Cost
2 min read
By Pedro Carreira
Updated 22 June 2026
Grease trap servicing in Melbourne costs $150–400 per service depending on trap size.
A standard 1,000L trap costs $150–250, a 2,000L trap $250–400. Most food businesses need monthly or quarterly servicing.
Failure to maintain grease traps can breach your trade-waste agreement, leading to penalties or suspension of your discharge consent by your water authority (such as South East Water or Yarra Valley Water).
Key Numbers
- Grease trap servicing, per service: $150–400
- Standard 1,000L trap: $150–250
- 2,000L trap: $250–400
- Saving via an independent broker: up to 30%
What You Need to Know
Grease trap servicing cost in Melbourne tracks trap size and how often your menu demands it — but the bigger financial risk is a missed service breaching your trade-waste agreement, not the service fee itself. A lapsed trap can see your water authority penalise you or suspend your discharge consent altogether.
| Trap size | Cost per service |
|---|
| Standard 1,000L trap | $150–250 |
| 2,000L trap | $250–400 |
- Most food businesses need monthly or quarterly servicing.
- South East Water or Yarra Valley Water can suspend discharge consent for non-compliance.
- Servicing records protect your trade-waste agreement.
Keeping grease out of landfill and the sewer is one reason the Victorian Landfill Levy rewards diverting recoverable waste, while trap maintenance itself remains a trade-waste compliance duty. As an independent broker, Bundle Waste audits your grease and general-waste invoices for free, compares a network of providers to right-size service frequency, and is paid only from the savings we find — up to 30%.
Related Resources
Related Questions
What waste management does a Melbourne commercial smoker or BBQ restaurant need?+
BBQ and smoker restaurants generate: meat trimmings and bones (food organics or rendering), wood ash and charcoal (can be composted in small quantities), cooking oil (free collection 200L+), grease trap waste ($150–400/service), and high volumes of general waste. Monthly waste: $500–1,200. Grease trap servicing frequency increases with smoking operations. Wood ash should cool completely before disposal.
What is the cost of waste management for restaurants in Melbourne?+
Melbourne restaurants typically spend $400–1,200/month on waste management: general waste $150–350, food organics $80–200, recycling $60–150, cooking oil $40–80, and grease trap servicing $150–400/quarter. High-volume venues (300+ covers/day) can exceed $1,500/month. Bundle Waste restaurant audits typically save up to 30%.
How often must grease traps be cleaned under Victorian regulations?+
Under trade waste agreements, grease traps must be serviced at intervals set by the water authority — typically monthly for restaurants, quarterly for lower-volume kitchens. Maximum interval is usually 13 weeks. Failure can result in agreement suspension and fines up to $20,000.
Are there specific waste rules for the food industry in Victoria?+
Food businesses must comply with: Food Act 1984, EP Act 2017, trade waste agreements, grease trap maintenance, four-stream separation, and food donation requirements. Large food generators (50+ kg/week) must separate organics.
How do I dispose of grease trap waste?+
Must be collected by licensed liquid waste transporters — never to stormwater or general sewer. Cost: $150–400 per pump-out. Maintain records for water authority. Failure leads to $2,000–10,000 plumbing costs and EPA fines.
See exactly what you are overpaying
Bundle Waste reviews your current waste invoices and benchmarks them against a network of Melbourne providers — free, with a written report in 5 business days. You will see what you pay now, where the hidden charges are, and the rate we can negotiate. You only pay from the savings we find: no savings, no fee.
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Updated 22 June 2026
