Sewage and wastewater disposal at food business sites

Suitable ways to dispose of sewage and wastewater

Food business sites must have a sewage and wastewater disposal system that:

• will dispose of all sewage and wastewater
• is constructed and located to prevent the sewage and wastewater polluting the water supply or contaminating food.

How to stop polluting our waterways with fats and grease 

If you pour hot fat and grease into your sink, it will cool and solidify. This results in blocked drains and sewer overflows which pollute our environment.

Follow these precautions when disposing of fats and grease:

• Do not pour cooking oil and fat into a sink.
• Use commercial waste grease containers for collection.
• Alternatively, collect waste grease in a plastic bag or newspaper and dispose of it in the rubbish bin.
• Install grease traps in your sinks, and service them on a regular basis.
• Using hot water and detergent will not prevent fat blockages.
• Make sure skips and bins are leak-proof.
• Clean waste and recycling areas daily.
• Do not overfill skips and bins and keep the lids closed.

How to store your food waste and clean equipment 

• Use leak-proof containers with a lid to store waste grease and oil.
• Keep them under cover and in a bunded area if possible.
• Engage a contractor to remove your waste oil.

How to clean your equipment 

• Ensure run-off does not enter the stormwater system.
• For indoor cleaning, dispose of wash water to the sewer system only.
• Never use detergents or bleach for outside cleaning.

Protecting our environment 

It is illegal to discharge food waste, fats and grease into stormwater system and our waterways.

You can be fined up to $1000, issued abatement notices, or prosecuted and fined up to $600,000 for breaching the Resource Management Act.