The City of Allen is launching a new program to combat sticky situations in its sewer system.
Buildups of fat, oil and grease (abbreviated “FOG”) cause 20% of all sewer overflows, exposing the environment to untreated wastewater. In order to prevent these overflows, Allen restaurants are required to maintain grease traps to capture fat deposits before they drain into the sewer system.
This fall, Allen will begin a new FOG control program to ensure that grease traps are working properly and cleaned when necessary. Regular inspections by the City’s sewer division will determine the volume of FOG material in each establishment’s grease trap. Restaurants that generate a lot of grease, as evidenced by buildup in their grease traps, will require more frequent cleanings and inspections. As with all City ordinances, staff has the ability to cite generators who do not comply with cleaning and inspection schedules.
Restaurant operators and members of the public are encouraged to learn about the ordinance and see the grease measuring devices in action at three upcoming discussion sessions. All meetings will be held in the basement conference rooms at Allen City Hall (305 Century Parkway). Dates and times are listed below.
- Tuesday, June 6 at 10 a.m.
- Thursday, June 8 at 2 p.m.
- Thursday, June 15 at 2 p.m.
Allen already offers a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) disposal program, which helps residents safely dispose of cooking oil instead of pouring it down the drain. Collections may be scheduled once per month. The service is free to all City of Allen waste services customers. Get details.
A draft of the new FOG ordinance is available online.