Fort Hood

Grease Trap Waste Treatment

Fort Hood generates some 700,000 gallons of grease-trap waste annually from several dining facilities on post. In response to rising treatment costs off site, the Directorate of Public Works at Fort Hood, Texas, is seeking an alternative means of separating wastewater from grease and food particles collected in grease traps. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center funded a study to devise and pilot-test an on-site treatment system that uses a grease absorbent readily available at the fort — wood chips.

The wood-chip absorbent system tested used a two-stage process. Grease trap waste was first run through a large column filled with wood chips, where it was churned to maximize grease absorption onto the chips. Then it was pumped through a second column containing a commercial absorbent for secondary filtering. The pilot study showed that the test system could be a promising option for treating grease trap wastewater.

• Mission Reducing cost for waste treatment leaves more funds available for other mission-related matters.
• Community This project creates awareness of alternative ways of separating wastewater from grease and food particles collected in grease traps. Inspire others to research environmentally compliant and cost efficient ways to reduce waste.
• Environment Strengthening operational capability by reducing our ecological footprint and the cost of treating grease trap waste.

The waste has historically been transported off post to a commercial treatment plant. Recent changes in Texas regulations have resulted in a 57 percent cost increase for that disposal option. This project reduces grease treatment costs that occur when shipped off site.

Construction Engineer Research Laboratory, ERDC, Champaign, Ill; Phone: 217-373-5831

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has published a Public Works Technical Bulletin describing the system and results of initial testing. PWTB 200-1-59 is available on the Whole Building Design Guide web site.