Commercial Liquid Waste Management
Grease Trap Services
Keeping your kitchen compliant, your drains flowing, and the environment protected — one pump at a time.
The Basics
What Are Grease Trap Services?
Grease traps — also known as grease interceptors — are essential pieces of equipment for any commercial kitchen. They capture fats, oils, and grease (FOG) before they enter the municipal sewer system, preventing clogs, backups, and costly fines. At Southwaste Disposal, we provide end-to-end grease trap management: regular pumping, thorough cleaning, repair and replacement, and full compliance documentation. Whether you run a single restaurant or manage a chain of kitchens across multiple states, we have the equipment, expertise, and permits to keep you running smoothly.
The Importance
Why Regular Grease Trap Maintenance Matters
Stay Code Compliant
Most municipalities require grease traps to be pumped when FOG accumulation reaches 25% of the total volume. We track your schedule and provide documentation for health inspectors.
Prevent Costly Backups
A neglected grease trap leads to sewer backups, foul odors, and emergency shutdowns. Regular service saves you thousands in emergency repairs and lost revenue.
Environmentally Responsible
Every gallon of grease we pump is processed at our recycling facility. We turn your waste into beneficial reuse — nothing goes to landfill.
Scheduled & Reliable
We build custom service schedules around your kitchen’s volume and peak hours. No missed appointments, no surprises — just consistent, professional service.
Our Process
How Our Grease Trap Service Works
Assessment & Scheduling
01
We evaluate your grease trap size, kitchen output, and local code requirements to build a customized pumping schedule — weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly.
Pumping & Cleaning
02
Our technicians arrive with high-capacity vacuum trucks. We pump out all FOG, scrape down interior walls and baffles, and ensure your trap is restored to full capacity.
Inspection & Reporting
03
After cleaning, we inspect for wear, cracks, or damage. You receive a detailed service report with photos, volumes pumped, and compliance documentation for your records.
Recycling & Disposal
04
Collected grease is transported to our processing facility where it’s converted into beneficial-use products. We close the loop — responsibly.
what you get
Every Service Includes
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Complete pumping of all three compartments
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Interior wall and baffle scraping
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Gasket and lid seal check
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Inlet and outlet pipe inspection
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Digital service report with before/after photos
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Compliance documentation for health department
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Waste manifest for your records
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24/7 emergency support between scheduled visits
Ready to Schedule Your Grease Trap Service?
One call keeps you compliant, your kitchen running, and the environment protected.
Who We Work With
Industries We Serve
Southwaste provides commercial grease trap services across a wide range of food service and hospitality operations. From single-unit restaurants to multi-location chains, institutional kitchens to hotel banquet facilities — our equipment and expertise scale to any operation.
Restaurants & Fine Dining
From neighborhood bistros to white-tablecloth establishments — discreet, after-hours service that keeps your kitchen pristine and compliant without disrupting dinner service.
Fast Casual & Quick Service
High-turnover kitchens with aggressive FOG output. We build frequent pumping schedules that match your volume and keep your drains flowing during peak rushes.
Hotels & Resorts
Banquet kitchens, room service operations, and poolside grills — we handle complex, multi-kitchen properties with synchronized scheduling and zero guest disruption.
Hospitals & Healthcare
Texas Medical Center to community hospitals — institutional-scale grease management with strict sanitation protocols and security-badged technicians.
Universities & School Districts
Campus dining halls, student unions, and K-12 cafeteria kitchens — we handle the unique scheduling demands of academic calendars and summer shutdowns.
Grocery Stores & Food Courts
Prepared food sections, deli counters, and in-store dining — retail grease traps of every size across single locations and regional chains.
Airport Dining & Commissaries
DFW, Love Field, IAH, MCO — security-badged technicians for airside and landside kitchens with 24/7 operational demands.
Stadiums & Entertainment Venues
Event-day surge capacity for the biggest venues — AT&T Stadium, convention centers, arenas — with pre and post-event service calibrated to crowd calendars.
Stay Ahead of Inspectors
Grease Trap Compliance & Regulations
Navigating grease trap regulations doesn’t have to be stressful. Southwaste keeps you ahead of inspectors across every jurisdiction we serve. Here’s what you need to know about the regulatory landscape and how we help you stay compliant.
The 25% Rule
The most important number in grease trap compliance: FOG and solids accumulation must never exceed 25% of your trap’s total liquid capacity. This is the universal standard enforced by municipalities nationwide. Exceeding 25% means your trap can no longer effectively separate grease from wastewater — and it’s the most common reason kitchens fail health inspections. Southwaste tracks your accumulation rate and schedules service before you hit the threshold.
TCEQ & Texas Requirements
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulates all liquid waste hauling in Texas. Southwaste holds a TCEQ Regulated Hauler permit, which means we’re authorized to transport and process grease trap waste throughout the state. Individual cities — Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth — each enforce additional local FOG ordinances with specific documentation requirements. Our service reports are formatted for each municipality’s inspection standards.
Florida DEP Requirements
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulates liquid waste management statewide. Southwaste holds a Florida DEP permit to haul, process, and dispose of grease trap waste. Florida DBPR health inspectors require detailed pumping records including dates, volumes, and disposal manifests. We provide Florida-compliant documentation with every service visit in Orlando, Tampa, and throughout Central Florida.
California SWRCB Requirements
California’s State Water Resources Control Board sets some of the strictest FOG discharge standards in the nation. Our California-permitted team serves San Diego and Orange County with full compliance documentation accepted by county DEH inspectors. California’s environmental enforcement is aggressive — we keep you ahead of it with documentation that meets or exceeds every county-level requirement.
Georgia EPD & Atlanta Watershed Requirements
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division regulates FOG statewide, with the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management enforcing additional requirements within the city. Southwaste provides Georgia EPD-compliant documentation for metro Atlanta, Cobb County, and all Georgia service areas. Our Atlanta-area technicians are experienced with both Fulton County and multi-county metro compliance.
Illinois EPA & MWRD Requirements
Illinois EPA and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago jointly enforce FOG regulations in Chicagoland. The City of Chicago Department of Water Management adds another layer of documentation requirements. Our Illinois-permitted team navigates this multi-agency regulatory landscape and delivers documentation accepted by all three authorities.
Louisiana DEQ Requirements
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulates FOG discharge statewide, and individual parishes — including East Baton Rouge and Lafayette — enforce additional local ordinances. Southwaste provides Louisiana DEQ-compliant documentation accepted by parish health inspectors and municipal authorities throughout the Capital Region and Acadiana.
Documentation & Record Keeping
Most jurisdictions require 3 years of grease trap maintenance records available on-site for health department review. Southwaste provides digital service reports with every visit: pump-out date and time, volume of FOG removed, before and after photos, disposal manifest with facility location, and inspector-ready compliance summaries. We can also integrate with your existing compliance management system if you operate multiple locations.
Service Areas
Our Service Locations
Southwaste operates across twelve states with dedicated teams in each metro area. Click your city for location-specific service details, local compliance info, and contact numbers.
Got Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to the most common questions about commercial grease trap service, compliance, and what to expect when you partner with Southwaste.
How often should my grease trap be pumped?
Most commercial kitchens need grease trap pumping every 30 to 90 days. The exact frequency depends on your kitchen’s output volume, the types of food you prepare, and your trap’s size. High-FOG kitchens — steakhouses, BBQ joints, fried chicken restaurants — typically need service every 30 days. Lighter kitchens like sandwich shops or bakeries may go 60–90 days. During your initial assessment, we measure your accumulation rate and build a custom schedule that keeps you below the critical 25% FOG threshold at all times.
What happens if I fail a health department grease trap inspection?
A failed inspection can trigger fines, mandatory re-inspection fees, and in severe cases, temporary closure until the violation is corrected. Southwaste provides same-day emergency pumping for clients who’ve failed an inspection. After the immediate fix, we establish a compliance schedule and documentation to keep you ahead of future inspections. Many of our long-term clients started as emergency call-outs after a failed inspection — and haven’t failed one since.
Do I really need a grease trap service contract, or can I just call when it's full?
While we do offer one-time and emergency service, a scheduled maintenance contract is strongly recommended. Here’s why: reactive pumping means you’re always close to the 25% threshold, which increases your risk of exceeding it between services. Scheduled maintenance keeps you consistently below threshold, provides predictable budgeting, guarantees service availability during peak seasons, and demonstrates to health inspectors that you have a proactive compliance program in place.
What's included in a standard grease trap service visit?
Every service visit includes: complete pumping of all trap compartments, interior wall and baffle scraping to remove hardened FOG, inlet and outlet pipe inspection, gasket and lid seal integrity check, digital service report with before/after photos, waste disposal manifest for your records, and compliance documentation formatted for your local health department. We also note any potential issues we spot — cracks, corrosion, failing gaskets — so you can address them before they become emergencies.
Can Southwaste repair my grease trap?
Yes. Southwaste maintains a Master Plumber license (M-43508) specifically for grease trap repairs. Our licensed plumber can handle everything from gasket replacements and baffle repairs to full grease interceptor installations. Having pump service AND plumbing repair under one company means faster diagnostics and resolution — no coordinating between separate vendors.
What happens to the grease after you pump it?
Every gallon of grease we collect is transported to our processing facility, where it is converted into beneficial-use products. The brown grease is dewatered, filtered, and processed for use in biofuel production, composting, and other industrial applications. Nothing goes to landfill. In 2025, Southwaste recycled over 275 million gallons of liquid waste — that’s the equivalent of keeping 275 million gallons of FOG out of sewer systems and watersheds.
Do you handle multi-location restaurant groups?
Absolutely. We specialize in enterprise-level service for restaurant groups with 3+ locations. Benefits include consolidated billing with one invoice for all locations, synchronized service scheduling so all your kitchens stay on the same compliance calendar, volume pricing discounts, and a dedicated account manager who coordinates everything. We currently serve several multi-state restaurant groups across Texas, Florida, and our other operating states.
Still have questions?
Our team is happy to walk you through anything — pricing, scheduling, compliance requirements, or technical details.
Complete Your Wastewater Solution
Related Services
Southwaste offers a full suite of commercial wastewater and plumbing services to keep your facility running smoothly, compliant, and environmentally responsible.
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