When we wash the dishes after a meal, there is always some oil or fatty stuff sticking to the plate. While little bits may not appear to matter, they can accumulate over time and cause obstructions in drains and pipes, causing us an occasional maintenance requirement.
Particularly in commercial settings like restaurants and school and hospital kitchens that handle significant volumes of food every day, the fatty stuff — known formally as fats, oils and grease (FOG) — can pile up quickly and lead to serious hygiene and environmental problems.
Here is an introduction to FOGs and to the two most efficient ways by which commercial properties can combat the FOG menace:
What is FOG?
FOG refers to the fatty byproduct of any cooking process, including both animal and vegetable fats as well as residual cooking oil. While commercial properties are expected to drain FOG out for separate disposal, some of it inevitably goes down the drain during the dishwashing and food preparation processes.
When FOG material builds up in drains and pipes, it congeals over time into solid fatty chunks that can clog up drains or even block them entirely.
It can be extremely expensive for the waterways department to clean up the drains, which is why companies responsible for FOG accumulation can be fined.
The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that many people do not even recognise how much of a pollutant FOG material can be, which is why they continue to take no action.
Solutions to combat FOG
Research shows that about 100 tons of fat are poured into drain holes in London, from commercial and household sources, daily.
Therefore, as a commercial property, the first step you should take is to strain out as much FOG material at the source as possible so that your drains are kept clean. This helps save you needless financial penalties later on.
In addition, invest in systems that gather up whatever grease you cannot dispose of manually. Most businesses go for grease traps and enzyme dosing units:
1. Grease traps
As the name indicates, a grease trap traps FOG material as it washes into the sink and prevents most of it from entering the drainage pipe.
Grease traps come in several sizes, with the largest ones capable of trapping up to 100 litres of FOG, and it is crucial to pick one based on the daily volumes of food your business handles.
However, despite the positives, problems arise when the grease trap is not maintained regularly. This leads to FOG material accumulation and a flow restriction in the pipelines, resulting in a blockage. It can be rather expensive to rectify the problem.
That is why it is essential to call in a professional to clean the grease trap periodically and dispose of the FOG hygienically.
2. Enzyme dosing units
For a more advanced grease removal solution, commercial properties can invest in enzyme dosing units. Used together with grease traps, these provide a comprehensive solution to FOG build-up. Essentially, it involves injecting a measured dose of certain fat-burning enzymes into the grease trap.
This helps to slow down the rate of fat accumulation, cuts down on the unpleasant smell from accumulated fat and reduces the amount of grease trap maintenance required, thus helping you save money on maintenance costs.
There is a new kid on the block
What if we told you there is a new product which breaks the fat down and completely eliminates it unlike straight enzymes that do not do it efficiently, leaving fat to flow further down the pipes and block them?
The good news is there is one and it is called BiOWiSH® Aqua FOG, which consists of various bio-catalytic materials that degrade contaminants into simpler and granular forms until they are removed from the water. Introduced to the UK through Waste2ES, this BiOWiSH® innovation is entirely safe, environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
Over to you
FOG build-up is a significant environmental problem that businesses get penalised for every year, thus requiring strategic preventive measures from the get-go. By installing grease traps and effective dosing units, you can rest assured that your business is not clogging up the sewage system and enjoying a more hygienic kitchen environment yourself.
So, what are you waiting for? If you would like to know more about BiOWiSH® Aqua FOG and what it can do for your commercial property, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01442 503929 or email enquiries@waste2es.com. Improve your daily operations in sustainability, hygiene, and efficiency with our help!
