Restaurant Best management Practices
Common source of pollutants from restaurants include leaking trash bins and wash water from cleaning dumpsters, parking lots, and oil and grease spills.
When it rains, storm water can pick up and wash pollutants right into the City’s storm drainage system, which flows directly into our streams and coastal waters.
The City has developed guidance and resources to help restaurant owners, managers, and staff implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) when carrying out tasks such as disposing of trash, cleaning up spills, or handling food grease. Using these practices ensures that your business will avoid fines* and contribute to keeping our island waters clean.
Resources
Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Restaurant and Food Industry
Fats, Oil, and Grease Disposal
Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) waste that is not properly managed may clog sewer pipes and cause a sewage spill. The Department of Environmental Services provides related regulations and compliance information.
Washing Floor Mats and Commercial Hood Filters
Guidance on floor mat and commercial hood filter wash water disposal
Pressure Washing
Many restaurants use pressure washing to clean exterior surfaces. View the Pressure Washing Traning Videos to learn how to handle and properly dispose of wash water when pressure washing.
Mobile Restaurants
Best Management Practices for lunch wagons, food trucks, carts and tents (Tip Card)
Property Maintenace
The Property Maintenance Toolkit includes best management practices for many of which apply to restaurants property maintenance activities Click here or on the image above to download the full Toolkit.
Additional Resources
BMP Plan Development Guide and Forms & BMP Plan Template
A guide to creating a BMP Plan for your restaurant.
Industrial and Commercial Facilities Storm Water BMP Manual
A comprehensive resource guide on best management practices for all types of businesses.
Hawai‘i Green Restaurant and Food Service Program
A voluntary Hawai‘i State Department of Health program for local restaurants.
Business Inspections
In accordance with the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, the City regularly inspects commercial and industrial facilities. In addition, if a complaint is filed or there is a community concern, the City must inspect the site and take corrective action. Any business found discharging pollution or wastewater into the storm drain system may be issued a citation and may be subject to fines of up to $25,000.
Storm Water Inspection Info Door Hanger
Explains what to expect during a City Storm Water Quality Division inspection of your business.
Revised Ordinances of Honolulu 43-11.23
Environmental quality control – Violation.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or cause to be discharged any pollutant into any drainage facility that causes a pollution problem in State waters, or causes a violation of the city NPDES permit or State water quality standards.
It also shall be unlawful to discharge commercial cooking oil waste and commercial FOG waste, as defined under § 43-5A.1, into any drainage facility or any seperate storm water sewer system.