Restaurant Best Management Practices

• All cleaning items should be rinsed and chemicals stored so that no residues or wastes enter a storm drain or paved surface. 

• Make sure that all drains connect to the city’s sanitary sewer system and not just discharged to the ground, open area or a creek. 

• Make sure all grease traps are cleaned regularly, operate efficiently and are not overflowing or leaking. 

• Never pour mop water or other waste water onto pavement or in ditches. 

• Put all floor sweeping trash in proper receptacles; never hose down chemicals into the streets, parking lots or alleys.

•  As much as possible, recycle oil and grease wastes using local rendering companies.

• Never pour oil or grease into floor drains that are not connected to the sanitary sewer with adequate grease traps. 

• Keep grease bins covered and contained, and clean up any spills immediately with absorbents.

• All dumpster lids should be closed and the areas around them kept clean.

• Never place liquid waste in a dumpster or hose them out.  

• Contact your trash hauler to replace dumpsters that are damaged or leak.

• Do not hose down or water-clean trash bin areas unless you collect the water and dispose of it into the sanitary sewer.

• When using a mobile power washer, always sweep the area first to remove trash and debris, minimize soaps and solvents, and do not allow wash water to enter ditches or storm drains. 

• Use dry absorbents for liquid spill cleanup, sweep up the absorbent and dispose of in trash bins; do not hose down or sweep into ditches or storm drains.

• Use a professional waste hauler to dispose of all waste materials such as cleaners, solvents and detergents that may be toxic.  

• Use non-toxic cleaning products whenever possible, follow directions, and use only amounts actually needed.

• Scrape grease and food waste from floor mats and filters before cleaning. Dispose of scrapings in the trash.

• Collect waste cooking oil and grease in portable containers with lids. Transfer to drums or barrels for recycling.

Rev. October 10, 2007