Parameter Viewer

Document ID ca-on-toronto-bima-2016 Title Biosolids Management URL https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/water-environment/water-sewer-related-permits-and-bylaws/sewers-by-law/mandatory-grease-traps-for-food-service-establishments/ Jurisdiction /ca/on/toronto Subdomain(s) none Language Status completed Analyzed at 2026-05-12 01:43:01.908743+00:00 Relevance inventory_targeted_fetch

26 Qualitative 20 Quantitative 11 Definitions

Q Qualitative Requirements (26)

Req ID	Category	Intent	Legal Status	Name	Subdomain(s)	Context	Conditions	Confidence
#Q001	treatment	treatment	mandatory	Grease Trap Installation and Operation	wastewater	it is mandatory for establishments that cook, heat, process or prepare food on-site to install, operate and maintain a grease trap (interceptor) on any pipe that connects directly or indirectly to a sanitary sewer system.	Applies to food service establishments, child care centres, and mobile food vendors	high
#Q002	operational	operational	mandatory	Monthly Pump-out Requirement	wastewater	Facilities must pump out a grease trap at least once a month by a Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks certified waste hauler, as per the Food Service Establishment Environmental Code of Practice.		high
#Q003	administrative	operational	recommended	Kitchen Signage	wastewater	Post signs stating, “No fat, oil or grease down the drain” throughout the kitchen.	Indoor grease management tip	high
#Q004	operational	operational	recommended	Food Solid Removal	wastewater	Use scrapers and/or paper towel to remove food solids and grease from pots, pans and wares before washing. Dispose of food solids in the green bin.	Indoor grease management tip	high
#Q005	design	operational	recommended	Sink and Floor Drain Screens	wastewater	Install and maintain screens over all sinks and floor drains to capture food solids. Dispose of collected food solids in the green bin.	Indoor grease management tip	high
#Q006	prohibition	operational	recommended	Cooking Oil Disposal	wastewater	Keep cooking oil out of drains. Waste oil can be sold to rendering facilities.	Indoor grease management tip	high
#Q007	corrective_action	operational	recommended	FOG Spill Cleanup	wastewater	Use absorption material to soak up FOG spills on the kitchen floor and under fryer baskets. Dispose of soiled material in the green bin or garbage (depending on the absorption material used, e.g. paper towel, rag, etc.).	Indoor grease management tip	high
#Q008	operational	operational	recommended	Exhaust System FOG Disposal	wastewater	FOG from exhaust system filters and hoods should be recycled or soaked up using absorption material and disposed of in the green bin or garbage.	Indoor grease management tip	high
#Q009	prohibition	operational	recommended	Hot Water Discharge Prohibition	wastewater	Do not discharge hot water into the grease trap as this may melt the FOG or displace the contents of the grease interceptor, where it can harden and block your drain line.	Indoor grease management tip	high
#Q010	prohibition	operational	recommended	Additives Prohibition	wastewater	Do not add any enzymes or other additives into the grease trap as they will only move FOG down the sewer pipe where it could harden and block the pipe.	Indoor grease management tip	high
#Q011	prohibition	operational	recommended	Garbage Disposers Prohibition	wastewater	Do not use garbage disposers or grinders as liquefied food waste will fill up the grease trap quicker, leading to more cleaning.	Indoor grease management tip	high
#Q012	operational	operational	recommended	Cleaner Type Recommendation	wastewater	Use low-phosphate content, water based cleaners.	Indoor grease management tip	high
#Q013	operational	operational	recommended	Outdoor Receptacles	wastewater	Use watertight outdoor receptacles of adequate size that are not easily tipped over.	Outdoor grease management tip	high
#Q014	operational	operational	recommended	Oil Transport Containers	wastewater	Ensure recycling barrels and containers for transporting oil are covered and secured from spillage or tipping over.	Outdoor grease management tip	high
#Q015	prohibition	operational	recommended	Catch Basin Protection	wastewater	Ensure FOG and wastewater does not enter the catch basin/sewer grate outside. This includes: wastewater from inside the facility (e.g. mop water), wastewater from outdoor surfaces and cars (e.g. power washing), leakage from outdoor waste/oil bins, exhaust system cleaning	Outdoor grease management tip	high
#Q016	reporting	reporting	mandatory	Spill Reporting	wastewater	Anything other than stormwater entering a catch basin is considered a spill. Should this occur, call 311 immediately.	Upon anything other than stormwater entering a catch basin	high
#Q017	corrective_action	operational	recommended	Flusher Truck Use	wastewater	Use an approved Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) flusher truck to flush any grease blocked lines and vacuum (or suck up) the contents on privately owned plumbing/sewer pipes.	For flushing grease blocked lines	high
#Q018	operational	operational	mandatory	Trap Cleaning Frequency	wastewater	Clean the grease trap before the grease and solids, combined, reach 25% of the trap’s liquid volume or every four weeks, whichever is earlier.	A cleaning frequency of every eight weeks is permitted under certain circumstances (see section 7.1, FSE Environmental Code of Practice)	high
#Q019	operational	operational	mandatory	Manual Cleaning Restriction	wastewater	Manual cleaning is only permitted where the establishment generates a low volume of FOG and has no stove or fryer (i.e. mobile food vendor assembling food)		high
#Q020	operational	operational	mandatory	Gravity Grease Interceptor Cleaning	wastewater	Where applicable, clean the gravity grease interceptor (large in-ground passive interceptor) before the FOG and solids exceed 25% of the wetted volume of the tank.	Where applicable	high
#Q021	operational	operational	mandatory	MECP Waste Carrier Requirement	wastewater	Use an approved Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) waste carrier to pump-out and clean the grease trap.		high
#Q022	reporting	reporting	mandatory	Grease Trap Operational Information Disclosure	wastewater	These companies must provide operational information on the grease trap, including level of FOG and solids estimate, proper maintenance frequency estimate, condition of the grease trap and waste destination.	Applies to MECP waste carrier companies	high
#Q023	reporting	reporting	mandatory	In-house Cleaning Log and Disposal	wastewater	Operators cleaning the grease interceptor in-house must log the cleanings and dispose of the fat, oil and grease in the Green Bin.	Applies to operators cleaning the grease interceptor in-house	high
#Q024	operational	operational	mandatory	Mobile Vendor Wastewater Storage	wastewater	Wastewater must be stored on-site in a separate container from the clean (potable) water and labelled dirty/wastewater water.	Applies to mobile food vendors	high
#Q025	operational	operational	mandatory	Mobile Vendor Wastewater Disposal Route	wastewater	All wastewater must be poured slowly down an indoor sink/drain (sanitary sewer) that is attached to a grease trap.	Applies to mobile food vendors	high
#Q026	operational	operational	guidance	Mobile Vendor Pre-Treated Wastewater Disposal	wastewater	If a mobile food vendor has a grease trap that is connected to a two compartment sink used for washing utensils, then the wastewater that passes through the grease interceptor and flows into the wastewater tank can be transported and poured down any indoor sink/drain (sanitary sewer).	If the mobile food vendor has a grease trap connected to a two compartment sink	high

P Quantitative Requirements (20)

Req ID	Category	Intent	Legal Status	Name	Subdomain(s)	Limit Type	Limit Value	Context	Conditions	Confidence
#P001	operational	operational	mandatory	pump out frequency	wastewater	requirement	>= 1 time per month	Facilities must pump out a grease trap at least once a month by a Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks certified waste hauler	As per the Food Service Establishment Environmental Code of Practice	high
#P002	operational	operational	mandatory	grease and solids, combined	wastewater	requirement	< 25 % of the trap's liquid volume	Clean the grease trap before the grease and solids, combined, reach 25% of the trap's liquid volume	whichever is earlier (compared to four week frequency)	high
#P003	operational	operational	mandatory	cleaning frequency	wastewater	requirement	<= 4 weeks	or every four weeks, whichever is earlier.	whichever is earlier (compared to 25% volume limit)	high
#P004	operational	operational	mandatory	cleaning frequency	wastewater	requirement	<= 8 weeks	A cleaning frequency of every eight weeks is permitted under certain circumstances	permitted under certain circumstances (see section 7.1, FSE Environmental Code of Practice)	high
#P005	operational	operational	mandatory	FOG and solids	wastewater	requirement	<= 25 % of the wetted volume	clean the gravity grease interceptor (large in-ground passive interceptor) before the FOG and solids exceed 25% of the wetted volume of the tank.	Where applicable (for gravity grease interceptors)	high
#P006	operational	operational	unknown	Annual Biosolids Processing	wastewater	requirement	195,000 tonnes/year	The Ashbridges Bay and Highland Creek wastewater treatment plants process approximately 195,000 tonnes of biosolids each year.		high
#P007	physical	treatment	mandatory	Pellet Solids Content	wastewater	requirement	>= 90 %	Biosolids are heated to evaporate water content, producing a finished material that is 90% solids or greater.		high
#P008	physical	treatment	mandatory	Pellet Size	wastewater	requirement	2 to 4 mm	The finished material is dust-free, low-odour pellets 2 to 4 mm in size that can be stored for long periods of time.		high
#P009	operational	reporting	mandatory	Emissions Testing Frequency	wastewater	requirement	1 time per year	The emissions are tested annually and are well below the regulatory limits.		high
#P010	physical	treatment	mandatory	Pellet solids content	wastewater	requirement	>= 90 %	Biosolids are heated to evaporate water content, producing a finished material that is 90% solids or greater.		high
#P011	physical	operational	mandatory	Pellet size	wastewater	requirement	2 to 4 mm	The finished material is dust-free, low-odour pellets 2 to 4 mm in size that can be stored for long periods of time.		high
#P012	operational	reporting	mandatory	Emissions testing frequency	wastewater	requirement	1 time per year	The emissions are tested annually and are well below the regulatory limits.		high
#P013	microbiological	treatment	mandatory	pathogen levels	wastewater	requirement	< detection level N/A	high temperatures reduce pathogens (harmful microorganisms) to below detection level	During pelletization process	high
#P014	physical	treatment	mandatory	Pellet Solids Content	wastewater	requirement	>= 90 %	Biosolids are heated to evaporate water content, producing a finished material that is 90% solids or greater.		high
#P015	physical	treatment	mandatory	Pellet Solids Content	wastewater, agricultural water	requirement	>= 90 %	Biosolids are heated to evaporate water content, producing a finished material that is 90% solids or greater.	Produced at Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant pelletizer facility	high
#P016	microbiological	health	mandatory	Pathogen Level	wastewater, agricultural water	treatment_goal	< detection level N/A	The high temperatures reduce pathogens (harmful microorganisms) to below detection level, making the pellets a registered fertilizer product.	During thermal treatment in the pelletizer	high
#P017	physical	operational	mandatory	Pellet Size	wastewater, agricultural water	requirement	2 to 4 mm	The finished material is dust-free, low-odour pellets 2 to 4 mm in size that can be stored for long periods of time.		high
#P018	operational	reporting	mandatory	Emissions Testing Frequency	wastewater	requirement	1 time per year	The emissions are tested annually and are well below the regulatory limits.	Specific to Highland Creek Treatment Plant incineration	high
#P019	microbiological	health	mandatory	Pathogen Levels	agricultural water	treatment_goal	< detection level N/A	The high temperatures reduce pathogens (harmful microorganisms) to below detection level, making the pellets a registered fertilizer product.	Achieved through thermal pelletization	high
#P020	operational	operational	unknown	Annual Biosolids Processing Volume	wastewater	requirement	195,000 tonnes/year	The Ashbridges Bay and Highland Creek wastewater treatment plants process approximately 195,000 tonnes of biosolids each year.		high

D Definitions (11)

Req ID	Name	Context	Confidence
#D001	FSE	Food Service Establishment	high
#D002	grease trap	A grease trap, also called an interceptor, is a plumbing device designed to “trap” and prevent fat, oil and grease from entering the sanitary sewer system.	high
#D003	FOG	Fat, oil & grease	high
#D004	MECP	Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks	high
#D005	gravity grease interceptor	large in-ground passive interceptor	medium
#D006	MECP	Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks	high
#D007	Mobile food vendors	Mobile food vendors include: Hot dog vendors, Ice cream trucks, Food trucks that prepare and/or serve food	high
#D008	interceptor	A plumbing device designed to “trap” and prevent fat, oil and grease from entering the sanitary sewer system.	high
#D009	spill	Anything other than stormwater entering a catch basin	high
#D010	Food service establishments	restaurants, coffee shops, banquet halls, etc.	high
#D011	potable	clean	high