How Do You Choose a Grease Trap Company?

Grease Trap Cleaning Tampa suggests judging a grease trap company on eight points: the right registration for your address, a Florida DEP license, full pump-outs with no water returned, signed manifests, measured depths, a schedule built on your local rule, clear per-visit pricing, and a contract you can leave. Price comes last.

The eight questions

1. Are you registered for my address? The City of Tampa, Hillsborough County, Temple Terrace, Pinellas County and Pasco County each register or permit haulers. See registered grease haulers.

2. What’s your DEP hauler license? Florida licenses grease waste haulers under F.A.C. 62-705, renewed by March 1 each year.

3. Do you pump to empty? Florida has banned returning grease or gray water to the tank since July 2022, and Pinellas County bans decanting and skimming. A full pump-out removes grease, gray water and solids, and scrapes the walls and baffles.

4. What will the manifest show? It should list the volume removed, the unit’s condition, that nothing was returned, and the disposal facility’s ticket number, signed by both of you (F.S. 403.0741).

5. Do you measure before pumping? Grease and solids depth at each visit is the only evidence that your schedule works, and the basis for any variance.

6. Which rule is my schedule built on? The answer should name your jurisdiction’s limit: 30 days, 90 days, condition-based or city-set. Not a generic “every quarter”.

7. How is it priced? Per visit or per gallon, whether disposal is included, and the emergency premium, all in writing. Typical Tampa Bay ranges are in the cost guide.

8. How do I leave? Term length, auto-renewal and cancellation notice.

Red flags

• A price far below every other quote, with no mention of what’s removed
• No manifest, or one without volumes and a disposal ticket number
• A schedule that ignores your jurisdiction (“everyone does 90 days”)
• Additives sold as a substitute for pumping. Tampa requires approval, and Clearwater bans emulsifiers.
• Not on the City of Tampa list, or listed for traps only, when you have an interceptor

Where reviews fit

Reviews tell you about punctuality and communication. They don’t tell you whether a company pumps to empty or files correct manifests. Check the eight points first, then reviews. See grease trap maintenance plans.