Those who work in the food service industry are likely familiar with grease traps. They separate solid waste from wastewater before it enters the municipal system. City bylaws say those traps need to be cleaned every 6 weeks, but now, many restaurants are frustrated as the only local company that cleans the traps has abruptly stopped offering the service.
"We affectionately call that material 'FOG.' It stands for fats, oils and greases. So, if that material goes directly into the sewer system, it can be quite harmful to the pipes. It's very corrosive, so it can actually damage concrete pipes." said Topy Cecutti with the City of Greater Sudbury.
Filippo Rocca has run the Bella Vita Cucina restaurant in Sudbury's Donovan neighbourhood for nearly 10 years and has never been happy with the $250 fee every six weeks.
"It's pretty expensive, so when they first sent the city people here, I was kind of upset because of how often they want us to clean it." said Rocca.
The only company that had handled the job, Jim’s Septic Services, however, has now stopped offering the service, citing increased costs and regulations. Unfortunately for local owners, the city says the job still has to be done, meaning restaurants might have roll up their sleeves and get dirty.
"Some of the restaurants actually take it upon themselves to manage the grease traps themselves, but it's a messy job. It's not a pleasant experience." said Cecutti.
This is something Filippo Rocca knows firsthand.
"When we had the small grease trap back in the day, me and other kitchen staff, we cleaned it ourselves. It's not something that we want to do or anyone wants to do." said the Rocca.
Now that he can no longer get his grease trap serviced locally, Rocca knows he may have to bring in a firm from out of town. He says that’ll increase his costs, when coupled with the minimum wage hike, could put serious pressure on his business.
The city expects a new company will step in to fill the void, but in the meantime, some owners from around the city have said they may have to just ignore the bylaw for now.
The city expects a new company will step in to fill the void, but in the meantime, some owners from around the city have said they may have to just ignore the bylaw for now.
