grease Interceptor or equivalent device which has been approved by the Kentucky Division of Plumbing and MSD.
    1. Buffets
    2. Cafeteria Facilities

Class 5: 2,000 gallon grease interceptor or two 1000 gallon grease interceptors installed in series or equivalent devices which has been approved by the Kentucky Division of Plumbing and MSD.

  • Institutions
  • Schools
  • Hospitals
  • Prisons

IMPORTANT NOTES:

  1. Grease interceptor capacity should not exceed 2,000 gallons for each interceptor tank. In the event that the grease interceptor calculated capacity needs to exceed 2,000 gallons, the FSE shall install an additional interceptor of the appropriate size.
  2. If FSEs need more than one interceptors, then they need to be installed in such a manner to ensure positive flow between the tanks at all times. Therefore, tanks shall be installed so that the inlet invert of each successive tank shall be a minimum of 2 inches below the outlet invert of the preceding tank.
  3. Grease interceptors that are installed in series shall include adaptors, gaskets or flexible transition couplings of minimum of schedule 40 PVC pipe.

5. Pipes and sewer lines need to be separate from each other.

Kitchen process lines and sanitary lines may combine prior to entering the public sewer ONLY AFTER passing through the grease control equipment.

Sanitary wastewater, or black water, cannot be connected to grease control equipment.

6. Coffee shops have additional regulations.

Coffee shops do not get exemptions due to the pH of wastewater. They will also be required to install polyethylene, plastic or fiberglass under 25 gallon per minute/50 lb capacity sink grease traps on 3-compartment sinks.

7. Compliance deadlines have a 6-month or less timestamp.

FSEs with existing substandard or undersized grease control equipment will get a written notice of deficiency from MSD. Compliance deadlines will not exceed more than 6 months.

8. There are several important prohibitions.

Prohibited actions by FSEs to avoid contributing to the MSD collection system include:

  1. Running hot water continuously through grease control equipment
  2. Discharge concentrated alkaline or acidic solutions into grease control equipment
  3. Discharge of concentrated detergents into grease control equipment
  4. Use additives for grease management
    1. Additives are any products that contain solvents, acids, bacteria, enzymes, emulsifiers, and other similar ingredients. They have the potential to contribute to FOG buildup and interference with MSD systems. This is especially problematic if you use them right before liquids go into grease traps or interceptors.

There are a few exceptions here. You can use additives to clean drain lines, but only in amounts and ways such that FOGs won’t be put into the sewer system or that FOGs will be temporarily broken down and allowed to pass through grease traps and interceptors. Additionally, 100% bacteria additives are allowed to be used, but you need to get MSD approval first. Always check with MSD before using any additives you think may be allowable.

9. FSEs shall observe Best Management Practices (BMPs) for controlling the discharge of FOG from their facility.

The Best Management Practices include:

  • Keep Grease out of kitchen drains by collecting and rendering yellow grease in a recycling bin that a permitted waste hauler can accept.
  • Scrape grease and food solids from plates and cookware before washing.
  • Use strainers in the sink and floor drains to prevent large food particles from entering internal plumbing and public sewers.
  • Never pour grease, dairy products, syrups, icings, batters, or gravies into floor drains or mop sinks.
  • Wipe up grease spills with paper towels or absorbents before using water.
  • Have your Grease Control Equipment cleaned on the proper frequency by a Certified Hauler.
  • Educate and train employees on all kitchen Best Management Practices.

10. MSD has the right of entry for inspection and monitoring of grease control equipment.

MSD retains the right to enter the premises of restaurants and kitchens to determine whether the FSE is complying with MSD policy. FSEs must allow MSD personnel full access to all parts of the premises for the purpose of inspection, monitoring, and/or records examination after presenting their credentials. Furthermore, unreasonable delays in allowing MSD personnel access to the FSE premises will result in a violation of the Wastewater/Stormwater Discharge Regulations and FOG Guidelines.

Keep Up to Date With MSD Guidelines in Louisville, KY with Moon Grease Trap Cleaning

There are plenty of other requirements a restaurant and a certified grease hauler need to satisfy in Louisville, KY. Since we need to know the best practices and certification needs, Moon Grease Trap Cleaning has knowledgeable experts who will make sure your FSE is up to code. Schedule your next grease service by contacting Moon Grease Trap Cleaning at 502-776-2199!  We are happy to answer any and all questions you may have!

Moon Companies
Moon Grease Trap Cleaning is a part of Moon Companies. We offer a wide variety of trade services for the citizens and businesses of Louisville, KY, Southern Indiana, and the surrounding areas.
  1. Shipping Container Rentals: For those looking to buy or rent new or used shipping containers, Moon Trailer Leasing has a large selection of one-trip Conex boxes, as well as pre-fabricated portable offices.
  2. Portapotty Rentals: Rent out restrooms, luxury bathroom trailers, commercial shower trailers, and handwashing stations from Moon Portable Restrooms for your next construction site or outdoor event.
  3. Dumpster Rentals: Moon Mini Dumpsters delivers roll-off dumpsters directly to your home or business and then hauls away your trash for you.
  4. Refrigerated Container Rentals: For refrigerated containers rentals in Louisville, KY, contact Moon Refrigeration about our ready-to-go reefer containers.
  5. Portable Storage Units: Go Minis KY is a premier storage choice that offers an onsite storage, location-to-location moving services, and secure warehouse storage
  6. Grease Trap and Interceptor Cleaning: Keep your restaurant up to regulation and schedule your restaurant’s grease trap cleanings with Moon Grease Trap Cleaning.
Call us today at 502-776-2199 to learn more or schedule your service!
What is FOG? Fats Oils Grease

What is FOG?

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FOG, or Fats, Oils, and Grease, refers to byproducts that are created during food preparation, cooking, dish cleaning, and grease cleaning. It has the potential to enter wastewater and clog up the sewer system. Let’s take a look at the science behind FOG and why it’s so important to prevent build-up.

What is FOG?

As mentioned above, FOG (Fats, Oil, and Grease) is a byproduct of cooking. Many types of food and food byproducts combine to form this byproduct in the cooking process, including meats, fish, nuts, dairy products, soups, and more. FOG is sometimes referred to as brown grease. Basically, it’s the greasy gunk that is left over after you are done cooking.

FOG is made up of fatty acids and glycerol. One example of a part of a FOG compound is triglycerides. Triglycerides are found in vegetable oils and animal fats. They can be either solid or liquid at room temperature, and are less dense than water, so they float in water. At a chemical level, this chemical compound is comprised of three fatty acids and one molecule of glycerol.

Settings where FOG can be an issue

Any setting where cooking happens can lead to a high amount of FOG. We might first think of restaurants when we think of FOG. Restaurants do create a lot of it in the process of producing their products. But, there are plenty of other sources too, like hospitals, community centers, bakeries, hotels, and more. These FOG-producing entities are collectively referred to as Food Service Establishments (FSE). As a collective, FSE are very significant contributors of FOG to sewer systems.

How it affects the sewer system

If FOG is not properly removed from wastewater, its presence can wreak havoc in sewer systems. Elements of it end up clogging sewer pipes through a series of complex chemical reactions when it enters the sewer system. Basically, it breaks down and reforms to combine with other chemicals present in sewers, leading to a buildup of soap-like compounds. These blockages reduce the flow of wastewater in sewers, and if left unaddressed can completely block outflows. This means sewers can overflow and plumbing can be blocked in commercial and residential settings.

Preventing blockages

The best way to prevent these blockages from becoming issues is to prevent FOG from entering sewer systems in the first place. This is where grease traps and grease interceptors come in handy at FSE. Grease traps and interceptors are systems that help remove FOG from wastewater before that water enters the sewer system. Check out our blog post on how these two systems work in more detail.

Grease traps and interceptors are crucial for public sewer systems, and as such there are a number of rules and regulations on their use for FSE. But, the specific regulations can vary by state and locality. Working with an experienced business like Moon Grease Trap Cleaning is a great way to stay up to date on regulations and maintain clean and safe grease traps and grease interceptors.

Schedule your next grease service by contacting Moon Grease Trap Cleaning at 502-776-2199. We are happy to answer any and all questions you may have.

What happens to used grease and cooking oils? Grease trap cleaning

Used Grease and Cooking Oils

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Grease and used cooking oil: if you own a restaurant, you probably produce plenty of these as a byproduct of cooking. You may already know that grease traps are an important way to filter these out from your wastewater. But did you know that the used grease and oils they collect are actually quite useful and sought after? Let’s take a deeper dive into used restaurant grease and oils. 

Uses for Grease and Oils 

There are around 4.4 billion pounds of used cooking oil generated by the food service industry each year in North America alone. Up until the 1990’s, these byproducts were primarily used in the rendering industry. Cleaned and processed oils are useful for everything from animal feed to paint and plastics, and people in the industry pursued these uses for years. But in the 1990’s, another use emerged: biofuel. When properly cleaned and filtered, used oils and greases can be converted into valuable fuel. The rendering industry began to use the oil in mass for biofuels, with significant positive effects. For one, reusing old oils and grease is cheaper than relying on new fuel. Plus, the low carbon biofuel is just as effective as diesel fuel, but with up to 85% fewer carbon emissions.

With a clear benefit to reusing these oils, an industry continued to develop. There have actually been government mandates for refineries that require a certain amount of biofuel to be added to petroleum fuels too. These factors and others have led to a high value on used restaurant oils and grease. 

The Rise of the Grease Thief

With soaring value came an opportunity for unsavory thievery. More and more people with an eye for the rising market value began to steal used restaurant grease. They found plenty of opportunity, with lots of businesses storing their byproducts in traps or interceptors outside their buildings. When unsecured, this makes for an easy target and payday on this new liquid gold. 

Of course, selling requires a buyer. Unfortunately, there seem to be plenty of people willing to look the other way on the source of used oils and grease. While many biofuel companies perform their due diligence to vet potential sellers, some have not worked hard enough to help weed out illegitimate sales. Companies have faced some pressure to start examining sources more rigorously. 

What This Means for Restaurants

Fortunately, there’s a lot restaurants can do to help prevent this theft. Monitoring trap and interceptor levels between servicing is an important way to tell if there has been any theft. Plus, they can even install fences and other security measures to obscure access and ensure protection. They can also move their infrastructure to indoor traps to add a lot of security. 

Don’t forget- just as security is crucial, so is a regular maintenance schedule! Moon Grease Traps offers servicing for grease interceptors and traps at any establishment. From a single grease trap, to one per sink in larger establishments, to an outdoor interceptor, we have you covered. Schedule your next grease service by contacting Moon Grease Trap Cleaning at 502-776-2199. We are happy to answer any and all questions you may have!

What's the difference between a grease trap and a grease interceptor?

Grease Traps vs. Grease Interceptors

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Grease traps and grease interceptors are grease collection systems that many establishments use. There are a few key things that differentiate the two systems. Here’s a look at some key similarities and differences.

Grease traps

Grease traps are typically small metal boxes located inside of the business they are used for. They help remove greases and solids from wastewater before it enters the wastewater disposal system. Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) that are commonly disposed of in food-producing businesses can build up in wastewater treatment facilities and septic tanks. When unaddressed, this can overwhelm infrastructure and lead to the release of untreated sewage. These oils can also cool and solidify, combining with other solids in the waste system to block pipes. Grease traps help prevent all of this from the getgo by removing FOG before they enter the system. 

Since grease traps are small, several are often used in larger establishments, one per sink. Liquids from sinks flow into the traps, and solids that are more dense than water drop to the bottom while greases (less dense than water) float to the top. The remaining water, which is mostly grease free, is then piped into the waste system. Businesses typically service grease traps on a monthly basis. Health code regulations specify cleaning schedules and procedures. 

Grease interceptors

Grease interceptors perform the same function as grease traps. However, they are much larger, with a single interceptor serving an entire establishment. Given the size of the interceptors, they are often located outside of a business and accessed through a maintenance hole cover. 

The function and mechanics of grease interceptors are similar to those of grease traps. Dirty water from a business flows into a large container that separates out solids and grease. Interceptors do this with a series of retention reservoirs and baffles (walls). They then pipe cleaned water into the waste system. Given their large size, grease interceptors are usually cleaned once every two or three months. 

Cleaning Grease Traps and Interceptors

Both the floating FOGs and the solids at the bottom of the grease traps and interceptors must be regularly disposed of. Professionals like Moon Grease Trap Cleaning can thoroughly pump out, clean and dispose of all grease, wastewater, and solid material from your grease trap system. Plus, they can help keep track of your maintenance schedule and adherence to regulations. 

It’s important to regularly schedule cleaning for both types systems. For one, properly functioning systems prevent a negative environmental impact from sewage overflow or blockage. Plus, it can save time and money by preventing a backed up system that can shut down business. Professionals can also make recommendations about cleaning commercial kitchens to mitigate the impact of FOGs on your grease trap or interceptor system and the environment. 

Schedule your next grease service by contacting Moon Grease Trap Cleaning at 502-776-2199. We are happy to answer any and all questions you may have.