THE PROBLEM WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT

Every month, over 25,000 gallons of hazardous waste is dumped into the waster system. This comes from the 4,000 restaurants in the local Austin area. 

By law, commercial kitchens are required to get their exhaust systems cleaned, but this is often done illegally. Most cleaning providers use caustic chemicals that irritate the skin and are toxic when ingested. During the process, the cleaners will illegally dump the waste from the system down the drain. This poses a huge risk to the public since the chemicals and byproducts from the fat, oil and grease waste-water accumulate downstream. This waste includes lye, or caustic soda, as well as other carcinogens and toxins. These chemicals are known to increase risk of birth defects, cancer, and other long-term disease (P. Rehage).

These hood cleaning chemicals have also been known to drip down into the food being cooked. This has happened here in Austin and has been directly observed and documented. In one instance it was not discovered until the end of the day so all the food that had been contaminated with these deadly chemicals had already been consumed. The consumers were never notified.

According to Section 502 of the Clean Water Act, hazardous waste includes chemicals or grease entering municipal drains. 

We need your help to hold restaurants and other foodservice operators accountable for who they hire to clean their kitchens. 

 André Birotte Jr., the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, says, “federal laws that address the proper handling, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes exist to safeguard our environment and protect the public from harm." Generators of hazardous waste have a duty to legally and safely dispose of that hazardous waste, and dumping it down the sink was neither legal nor safe.