Government has put in place a number of measures to reduce the amount of harmful fats, oils and grease (FOG) in the Island’s sewage waste stream.

These materials, as well as other substances, can solidify to form grease balls that have been seen washing up along South Shore’s Seabright outfall.

The newly-formed Bermuda Seawater Quality Scientific, Technical and Advisory Committee (STAC) meets monthly with representatives from the City of Hamilton, Town of St George’s, Ministry of Health, Seniors and Environment, Ministry of Public Works, Department of Communication and Information, Department of Sustainable Development, Bermuda Tourism Authority, Wedco and BLDC.

They are coordinating measures which they believe can improve the wastewater quality.

The Ministry of Public Works says it is “actively improving” the operations at the Tynes Bay Septage Facility with more control on the types of wastes being received. Septage refers to the waste contents of septic tanks.

The hours of operation for the Septage Facility are matched with the Tynes Bay Waste to Energy Plant to ensure that staff can be there to monitor the waste being received. If there is an emergency, hauliers can call Tynes Bay Waste to Energy Plant Control Room.

The Ministry has pointed out that mixed loads (eg: a mix of sewage and grease) will no longer be permitted. If a hauler is removing grease from a domestic or restaurant grease trap, that waste will go directly into the Tynes Bay Waste to Energy Plant tipping hall bunker, which will ensure that it does not end up being pumped out to sea via the outfall.

All trucks that bring waste to the Tynes Bay Septage Facility will be required to be weighed and waste transfer receipt books are to be used to record details of waste being dumped.

The City of Hamilton has established a FOG Control Policy which defines the requirements of all food service establishments (FSE) to remove FOG from their wastewater prior to disposing it in the City sewer system.

Brochures are currently being created for both residences and restaurants and will be distributed later this year to advise the public as to proper FOG disposal methods.

Meanwhile, jointly with the adoption of the FOG Control Policy the City of Hamilton has recently appointed Mr Roger Mello (a former Senior Health Inspector for 30 years) to the role ‘Corporation Inspector’, as defined in the Hamilton Sewerage Act 1917.

The public is reminded to dispose of their used fats and grease in an empty, disposable container and when that container is full they should put it in the garbage.