Grease Trap Cleaning & Grease Management Leeds & Yorkshire
Grease Trap Cleaning, Interceptor Emptying & FOG Compliance Across Yorkshire
Grease Trap Management
Available 24/7 — No call out fee, no hidden charges.
Fats, oils, and grease — collectively known as FOG — are the single biggest cause of sewer blockages in the UK. For any commercial kitchen, restaurant, hotel, school canteen, or food production facility, managing FOG isn't just good practice; it's a legal obligation. At Drains First Limited, we provide professional grease trap cleaning, grease interceptor emptying, and full FOG management services across Leeds and West Yorkshire. We're Environment Agency licensed, CHAS Elite accredited, and we provide the waste transfer documentation your business needs to stay compliant with Yorkshire Water and your local authority.
Why Choose Drains First?
- Environment Agency licensed waste carrier — fully compliant FOG disposal with waste transfer notes
- Vacuum tanker pump-out of all accumulated fats, oils, grease, and food solids
- High-pressure jet wash of trap interior, baffles, and outlet pipes
- Service reports provided for every visit — essential for compliance records
- Planned maintenance contracts available — scheduled visits at the right frequency for your operation
- We cover all trap types: under-sink traps, in-ground interceptors, and external separators
- CHAS Elite accredited — trusted by commercial clients across West Yorkshire
- Emergency response available if your grease trap causes a kitchen drain blockage
What Is Grease Trap Management?
Grease trap management covers everything involved in keeping your grease management equipment working correctly — from routine cleaning and pump-outs to emergency clearance when a blocked grease trap brings your kitchen to a standstill. It also includes the compliance side: waste transfer documentation, service records, and advice on meeting your obligations to Yorkshire Water and your local authority.
A grease trap that isn't regularly serviced doesn't just stop working — it becomes a liability. Overflowing grease traps, blocked kitchen drains, and FOG entering the public sewer can all result in enforcement action, fines, and reputational damage for your business. Regular, documented servicing is the only way to stay on the right side of the regulations.
Who Needs Grease Trap Cleaning?
Any commercial premises that prepares or serves food and connects to the public sewer is likely to need a grease trap — and to have it cleaned regularly. We service grease traps and interceptors for:
- Restaurants, cafes, and takeaways — high FOG output from fryers, grills, and wok cooking
- Hotels and conference venues — large kitchen operations with multiple cooking lines
- School and college canteens — high-volume catering with daily cooking
- Care homes and hospitals — continuous catering operations with compliance obligations
- Food processing and manufacturing facilities — industrial-scale FOG production
- Pub kitchens and gastropubs — often overlooked but significant FOG producers
- Staff canteens and workplace catering facilities
- Supermarket and retail food preparation areas
The Legal Framework — What You Need to Know
Grease management isn't optional for commercial food businesses. The key legislation and standards that apply are:
Water Industry Act 1991
Prohibits the discharge of substances that are likely to cause a blockage or damage to the public sewer. FOG is explicitly covered.
Building Regulations Part H
Requires grease separators to be installed in commercial kitchens where FOG is likely to enter the drainage system.
BS EN 1825
The British Standard for grease separators — sets out sizing requirements, installation standards, and maintenance obligations.
Environmental Protection Act 1990
Classifies FOG waste as controlled waste, requiring licensed carriers and licensed disposal facilities.
Trade Effluent Consent
Yorkshire Water can require businesses to install grease traps and provide evidence of regular cleaning as a condition of consent to discharge.
Local Authority Requirements
Planning conditions for food businesses often include grease trap installation and maintenance obligations.
We provide a waste transfer note for every grease trap service — the document you need to demonstrate compliance if Yorkshire Water or the Environment Agency asks for evidence of your FOG management arrangements.
Signs Your Grease Trap Needs Attention
- Kitchen sinks and floor drains are slow to empty or backing up
- A strong foul or rancid smell coming from the kitchen drainage
- Visible grease or oil floating in the drain or inspection chamber
- The grease trap is more than one-quarter full of FOG and solids
- You haven't had the trap cleaned in the last 3 months
- You've received a notice from Yorkshire Water about FOG discharge
- Your kitchen drain has blocked and been cleared more than once recently
Grease Trap Cleaning Across Leeds & West Yorkshire
We service commercial kitchens and food businesses across the whole of West Yorkshire — Leeds city centre, Bradford, Wakefield, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Keighley, Castleford, Pontefract, and all surrounding areas. Whether you need a one-off clean or a regular maintenance contract, call us on 07958 784011 to discuss your requirements.
How It Works
Site Assessment
We assess your grease trap or interceptor, record its current condition and capacity, and establish the right service frequency based on your kitchen output and your obligations to Yorkshire Water and your local authority.
Pump Out FOG Waste
Using our vacuum tanker, we pump out all accumulated fats, oils, grease, and food solids from the trap. All waste is removed from site in our licensed tanker — nothing is left behind or discharged to drain.
Jet Wash & Scrape
We jet wash the interior walls, baffles, and outlet pipes to remove any remaining FOG residue and food deposits, restoring the trap to its full working capacity and preventing premature re-filling.
Inspect, Report & Schedule
We inspect the trap for damage or wear, check baffles and outlet pipes, and provide a full service report with waste transfer documentation. We'll recommend a maintenance schedule to keep you compliant and blockage-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should a grease trap be cleaned?
Most commercial kitchens need grease trap cleaning every 1 to 3 months. High-volume operations — large restaurants, hotel kitchens, food processing facilities — may need monthly or fortnightly service. We'll assess your trap and recommend the right schedule.
What happens if I don't clean my grease trap regularly?
An overloaded grease trap stops working — FOG passes straight through into the sewer, causing blockages in your own drainage and in the public sewer. This can result in a blocked kitchen drain, sewage backing up into your premises, fines from Yorkshire Water, and enforcement action from the local authority.
Do I need a grease trap by law?
Most commercial food businesses in the UK are required to have a grease trap under the Water Industry Act 1991 and Building Regulations. Yorkshire Water can require businesses to install and maintain grease traps as a condition of their trade effluent consent. We can advise on your specific obligations.
What is FOG and why is it a problem?
FOG stands for Fats, Oils, and Grease — the byproducts of cooking that enter the drainage system when kitchen equipment is washed. In liquid form, FOG flows easily. But as it cools in the pipe, it solidifies and sticks to the pipe walls, gradually building up until the pipe is completely blocked. FOG causes around 75% of all sewer blockages in the UK.
How is the waste disposed of?
All FOG waste is classified as controlled waste and must be disposed of at a licensed facility. We are licensed by the Environment Agency to carry and dispose of this waste, and we provide a waste transfer note for every collection — which you must retain for your compliance records.
Can you set up a regular maintenance contract?
Yes — we offer planned maintenance contracts for commercial kitchens, restaurants, hotels, schools, care homes, and food processing facilities across West Yorkshire. A contract gives you scheduled visits, service reports for compliance, and priority emergency response between visits.
Ready to Book?
Get in touch today — no call out fee, available 24/7 across Leeds & Yorkshire.
We Cover All of Leeds & Yorkshire
Our drainage engineers are based in Leeds and cover the whole of West Yorkshire — fast response times across every area.
Need urgent help? We're available 24/7.
No call out fee. Fast response across Leeds & Yorkshire.