Restaurants
2 min read
By Pedro Carreira
Updated 25 June 2026
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.
Key Numbers
- Cooking oil collection: free at 200L+
- Grease trap servicing: $150–400/service
- Typical monthly waste: $500–1,200
- Metro landfill levy (2025–26): $169.79/tonne
What You Need to Know
A smoker or BBQ restaurant carries more specialised streams than a standard kitchen, and each one is priced differently — so a single flat contract almost always hides waste. Smoking operations also drive grease trap servicing more frequently than conventional cooking, which is where unexpected cost creeps in.
- Meat trimmings and bones — food organics or rendering, kept out of general waste
- Cooking oil — free collection at 200L+, so it should never be a cost line
- Grease trap waste — $150–400 per service, scaling with smoking volume
- Wood ash and charcoal — cool completely, then compost in small quantities
Diverting meat trimmings to organics rather than the general bin trims the tonnage exposed to the metro $169.79/tonne levy, and Victoria's FOGO (Food Organics Garden Organics) Policy is moving food organics to separate collection statewide. Bundle Waste audits your invoice for free, benchmarks a network of providers across each of these streams, and is paid only from the savings we find.
Related Resources
Related Questions
How much does grease trap servicing cost in Melbourne?+
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).
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
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Updated 25 June 2026
