Unacceptable cleaning methods

Cleaning grease filters in the parking lot is problematic for a couple of reasons. Because of their honey-comb design, only the outside of the filters are cleaned as they are sprayed down. Secondly, the grease-laden water that runs off the filters is washed directly into the stormwater drainage system.

THIS IS A SERIOUS EPA VIOLATION.

Both the restaurant and the company cleaning the filers can be fined.

According to published health codes, food service establishments can only use three-compartment sinks for cleaning and sanitizing service ware. If these sinks are used to clean grease filters, health codes are violated because caustic (high pH) cleaning solutions must be used to soak the filters.

When filters are soaked in sinks, grease-laden water drains into a grease trap.

However, because the soaking solution is so caustic, the water can bypass the grease trap.

When this happens, sanitary sewer overflows can occur and caustic, grease-laden water ends up in the public sewer systems.

When grease filters are cleaned in the dishwasher:

• the process uses more water than sink cleaning
• the dishwasher's manufacture warranty may be voided
• health codes are being violated
• only the surface of the filter can be cleaned

If restaurants choose to clean filters in the dishwasher, they must first be soaked in a sink (which in and of itself is a violated of health code). Once filters are dishwasher-cleaned, workers must empty the dishwasher tank of greasy water then refill it with fresh.

Because of the way dishwashers are plumbed, the grease-laden water bypasses the grease trap and drains into the public sewer system.