Fats, Oils & Grease
Households
Kitchen grease is a menace to sewer pipes. It’s a common mistake: Liquefied animal fats, grease and vegetable oils are often poured into drains, but they eventually solidify and clog pipes. That causes sewer lines to back up and leads to manhole overflows or private laterals to surcharge into homes or businesses. Other grease generators, such as restaurants, contribute to the problem. The City works with them to maintain grease traps and interceptors in order to minimize the amount of time Sewer Maintenance staff spends on grease removal. You can help! Please do not dispose of cooking grease or other oils down drains! Whenever possible, collect these items and dispose of in a trash receptacle.
Restaurants & Food Service Establishments
What problems are caused by fats, oils & grease? Raw sewage overflows, rancid odors, expensive cleanup, repair & replacement of damaged property, potential contact with microorganisms that can cause diseases such as hepatitis & gastroenteritis.
All restaurants and food service establishments need to control fats, oils & grease discharges from their facility as per City of Kingsport Ordinance.
The City of Kingsport conducts fats, oils & grease inspections, also the Wastewater Services Division will ask about grease control equipment & maintenance. Based on the inspection, your facility will receive a grease control permit. Failure to cooperate can result in a notice of violation and other enforcement action.
Restaurants and food service establishments need to have grease control equipment installed, maintain the equipment, keep records on-site and follow Best Management Practices (BMPs).
For guidelines on grease control equipment, BMPs and tips for minimizing your restaurant’s stormwater impact, please download this FOG brochure.
City of Kingsport Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG) Brochure page 1
City of Kingsport Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG) Brochure page 2
