Photos Courtesy of MBDK.
LICENSED operators of Klang eateries face a RM1,000 fine if they remove or fail to maintain grease traps, causing fats, oil and grease (FOG) to flow directly into drains behind their premises.
Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) Health and Environment Department director Azmi Muji said health inspectors with the council’s Food Safety and Quality Division had suggested stricter penalties for eateries that dismantle or fail to maintain grease traps.
“Our decision to impose a RM1,000 fine without appeal is to stop FOG build-up in drains.
"Cooking oil and fats should not be thrown down the drain as it hardens. Over time, it narrows the drains and damages culverts, so MBDK needs to spend the assessment tax collected to replace the culverts,” he said on Saturday (Aug 17).
Grease traps that prevent FOG from getting into drains have been compulsory since 2011, and eateries must install them before a business licence is issued.
Azmi said inspections at two restaurants, one in Bandar Botanic and another off Jalan Mengkuang, found grease trap and hygiene issues.
“In Bandar Botanic, the outlet’s grease trap had been dismantled and the side lane was used to prepare food and wash dishes, resulting in the drains being cluttered with food scraps.
"We issued an immediate closure order until Aug 27 to give the operator time to clean up the area and install grease traps (before the restaurant is allowed) to reopen," he said.
A RM1,000 fine was also issued under the Licensing of Food Establishments (Klang Royal City Council) By-Laws 2007.
Two additional compound notices of RM250 each were issued for hygiene matters.
Azmi said the restaurant off Jalan Mengkuang, behind a row of houses, was shut down until Aug 28 after health inspectors spotted cockroaches in the kitchen and found chicken pieces left on the floor in open containers.
"The operator was also told to install an additional grease trap," he said, adding that the operator was given a strict warning to maintain hygiene.
“From January to date, we have ordered 13 eateries to close for hygiene issues,” he said.
Grease traps, fitted under sinks, filter grease out of wastewater.
However, FOG and food residue still end up in drains because of the lackadaisical attitude of eatery operators, Azmi said.
He added that many operators are not keen to install grease traps because time and cost are incurred to dispose of food particles in the chamber baskets.
“Small solids such as meat and vegetable scraps have to be emptied into disposal bags twice a day before they rot and become unpleasant to handle," he said.
