Indiana businesses must control grease entering sewer systems

Covered businesses must install, operate, and maintain properly sized grease control equipment. This applies to commercial facilities that send grease-containing wastewater to a sewer, food establishments, and mobile food establishments. A business may be exempt if operations, inspections, and sampling show it does not produce grease in amounts that need interception. If its operations change and it begins producing grease that needs interception, it must install equipment. A licensed engineer or architect must design or approve the equipment. A utility or regulating authority may not impose a blanket equipment mandate or require a particular type, size, or location when the business has properly sized, maintained equipment that keeps discharges within the allowed concentration. When an outside grease interceptor is impractical because of space, the structure, or other site limits, the business may use other equipment or maintenance methods approved by the regulating authority. The chapter takes effect July 1, 2026.

Grease haulers must document each service and keep records showing the grease they pump matches what they dispose of. These duties apply to grease haulers regulated and permitted by Indiana's environmental department. Haulers must take time-stamped photos before and after service and keep them available to share with the state environmental department or regulating authority if requested. After service, haulers must give the business an invoice or other document listing the service date, amount removed, and hauler's name. The chapter takes effect July 1, 2026.

Certain wastewater treatment plants must continue accepting locally collected septage. This applies to a treatment plant that allowed septage disposal on or after January 1, 2023, for septage collected in the plant's local unit or a neighboring unit. A plant need not accept septage if it is not designed, permitted, or able to handle it under its permit. Acceptance also cannot conflict with a permit, cause a treatment problem or permit violation, or require capital or operating changes without full cost recovery. A hauler may ask the state environmental department to decide whether a plant must accept septage. A plant may charge a fair and reasonable fee. This section takes effect July 1, 2026. The acceptance rule applies to disposal allowed on or after January 1, 2023.