What is FOG?

FOG is a combination of fats, oils, and grease.  FOG includes cooking oil, animal fat and lard, grease, butter, tallow, shortening, and margarine which are all used in food processing and in the preparation of food.  Kitchen wastes, along with water that has been used to wash kitchen equipment and floors, contain FOG.

Protecting public health and safety is a prime responsibility of City of Gardner Wastewater.  Sewer blockages and subsequent sewage spills pose a threat to public health and safety which can be prevented with proper grease management.  When food and wastewater containing FOG are poured down the drain, it cools and solidifies on the walls of the sewer pipes, restricting or clogging the wastewater flow.  This can result in a wastewater backup into homes and businesses or discharge to the environment.  The most effective way to minimize FOG accumulation in sewers is to prevent the introduction of FOG into the sanitary sewer system in the first place.  To realize this goal, Gardner has developed the Grease Management Program to regulate food service facilities.  

Who Needs a Project Review?

All facilities serving or producing any type of beverage or food are required to have a project review.  The City of Gardner Wastewater sanitary sewer system serves all residents and businesses within the city of Gardner city limits.  Visit https://arcg.is/nXKHC to find out if your business is located in the Gardner service area.  Enter your address in the address bar and hit search. 

How to Apply

In addition to completing the Applications below (Food/Beverage Supplemental Application & Industrial Waste Survey), submit your documents by clicking here: 

        1.  Kitchen and plumbing drawings with all equipment and plumbing fixtures clearly shown and labeled.
        2.  Copy of the menu.
        3.  Copy of the local Food Service Facility Operator's driver's license.
        4.  Existing interceptor and/or plumbing correction drawings (see Tenant Finish section below)
        5.  When an interceptor is required, interceptor installation drawings including sizing calculations (see the 
            Grease Interceptor Design, Inspection and Operation Requirements page for additional information.

Please fill out application and Industrial Waste Survey below for all Food/Beverage establishments:

Application 
Industrial Waste Survey

On the application above, please select the project type (New Construction, New Shell Building, Tenant Finish/Remodel, or Change of Owner).  Complete checklist below for the appropriate project type of your establishment. 

        1.  Commercial Application with Food/Beverage Service (New Construction)
                   A.  Submit all information listed above.
                   B.  Submit all items required in the Commercial Sanitary Sewer Permit Checklist.  
        2.  Commercial Application with Food/Beverage Service (Tenant Finish/Remodel) - Existing buildings
                  A.  Submit all information listed above.
                  B.  Submit all items required in the Commercial Sanitary Sewer Permit Checklist.
                  C.  Site Location Property Map and Key Plan (see the Grease Interceptor Design, Inspection, and
                        Operation Requirements page for information.  
                  D.  Adding a grease interceptor - The field verified flow line elevation of the existing plumbing  
                        header at the location the grease interceptor outlet connects to existing building plumbing
                        or service line is required to be labeled.  This information shall be provided by the contractor 
                        performing the field verification and is required with the first submittal.  
                  E.  Reusing the existing grease interceptor - The grease interceptor must be inspected by City of 
                       Gardner Wastewater prior to the first permit submittal.  Contact the Permit Group at 913-856-0980
                        to schedule an inspection by a Gardner inspector.  The interceptor must be pumped and cleaned 
                       at the time of the inspection by a licensed sanitary disposal contractor (pumper) of your choosing.
                       The interior plumbing connections to the interceptor must also be inspected at the time the 
                       interceptor is inspected.  Running water must be available in the space.  If water is not available,
                       a separate pump out and Gardner inspection will be required when water is available.  Gardner 
                       will provide a list of items found during inspection to be included with the plan submittal for 
                      permitting.  NO CORRECTIONS MAY BE PERFORMED UNTIL Gardner HAS ISSUED THE PERMIT.
        3.  Commercial Application with Food/Beverage Service (Change of Owner) - No change in plumbing or
             kitchen equipment.
                 A.  Kitchen and plumbing drawings with all equipment and plumbing fixtures clearly shown and labeled.
                 B.  Copy of the menu.
                 C.  Copy of the local Food Service Facility Operator's driver's license.
                 D.  Site Location Property Map and Key Plan (see the Grease Interceptor Design, Inspection, and 
                      Operation Requirements page for information)
                E.  Reusing the existing grease interceptor - The grease interceptor must be inspected by City of Gardner
                     Wastewater prior to the first permit submittal.  Contact the Permit Group at 913-856-0980 to 
                     schedule an inspection by a Gardner inspector.  The interceptor must be pumped and cleaned at
                     the time of inspection by a licensed sanitary disposal contractor (pumper) of your choosing.  The
                     interior plumbing connections to the interceptor must also be inspected at the time the interceptor
                     is inspected.  Running water must be available in the space.  If water is not available, a separate pump
                     out and a GARDNER inspection will be required when water is available.  Gardner will provide a list
                     of items found during inspection to be included with the plan submittal for permitting. 
                     NO CORRECTIONS MAY BE PERFORMED UNTIL Gardner HAS ISSUED THE PERMIT.
        4.  Commercial Application with Food/Beverage Service (with a Common Interceptor) - Serve multiple 
             tenant spaces.
                A.  Both building owners and tenants use this application for all spaces with access to the common 
                     interceptor.
                B.  Submit all information listed above.
                C.  Submit all items required in the Commercial Sanitary Sewer Permit Checklist.
                D.  Adding a grease interceptor - The field verified flow line elevation of the existing plumbing header 
                      at the location the grease interceptor outlet connects to existing building plumbing or service line 
                      is required to be labeled.  This information shall be provided by the contractor performing the field 
                     verification and is required with the first submittal.  
                E.  Reusing the existing grease interceptor - The grease interceptor must be inspected by City of Gardner
                     Wastewater prior to the first permit submittal.  Contact the Permit Group at 913-856-0980 to schedule
                     an inspection by a Gardner inspector.  The interceptor must be pumped and cleaned at the time of
                     the inspection by a licensed sanitary disposal contractor (pumper) of your choosing.  The interior
                     plumbing connections to the interceptor must also be inspected at the time the interceptor is 
                     inspected.  Running water must be available in the space.  If water is not available, a separate pump 
                     out and Gardner inspection will be required when water is available.  Gardner will provide a list of
                     items found during inspection to be included with the plan submittal for permitting.  NO CORRECTIONS
                     MAY BE PERFORMED UNTIL City of Gardner HAS ISSUED THE PERMIT.  

Low Grease Discharge Waiver (LGDW)

To be considered for a Low Grease Discharge Waiver (LGDW), the facility must meet the following criteria:

        1.  Serves only ready-to-eat foods with no preparation at the facility, other than warming, including, but 
             not limited to: scoop-only ice cream shops, sandwich shops, popcorn stands, hot dog rollers, etc.
        2.  Prepares only uncooked or unbaked food or meals that will be taken from the facility and cooked or
             baked at another location; or baked goods such as, but not limited to: cookies and pretzels.

**The LGDW permit must be renewed annually and LGDW facilities will be inspected routinely.**

             Low Grease Discharge Waiver Form (LGDW) 

Common Interceptor

A Common or Shared Interceptor is a single interceptor that could serve multiple Food or Beverage facilities in 
one building.  The interceptor and piping shall be sized during the initial permitting process.  The building owner 
and tenant shall submit the Commercial Application with Food/Beverage Service (with a Common Interceptor) as 
indicated above.  The information from the application will be incorporated into legal documents prepared by the
City of Gardner.  Both the building owner and tenant will renew the documents annually.  

Annual Operating Permit Renewal

Each facility will receive an Operating Permit with Commercial Permit issuance.  The Operating Permits for all 
grease interceptors and facilities operating under low grease discharge waivers expire on April 14th each year and must be renewed annually.  Facilities currently permitted by City of Gardner Wastewater will receive a notice prior to permit expiration with renewal materials and instructions.

Permits are valid only for the year in which they are issued.  There are no provisions for the proration of a license
or refunding the license fees. 

Food Service Application Annual Renewal Form  

**Currently Gardner is not charging the renewal fee for 2021, however the $300 renewal fee will be charged beginning April 15, 2022.**

Grease Interceptor Pumping Variances

Interceptor pumping and cleaning is required at a minimum of once every 90 days for most establishments.  A 
variance may be considered if you believe your interceptor requires less frequent pumping by completing the 
following steps:

• A current City of Gardner Wastewater Grease Interceptor Operating Permit
• Food Service Form C- Pumping Variance Application
• Check payable to City of Gardner in the amount of $300.00.  (Please only write "City of Gardner" in the payable to line.  In the memo please note that it is for the Wastewater Division)

Once the application and fees have been submitted, the operator must have the interceptor pumped and 
cleaned while City of Gardner Wastewater is present to begin the variance process.  Please call the City of 
Gardner Wastewater Environmental Compliance Managers at 913-856-0980 to schedule an inspection.