City’s Out to Trap Troublesome Grease
The San Diego City Council declared “war on grease” Tuesday, unanimously approving a new ordinance that will require the city’s 5,000 restaurants to install grease traps in sewer pipes and obtain special permits proving that the traps have been added.
The 7-0 vote is an effort to reduce grease-related blockages of city sewer pipes, particularly in sections of the city with large numbers of restaurants, such as La Jolla, Hillcrest and coastal Mission Beach.
Grease accounts for about 700 sewer pipe blockages yearly, about 300 of which spill raw sewage into city streets, private homes and recreation areas.
Installation of grease traps will cost the average restaurant about $1,000, Assistant City Manager John Fowler estimated. The $285,000 cost of adding city staff to operate the program will be offset by permit fees charged to restaurants.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
