Phuket Town restaurants grilled over grease traps

PHUKET: Heavy pollution in the waterways throughout Phuket Town has prompted officials to lay down the law against all restaurants that do not install grease traps.

Any restaurants that do not have grease traps installed will not have their permits to operate renewed, Phuket City Deputy Mayor Dr Kosol Tang-Uthai warned yesterday.

“Part of the flooding problem in Phuket Town last week was that food waste and fat dumped by restaurants stopped water in the canals from flowing to the sea,” Dr Kosol said.

“Too many restaurants do not use grease traps, and this greatly contributes to the wastewater problem polluting our public waterways,” he added.

Foul odors, organic blooms in the canals and the stifled flow of water were other problems caused by excessive wastewater in the canals, Dr Kosol said.

“From now on, every restaurant must install a grease trap to reduce water pollution, as required by Phuket City Municipality regulations for managing restaurants,” he added.

All restaurateurs applying for permits to open a new venue or to renew a permit for an existing restaurant must include photo evidence that a grease trap has been installed.

“Our officers will inspect the restaurant to make sure that a grease trap has been installed before the permit will be approved,’ Dr Kosol said.

To read the Phuket Gazette special report on the importance, cost-effectiveness and simplicity of grease traps, as explained by Phuket Environmental Office Director Pornsri Suthanarak, click here.

— Saran Mitrarat