Business & Tech

Businesses to Hold the Grease in Plymouth

Plymouth Township Council passes a 'Grease Trap Ordinance.'

Plymouth Township Council on Monday unanimously passed what it called a “grease trap ordinance.”

The topic, which council has been talking about for the past year or so, according to Township Manager Karen Weiss, requires many businesses to install and maintain grease traps. They will also be subject to township inspection.

“[Council is] doing it because sometimes the fats and oils from businesses solidify and back up the sanitary sewer system,” Weiss said. “We felt if we could pass an ordinance, it would help keep the lines clean.”

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Weiss said the solidified goo in the sewer system is an ongoing problem, and added that sometimes township staff has to immediately respond to clogs in the system. 

“Sometimes restaurants run hot water over grease, but it still runs through the system, then coagulates and gets stuck in the sanitary sewer before it gets to the treatment plant,” Weiss said. “The sewers can become slow-running or sometimes it backs up into the streets or buildings if there are no grease traps installed, or if they’re not maintained.”

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The ordinance, which goes into effect in 30 days, requires restaurants, food courts, convalescence homes, auto repair shops, motels and some multi-family dwellings and other businesses to install and maintain the traps; some local businesses already have the traps installed, Weiss added.

The businesses must register with the township; the fee schedule, as well as the penalties, will be established next month, Weiss said. 

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Originally posted January 15, 2014 at 05:31 AM


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