Mandatory Grease Interceptors for Food Service Establishments

Read the Food Service Establishment Environmental Code of Practice for a full list of requirements.

Under the Sewers By-law, food service establishments must install, operate and maintain a grease interceptor (or grease trap) on any pipe that connects directly or indirectly to a sanitary sewer system.

Food service establishments are facilities where food is cooked, heated, processed or prepared. This may include:

  • restaurants, coffee shops, banquet halls, bakeries, delicatessens, grocery stores (with food counter), butcher shops
  • mobile food vendors (food trucks, hot dog stands)
  • institutions with industrial kitchens or cafeterias (schools, daycares, hospitals, places of worship)

Not having a grease interceptor installed or working properly can result in conviction and fines of up to $100,000.

A grease interceptor, also known as a grease trap, is a plumbing device designed to “trap” and prevent fats, oils and grease from entering the sanitary sewer system.

Fats, oils and grease are commonly generated when cooking, processing or preparing food and can be found in several items such as food scraps, butter, margarine, sauces and salad dressings.

How grease interceptors work

Grease interceptors are connected to any fixture or drain that discharges wastewater containing fats, oils and grease, including sinks for washing dishes and drains serving self-cleaning exhaust hoods and cooking equipment.

Once wastewater enters the grease interceptor:

  • the fats, oils and grease cool, harden and float to the top of the interceptor
  • the rest of the wastewater flows through the grease interceptor and out the exit pipe to the sanitary sewer
  • fats, oils, grease and any solids settle and remain in the trap

When warm fats, oils and grease make their way into the plumbing system, they cool, harden and stick to the inside of sewer pipes. Over time, fats, oils and grease can build up and cause several problems, including blocked sewers on your property or the City’s property. This can lead to:

  • sewage back-ups into your business, neighbouring properties or even local rivers – an expensive and unpleasant pollution clean-up
  • an increase in pests such as rats and cockroaches, which can pose serious health risks to anyone working in or visiting your establishment
  • temporary or permanent closure of your facility by Toronto Public Health
  • increased operations and maintenance costs due to cleaning and repairing damaged sewer pipes

Costs incurred by the City because of a grease-blocked sewer will be charged back to those responsible.