Phuket Town restaurants grilled over grease traps

[Lite Beer]

Phuket Town restaurants grilled over grease traps
Phuket Gazette -

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.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-Town-restaurants-grilled-over-grease-traps-22493.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-10-13

[Mr Red]

Just one more way for inspectors to make a few more bucks. If Thailand ever took regulations such as this, fire safety regulations, etc. seriously, would almost be a second world country.

[Thai at Heart]

How the water on the coastline of Thailand has survived God only knows.

[LivinginKata]

A small step, but it all helps the environment.

[apetley]

Except that they have had this exact same 'crackdown' in the past and sfa got done after the initial promises.

[stevenl]

Just one more way for inspectors to make a few more bucks. If Thailand ever took regulations such as this, fire safety regulations, etc. seriously, would almost be a second world country.

Do nothing and get harassed by TV readers for that, implement measures and get harassed by TV readers for that.

[LivinginKata]

Just one more way for inspectors to make a few more bucks. If Thailand ever took regulations such as this, fire safety regulations, etc. seriously, would almost be a second world country.

Do nothing and get harassed by TV readers for that, implement measures and get harassed by TV readers for that.

I don't think our members are harassing anyone. Just making an educated comment based on long suffering experience.

[NomadJoe]

Generally you will find many businesses pipe urine straight into these canals as well. Any gas station urinals, for example. You can see it run straight into the nearest klong or gutter.

[MMarlow]

Just one more way for inspectors to make a few more bucks. If Thailand ever took regulations such as this, fire safety regulations, etc. seriously, would almost be a second world country.

Do nothing and get harassed by TV readers for that, implement measures and get harassed by TV readers for that.

I don't think our members are harassing anyone. Just making an educated comment based on long suffering experience.

Stevenl is absolutely right with his sentiment, maybe a better word would have been "harrangued" instead of "harassed", but he is spot-on. Mr Red is certainly not making an educated comment by making a reference to a second world country, rather an ill-informed ignorant comment.

But it's very nice of you to back up such unnecessary negative cynicism of Mr Red's type that appears on TV regularly.

Suppose I'll get a private admonishment or ban for saying that. Never mind.

[chrisinth]

Just one more way for inspectors to make a few more bucks. If Thailand ever took regulations such as this, fire safety regulations, etc. seriously, would almost be a second world country.

These grease traps have been law in Thailand (I would assume his includes the islands?) since at least the early 2000's for all restaurants. They really are horrible devices and need to be cleaned regularly otherwise they themselves become health risks.

The reason for this is because they do actually work, and it is the accumulation of the fats that make them a risk.

If a restaurant owner doesn't have them fitted (I believe they are provided free) then they rightly should be fined.

[pacovl46]

Well, how about imposing a law that says grease traps habe to be installed and an inspection before the restaurant is opened to see if it actually has one????????

[tingtongteesood]

Sadly it is a problem throughout this whole uneducated country. The Thai way is to dump your crap anywhere you feel. PVC containers in the sea ? Sure. Cooking fat down the drains ? Why not !? I see so many street sellers pouring vatfuls of crap down the drains every night, from leftover soup to horrid used month old grease, everything gets dumped down the draiin...