Kitchen & Outdoor Practices for Food Service Establishments

As an owner or operator of a food service establishment, you are responsible for ensuring employees receive adequate training and education on kitchen and outdoor practices to prevent fats, oils and grease from entering the sewer system. Learn more about these practices below.

Owners or operators of food service establishments must:

  • hold regular employee training on:
    • regulations
    • safety
    • proper waste management
    • spill response
    • record keeping and retention
  • document the training and keep records on-site for at least seven years
  • have employees perform regular site inspections to ensure spills are cleaned up, grease bins are secured, covered and not overflowing and log sheets are maintained
  • post signs that state “no fats, oils or grease down the drain” throughout the kitchen

Under the Sewers By-law, food service establishments must properly install, operate and maintain a grease interceptor on any pipe that connects directly or indirectly to a sanitary sewer. Learn more about installing a grease interceptor.

Maintaining a grease interceptor includes properly disposing of fats, oils and grease collected from grease interceptors, as well as keeping records of servicing and disposal.

Food service establishments must:

  • use low-phosphate, water-based cleaners
  • place strainers on all sink drains to catch solids
  • use absorption material to soak up spills fats, oils and grease spills on the kitchen floor and under-fryer baskets and fats, oils and grease from exhaust system filters and hoods
    • properly dispose of soiled material into the Green Bin or garbage depending on the type of material

Owners and operators of food service establishments should consider:

  • influencing suppliers by:
    • purchasing products that are free of pollutants identified in the Sewers By-law
    • requesting less-toxic alternatives
    • requesting suppliers take back materials and containers for recycling
  • not using food or garbage grinders, which may increase pollutants in your wastewater and cause it to exceed the limits listed in the Sewers By-law
  • using an efficient pre-rinse spray valve to reduce water and energy consumption

Under the Sewers By-law, only rainwater and melted snow is allowed to flow through catch basins (square grates on the sides of roads and parking lots) which connect to the storm sewer.

Food service establishments can do the following to prevent wastewater from entering catch basins:

  • Use watertight outdoor containers of adequate size that are not easily tipped over.
  • Cover and secure recycling barrels and containers used for transporting oil.
  • Ensure your food service establishment has a spill response plan, equipment, devices and materials readily available.
  • Clean up spills immediately using an absorbent material.
  • Ensure wastewater from indoor cleaning goes through a grease interceptor (never pour into a catch basin).
  • For outdoor cleaning, sweep the outside area first before cleaning with water and place the swept material in the garbage.
  • Contain, collect and transport wastewater from outdoor cleaning (power washing) for proper disposal.
    • Outdoor cleaning wastewater can only be poured into an indoor drain if the wastewater meets the sanitary sewer limits listed in the Sewers By-law.
  • Clean and remove oil buildup from fans and duct system to prevent wastewater being left on the roof or flowing down the gutter and into a storm sewer.
  • Supervise exhaust cleaning to ensure waste is handled properly.

Owners or operators repairing or unclogging a privately owned plumbing or sewer line must:

  • flush and vacuum any blocked lines using a flusher truck approved by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks
  • transport fats, oils, grease and other waste using a Ministry-approved waste carrier
  • transport waste from line flushing, blockages and catch basin servicing using a Ministry-approved waste carrier.

Costs incurred by the City because of a grease-blocked sewer or damage to the sewers will be charged back to those responsible. Anyone found responsible could also face enforcement under the Sewers By-law.