Few purposely think about food processing plant grease trap maintenance. Every manufacturing facility has its own standards when it comes to keeping everything contaminant-free. Pharmaceutical companies have their employees go through a locker room where they change into their lab coats and shoes to make sure that they do not bring pathogens and debris into the work areas. They even wear hairnets to make sure that nothing falls into the production line. Everything should be used for handling a particular substance and not used for any others. This prevents cross-contamination and failure of the product to meet the standards of the company. Fabric plants, paper mills, candle factories, plastic manufacturers, and others have to maintain sanitary conditions so that they can produce more desirable products for consumers.
The standards of a food processing facility are much higher, almost the same as those of a pharmaceutical company. Sanitation regulations and practices should be revered as much as possible because food is being handled. When food is processed, many components are either added or removed from the raw materials to fit the needs of consumers. There are some food items that are synthesized to be the best medium for the needed nutrients. Packaging is also modified to maintain the freshness of the products and to lengthen the shelf life.
It is very difficult to acknowledge the fact that food processing plants contribute so much to the FOG (fats, oils, grease) problem that the United States is experiencing. There are many food processing plants that have FOG overflow because of poor maintenance. This is why the grease or pretreatment ordinance was brought forth. Every food processing plant and food establishment should follow the ordinance to make sure that everything is kept uncontaminated. According to the ordinance, every food processing plant should have a grease trap that has a permit given by the City Sewer Department. The grease tap should be built according to the conditions of the plant and according to the expected amount to be loaded in it. The washing discharge should not exceed 130 degrees Fahrenheit when it enters the grease trap because this temperature will melt the FOG and allow it to mix in with the effluent.
There ought to be proper food processing plant grease trap maintenance to make sure that the municipality doesn’t incur needless backups, delays and expenses. If the grease trap is not monitored or inspected thoroughly, there is a high possibility of FOG overflow. If the FOG overflows, it will get into the wastewater and solidify in the sewer lines. The wastewater passage will then be blocked and will back up into the food processing plant facilities and surrounding environment, resulting in a high level of contamination. This will put the food processing plant in a delicate situation with its consumers and the state because the products will become questionable and highly unsafe.
Chemicals and enzymes are of no use in food processing plant grease trap maintenance because just like hot water, they emulsify the FOG. Bacteria are the most potent additives in food processing plant grease trap maintenance because these living organisms actually consume the FOG and solid wastes in the grease trap. The grease trap is left odor-free. They don’t even pose a threat to the environment because they don’t have chemical discharges.
Bioremediation and bioaugmentation are two processes that use bacteria. Bioremediation uses non-pathogenic or friendly bacteria in transforming FOG into less detrimental forms. Bioaugmentation uses selected strains of bacteria to digest the solid wastes and the FOG. These two methods are highly recommended in almost all states. The usage should be encouraged because of the apparent safety.
When it comes to food processing plant grease trap maintenance, resilient, dependable bacteria are Mother Nature’s best allies.
