Grease Trap Services — Austin, TX
Grease Trap Cleaning in Austin, TX
Sustainability-focused liquid waste management for Austin’s eco-conscious food scene, tech campuses, and commercial facilities — 100% recycling, zero landfill.
Serving Travis County & Central Texas
Austin Grease Trap Cleaning Services
Austin’s food culture is built on creativity and sustainability values we share at Southwaste. From South Congress food stops to Domain fine dining, from East Austin BBQ joints to Round Rock sports bars, our grease trap cleaning services keep Austin’s diverse kitchens compliant and our waterways protected. We’re fully permitted by TCEQ and work closely with Austin Water’s FOG program to ensure every service visit meets or exceeds local standards. Our recycling-first approach means every gallon we pump is converted into beneficial-use products, that’s the Austin way.
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Austin Water FOG Compliant
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TCEQ Permitted
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Travis County Licensed
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Bastrop County Approved
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Burnet County County Approved
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Caldwell County Approved
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Hays County Approved
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Williamson County Approved
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Master Plumber M-43508
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Fully Licensed & Insured
Who We Serve
Industries We Serve in Austin
From single-unit kitchens to multi-location operations, our Austin team has experience across every type of commercial food service.
Farm-to-Table & Fine Dining
Austin Area Restaurants
Tech Campus Cafeterias
Breweries & Brewpubs
BBQ Joints
University Dining
Why Choose Us in Austin
Built for Austin Kitchens
Sustainability Leaders
Rapid Response
Austin Water Partners
Expanded Coverage
Nearby Areas We Service Around Austin
Our Austin team doesn’t just cover the city limits — we run regular routes throughout Travis County & Central Texas. If you see your area listed below, we’re already servicing kitchens in your neighborhood.
Round Rock
Cedar Park
Pflugerville
Lakeway
Bee Cave
Dripping Springs
San Marcos
Georgetown
Buda
Kyle
Leander
Manor
Marble Falls
Horseshoe Bay
Temple
Local Team, Local Knowledge
Why Austin Chooses Southwaste
Austin isn’t just another market — it’s a community with strong values around sustainability, local business, and environmental responsibility. Our local Austin liquid waste service team shares those values. Every gallon of Austin grease we collect is recycled, reused, and kept out of the Colorado River watershed.
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100% grease recycling aligns with Austin's Zero Waste by 2040 goal
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Local technicians who understand Austin Water FOG program nuances
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Event-season ready — scaled-up capacity during SXSW, ACL, F1, and holiday peaks
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Experienced with tech campus security and off-hours service protocols
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Route coverage across Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties
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Dedicated to protecting Barton Creek, Lady Bird Lake, and the Edwards Aquifer
Local Regulations
Austin Grease Trap Pumping Compliance
Austin Water requires all food service establishments to comply with the FOG Control Program. Grease traps must be pumped at a minimum every 90 days,least every 90 days, but most Austin kitchens need service every 30–60 days, depending but most Austin kitchens need service every 30–60 days based on volume. We provide Austin Water-compliant service documentation, including digital manifests, pump-out reports, and photographic evidence. As a TCEQ-permitted hauler with a Master Plumber license, we handle everything from routine pumping to full grease trap replacement.
FOG Program
What Austin Water Requires
Austin Water enforces a FOG control program that applies to all commercial food service establishments in the city. Key requirements include:
Properly sized and installed interceptors. Austin Water reviews grease interceptor sizing during permitting and when a facility changes its operations or equipment. Under-sink traps are permitted in limited circumstances and must meet specific flow capacity requirements.
The 25 percent rule. Operators must pump before the combined depth of grease cap and settled solids reaches 25 percent of the interceptor’s liquid capacity. For most restaurants this means service every 30 to 90 days depending on kitchen volume, menu type, and interceptor size. The frequency that keeps you under 25 percent is the one you need to follow, regardless of what any standard schedule says.
Service manifests on file. Every pump-out must be performed by a registered hauler and documented with a manifest showing the date, volume removed, and disposal location. Austin Water cross-references hauler records against what operators report during inspections. Southwaste provides a complete manifest with every service call.
Self-monitoring logs. Operators are expected to maintain logs on-site and produce them during inspections. Austin Water inspectors also coordinate with Austin Public Health, which means a grease trap issue can surface during a routine restaurant inspection that has nothing to do with the wastewater utility.
Grease Trap Cleaning
How Often Should You Be Serviced in Austin?
The honest answer is that it depends on your operation. The 25 percent rule is the governing standard, and the only way to know your specific frequency is to track your interceptor’s fill rate and establish a schedule based on actual data rather than a general rule of thumb.
A few factors that push frequency shorter: high-FOG menus like fried foods and BBQ, heavy disposer use, high-temperature dishwashing equipment, and smaller interceptors relative to kitchen volume. A few factors that allow longer intervals: low-FOG menus, larger interceptors, and good kitchen FOG practices like scraping plates and pans before rinsing.
Southwaste can help you establish a schedule that keeps you under the 25 percent threshold and in compliance with Austin Water’s program. If you are not sure where you stand, the fastest way to find out is to call us and let us assess your current setup.
New to Austin, or Just Getting Into Compliance?
If you are opening a new location, changing your kitchen operations, or taking over a facility that has been out of compliance, the time to establish a proper grease trap service program is before your first inspection, not after. Austin Water inspectors take documentation seriously, and starting from zero with incomplete records makes your first inspection harder than it needs to be.
Southwaste can walk you through Austin Water’s requirements, pump and document your interceptor, and set you up with a service schedule that keeps you compliant going forward.
Austin Emergency Grease Trap Service
SXSW food court backup? ACL Fest vendor grease trap overflow? UT game day kitchen emergency? Austin runs on events, and events don’t wait for regular business hours. Our Austin team responds 24/7, with trucks positioned across Travis, Williamson, and Hays Counties — most emergencies get a truck on-site within 90 minutes anywhere in the metro area.
Our Process
How Our Grease Trap Cleaning Service Works In Austin
Schedule Assessment
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Pump & Clean
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Inspect & Document
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Recycle Responsibly
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Trust & Credentials
Licenses & Certifications
Service Coverage
Austin Service Area
Full coverage of Austin metro including Downtown, East Austin, South Congress, The Domain, Zilker, Hyde Park, as well as Round Rock, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Dripping Springs, and San Marcos.
Address
Austin, TX 78721
Phone
Southwaste Disposal
800 Linger Lane
Austin, TX 78721
Phone
(210) 796-7441
Common Questions
Austin Grease Trap FAQ
Everything Austin kitchen operators need to know about grease trap service, compliance, and what to expect when working with Southwaste.
Does Southwaste recycle grease collected in Austin?
What does Austin Water require for grease trap compliance?
Can you service food trucks and trailers in Austin?
Do you handle grease traps at tech company cafeterias?
What about event surge during SXSW and ACL?
Do you service kitchens in Round Rock, Cedar Park, and the suburbs?
Ready To Get Started?
Schedule Your Austin Grease Trap Service
One call keeps your Austin kitchen compliant, your drains flowing, and the environment protected. Same-day and next-day service available across Travis County & Central Texas.