The City of Norman has implemented a Fats Oils, and Grease (FOG) program as a result of excessive grease being discharged to the sanitary sewer causing overflows and collection line stoppages. Restaurants and businesses that prepare and cook food and businesses that clean and pump interceptors/traps will be affected since they are the source of the problem.
Kitchen waste that is not properly disposed of through a maintained grease interceptor is discharged into the sanitary sewer collection lines causing a buildup of grease in the line and reducing the capacity of the line to convey wastewater. Many times the collection lines completely stop up causing an overflow in streets, yards or homes.
By implementing the program, the City and residents benefit in many ways. Line Maintenance crews do not have to devote as much money or manpower responding to stoppages. There is a reduction of homeowners having raw sewage backing up into the homes. There is a reduction of businesses having raw sewage backing up into their businesses. Each time there is an overflow the City of Norman is required to report the overflow to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality with the potential for fines and administrate orders. In addition, the collection lines will have a greater conveyance capacity.
The major requirements for the food establishments is to install a grease interceptor/trap if they do not already have one, proper maintenance of their interceptor trap, submit an annual letter of participation, pay an annual fee ($100), and record keeping. The Environmental Services Division of the Utilities Department will inspect these facilities to insure compliance with the program.
The major requirements of the licensed pumpers will be to pump the traps in full, submit an annual generator authorization application, pay an annual fee, and provide proper disposal manifests to the food establishment and the City.
Listed below are the Ordinances and Applications required for the FOG Program:
Enzyme Prohibition Ordinance
Enzyme Ordinance
City of Norman Code of Ordinance Section 10-404 (f)
(4) Enzymes, microbes, etc. are prohibited, for oil and grease, BOD, and/or TSS removal unless special permission is granted by the Utilities Director and proof is given that they cause no harm to the system.
FOG Ordinance
The following excerpts from the City of Norman Code of Ordinances address the legal authority to implement a Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) Best Management Program (BMP). Adopted January 13, 2009
Article IV. Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment Program
10-401 – General Provisions
(a) Definitions. Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the following terms and phrases as used in this article shall have the meanings hereinafter designated:
Best Management Practices or BMPs are management and operational procedures that are intended to prevent pollutants from entering a facility’s wastestream or from reaching a discharge point. BMPs are distinguished from numerical effluent limits that regulate the pollutants once they enter a wastestream. BMPs may include schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to implement the prohibitions listed in Section 10-402(a) and (b) [40 CFR 403.5(a)(1) and (b)]. BMPs include treatment requirements, operating procedures, and practices to control plant site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or waste disposal, or drainage from raw materials storage. BMPs may also include alternative means (i.e., management plans) of complying with, or in place of certain established categorical Pretreatment Standards and effluent limits.
(c) Abbreviations. The following abbreviations shall have the designated meanings:
BMP: Best Management Practices
10-404 – Administration
(f) Pretreatment.
(3) Non-significant users which generate fats, oils, and grease (FOG) in their process and, as a result thereof, have a wastewater discharge from that process containing waste FOG must participate in the FOG Best Management Practices (BMP) Program and meet the requirements described generally in subsection 10-402(p) or be permitted as a significant industrial user. Upon approval of the BMP, the Control Authority will issue the facility a certificate of BMP approval. Until the issuance of a certificate of BMP approval, facilities are subject to the local limits set out in subsection 10-402(d).
(4) Enzymes, microbes, etc. are prohibited, for oil and grease, BOD, and/or TSS removal unless special permission is granted by the Utilities Director and proof is given that they cause no harm to the system.
10-402 – Regulations
(p) Best management practices.
(1) Application of best management practices. Upon petition to, and approval by the Control Authority, users may, in lieu of monitoring for the local limits set forth in section 10-402, develop and implement a best management practice (BMP) policy. When facilities defined to be significant industrial users are allowed to use BMPs to control pollutants, those BMPs will become a part of their wastewater discharge permit and subject to the same conditions. Once approved by the Control Authority, a facility's BMP becomes a fully enforceable pretreatment standard. After approval of a BMP policy for a non-significant user, the Control Authority shall issue the nonsignificant industrial a Certificate of BMP Approval. BMPs are subject to revision as deemed necessary by the Control Authority and facilities will be given thirty (30) days notice. Facilities failing to abide by an approved BMP, will be subject to:
- a. The local limits set forth in section 10-402.
- b. Enforcement actions set out in section 10-405.
- a. Obtaining a permit as set forth in section 10-404.
(2) BMP policy components. The minimum components of an approved BMP include the following:
- a. A description of the facility's industrial processes;
- b. A detailed description of the facility's wastewater treatment operations;
- c. A list and description of the chemicals used or stored at the facility;
- d. Policies and procedures for employee training;
- e. A detailed description of the industry's pollution prevention policies;
- f. A detailed description of the methods used for minimizing, to the greatest practical extent, adverse environmental impact;
- g. Other information as required by the Control Authority.
(3) Certificate of BMP approval. Upon approval of a BMP, the Control Authority will issue the non-significant user a certificate of BMP approval. Until the issuance of a certificate of BMP approval, non-significant users are subject to the local limits set out in section 10-402. A certificate of BMP approval shall be issued for a specified period of time, not to exceed five (5) years from the effective date of the certificate. A certificate of BMP approval may be issued for a period less than five (5) years, at the discretion of the Control Authority. Approval of BMPs for significant industrial users shall be through the issuance/modification of a wastewater discharge permit.
(4) Transfer of BMP approval. A certificate of BMP approval for a non-significant user may be transferred to a new owner or operator only after at least thirty (30) days advance notice is given to the Control Authority. The notice from the non-significant user to the Control Authority must include a written certification by the new owner or operator which:
- a. States that the new owner and/or operator has no immediate intent to change the facility's operations;
- b. Identifies the specific date on which the transfer is to occur;
- c. Acknowledges full responsibility for complying with the existing BMP policy.
Transfer of BMPs by significant industrial users shall adhere to the conditions of section 10-404(b)(6).
(5) Revocation of BMP approval. The Control Authority may revoke a certificate of BMP approval for good cause, including, but not limited to, the following reasons:
- a. Failure to notify the Control Authority of significant changes to the facility or the type of wastewater discharged from the facility;
- b. Misrepresentation or failure to fully disclose all relevant facts in the request for certificate of BMP approval;
- c. Failure to update and revise a facility's BMP policy as needed, and submit such changes to the Control Authority within thirty (30) days of such change(s);
- d. Refusing to allow the Control Authority timely access to the facility premises and records;
- e. Failure to comply with an enforcement action;
- f. Failure to complete a wastewater survey;
- g. Failure to provide advance notice of the transfer of business ownership;
- h. Failure to comply with the provisions and intent of an approved BMP policy.
Grease Bin Ordinance
O-0506-15
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, ADDING SECTION 21-209 TO CHAPTER 21 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF NORMAN REGARDING DISPOSAL OF FATS, OILS, AND GREASES FROM FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS; AND PROVIDING FOR THE SEVERABILITY THEREOF.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA:
§1. That Section 21-209 be added to Chapter 21 of the Code of the City of Norman, Oklahoma, and shall read as follows:
Sec. 21-209 Disposal: Fats, Oils, and Greases from Food Service Establishments.
- (a) All restaurants and other commercial cooking facilities are prohibited from disposing of the waste from grease traps or any other waste fats, oils, or greases in the solid waste containers provided by the City.
- (b) All restaurants and other commercial cooking facilities are required to use grease rendering companies for recycling of their used cooking oil and grease generated from the use of deep fat frying operations. Used cooking oil and grease must be disposed of in containers provided by grease rendering companies, not in City or private solid waste containers.
- (c) Waste material removed from grease traps shall not be disposed of in the solid waste containers provided by the City. Waste material of this nature shall be disposed of through a company licensed by the City to haul this type of material.
- (d) Containers used for the storage of the material specified in items (b) and (c) which are stored outside shall be equipped with tight-fitting lids, doors, or covers and kept closed at all times when not in use. The container and the storage area shall be kept clean at all times to prevent the creation of a public health nuisance and to prevent contamination of storm water drainage from the facility.
- (e) Transportation of the waste materials specified in items (b) and (c) from the building to the outside storage receptacle shall be accomplished using sealed containers to prevent spillage during transport. Any spills that do occur shall be cleaned up immediately.
FOG Generator Application
Letter of Participation (LOP)
Transporter Authorization Application
Do's & Don'ts
DO:
- Put all solid foods into the trash or recycling bin.
- Scrape food from plates and utensils into the trash or recycling bin before washing or placing them in the dishwasher.
- Always use the sink basket strainers to collect food waste.
- Collect and empty grill scrapings & deep fat fryer oil into the oil recycling container.
DON'T:
- Put food or liquid foods down the sink.
- Pour oil down the sink.
- Use chemicals to remove clogged drains.
- Pour anything down your outside storm sewer.