Life if filled with chemistry. Everything and everyone is made up of compounds, both organic and inorganic. It is in the combination of both that all the complexities of one’s existence is set into motion. But sometimes, the compounds get too overwhelming that they have to be controlled to attain balance. Chemicals do that on some occasions. Disinfectants kill infective organisms to keep everything safe from sickness or contamination. Pesticides/insecticides kill pests/insects when they overpopulate the house or farm. Chemicals can control and provide balance but not in the case of FOG (fats, oils, grease). How can shopping mall grease trap chemicals be used for treatment?
The FOG crisis is getting worse in the United States. With all the hype about green technology and green alternatives, it is pretty ironic to face such a major environmental issue. It’s even quite uncomfortable to know that a typical shopping mall is one of the largest contributors to the FOG crisis in the country.
A shopping mall is a highly energetic place, filled with regular customers that either shop or just pass the time. The common denominator of everyone who stays in the shopping mall is food. Everyone loves to eat while they go around the mall. That is why there are food establishments in every corner. When there’s food ordered up, there is most certainly a kitchen that makes the order happen. These kitchens are the ones that dump endless amounts of FOG into the grease trap.
When FOG overflows, there are bound to be health and environmental issues to deal with. The FOG combines with the wastewater and travels through the sewer pipes. It then cools down, hardens, and accumulates in the pipes until it completely blocks the wastewater’s pathway to the treatment plant. The wastewater backs up into the shopping mall facilities and onto the surrounding areas. Health problems like respiratory and skin infections plague the local population. Waterways get contaminated and the clean water becomes questionable.
Shopping mall authorities believe that they have to use an effective grease trap chemical. Chemicals have always been known to do the job when it comes to getting things cleaned up. Immediately, shopping mall grease trap chemicals come into mind. But mall maintenance should know that using chemicals and enzymes would only result into further aggravation. This is because shopping mall grease trap chemicals only emulsify the FOG and allow it to mix in with the wastewater that run through the sewer pipes. When this happens, backing up takes place again. Shopping mall grease trap chemicals only intensify the FOG problem. They don’t really solve anything.
Instead of using shopping mall grease trap chemicals. It would be much better to use bacteria to clean up and maintain the grease trap. Bacteria can be non-pathogenic and convert the FOG into less harmful substances (bioremediation) or selected strains to digest the solid wastes and FOG (bioaugmentation). These processes eliminate odors as well. Many states mandate the use of bacteria for shopping mall grease traps. They are additives that make sure the environment stays safe because they have no chemical discharges.
Aside from using bacteria, there should be an initiative in the kitchen to properly dispose of the FOG and the solid wastes from the meals that are prepared and the dishes that are washed. These should be manually collected and placed in a receptacle that can be sealed up and put together with regular trash. The drains should be fitted with food meshes or strainers so that the remaining particles of FOG and food will be caught.
Shopping mall grease trap chemicals may seem very useful and efficient because they immediately melt away the visible, solidified FOG in the grease trap. But only few people know about the real deal behind these chemical grease trap cleaners. It would be better to use bacteria at all times when it comes to cleaning and maintaining the grease trap. With these helpful microorganisms, the grease trap and the environment will remain intact for a very long time.