Dublin Selects Environmental Biotech Fog Removal System

The bacterial FOG removal system from Environmental Biotech (UK) has been approved by Dublin City Council and licensed for use in Food Service Establishments registered with the City Council.

The Environmental Biotech system, which uses live vegetative bacteria to consume the fats, oils and grease in drain lines, is the only system of this type permitted for use in the 2,100 food service establishments licensed by Dublin City Council. This is the latest municipal permit awarded to the Environmental Biotech FOG removal system.

Following long-term competitive tests monitored by the Drainage Division of Dublin City Council’s Engineering Department at two, high volume commercial catering establishments, this exclusive approval permit has been mandated by Dublin City Council for the Environmental Biotech system. Following this successful test and the successes achieved in Northern Ireland, the Environmental Biotech system package is now available to all catering establishments across Ireland.

Michael O’Dwyer, the Dublin City Council Executive Engineer who has driven the FOG elimination project for several years reports major improvements since the programme commenced. “Our legislative requirement for all food outlets to be licensed allows us to monitor their standards of drain line discharge and maintenance. Having drawn up the test criteria only the Environmental Biotech live bacteria system achieved the results we were looking for. Installing this system will enable commercial kitchens to minimise FOG waste getting into the City drain systems. Other cities should take this route and save the millions spent on FOG removal and blockage clean-ups. The Environmental Biotech system will certainly save us money,” says Mr O’Dwyer.

The problem with many municipal drainage systems is the high levels of FOG, the fat, oil and grease sluiced down the sink from commercial catering establishments such as restaurants, canteens, fast-food outlets, hotels, super markets and food processing facilities. The various elements of FOG combine to form solids that block pipe-work and clog up pumping stations. The non-carcinogenic Environmental Biotech system introduces live bacteria into the drainage network that simply consume and digest the fat and are carried away as the water flows. Eventually the micro-organisms die and are dissolved, eliminating the fat from the system. Free flowing drains protect health and avoid expensive clean-ups following flooding.