What A Business Owner Should Know About Your Cafe Grease Trap! 💧

Cafe Grease Trap 💧: If there is one thing all Aussies can agree on, it is that coffee is becoming a key component of our day to day rituals and lifestyle. Whether you favour a long black, a flat white, or something a bit fancier, most of us start our day with a coffee.

In today’s blog, we will cover what every cafe owner or manager should know about their cafe grease trap. This is to ensure that the environment stays nice and clean; this will also ensure that your customers keep on coming back every day.

At waster.com.au, we often receive calls from cafe owners and staff in a panic as their cafe grease trap is either overflowing or smelling and driving customers away. This can be particularly damaging to a business during the peak of the summer season.

>Download Now: Free PDF Business Owners Guide To Grease Trap Cleaning Services

Waster provides all the waste services and recycling collections that cafes and restaurants require – covering cardboard, commingled recycling, sanitary bins for your bathrooms, general waste and of course your cafe grease trap cleaning. You can give us a call or check all your prices now through our online waste shop:

How to ensure your cafe grease trap does not impact your business!

Your cafe grease trap is one of those things, that if maintained on a regular schedule, should cause no real issues, and will not impact your business in any way.

What is a grease trap?

A grease trap is a system to prevent grease and food waste from clogging up the waster pipes in your business and the wider water network. It prevents the grease from entering the pips and is mandatory in Australian cities for businesses serving food. The trap filters the grease as it goes down the sink.

On a regular schedule, a grease trap cleaning company like Waster will come and pump out the contents of the trap so it does not become blocked.

How often should it be cleaned?

This frequency is set by your local water authority who will do a calculation based on the food you serve, how big your cafe is, and the size of your trap. In most areas, servicing will be done every few months.

And, if you read our blog on how often you should clean your grease trap for your cafe or restaurant, you surely already know the answer. But we will also discuss it here in detail.

And, according to one article we’ve read from smart alternative fuels, businesses should always remember the one-quarter rule. You might be thinking, “what is the one-quarter rule?” Basically, it means having your grease traps cleaned when you find it a quarter full. If you failed to do this, the trap becomes much less effective.

If you do not follow this, you risk overflowing and blocking your grease trap. Furthermore, it will also leave your place with a horrible stench.

Why does your cafe grease trap overflow?

Your cafe grease trap can overflow for two main reasons:

1. The first issue is when the cafe grease trap has not been cleaned according to the schedule and becomes filled up solid with grease. Oily water then gets forced out the top. This can be a real issue if the trap is inside (for example in a kitchen area.

2. The second less common issue is if there is a plumbing blockage somewhere in the piping system.

Which businesses need this service?

Some of you might wonder about who really needs a cafe grease trap for their business. Does a hotel need one? What about a convenience store? Or better yet, what about a big grocery shop?

Generally, all of the examples of businesses and grease traps involve the making and serving of food. According to Sydney Water, here are some examples:

• restaurants like fast food, cafes, and food courts
• hospitality industries like hotels, casinos, and bars
• areas inside facilities such as school, airport, and the hospital cafeteria
• commercials like grocery shops, convenience stores, and bakeries

It all boils down to this, first and foremost: grease and oil production. Does your business produce more oil, grease, or fats than the others? If so, then that means you need the services of a grease trap.

Additionally, you also have to think of this: do you dispose of the oil, grease, and fats in the sewerage? If in case you do this, that only means you need a cafe grease trap for your business.

Why pick Waster

There are three simple reasons why you should pick Waster for your cafe grease trap cleaning, waste management, and recycling needs:

1. You pay exactly what you asked for – and not a dollar more! For your waste management, grease trap cleaning, and recycling needs, avail our flexible, 30-day contracts instead of those long, unproductive, and hidden fee-containing lock-in contracts.
2. Designed for small and medium businesses – we help you reduce cost while boosting recycling. That’s a win-win situation!
3. On-time and reliable – we provide fully-accredited logistics and facility operators. By saying so, we ensure the safety and efficiency of our services.

Conclusion on cafe grease trap

“Does a bar need a grease trap?” “Does a sandwich shop need a grease trap?” Or, “Does an ice cream shop need a grease trap?” These are just some of the questions we always receive.

All of the answers to that is yes! Cafe grease traps prevent the clogging of pipes by, of course, trapping the grease, oil, and fats. But regular cleaning is required for it to function properly.

In the same way that it is sensible to practise having your car maintained at the mechanics every few months, having your cafe grease trap cleaned in line with the set schedule will save you lots of stress and money in the long run.

See our blog on grease trap price for what a service costs.

Also, see our blog on restaurant waste management.