Section 374.5.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 374.5.
in effect(a)
It is unlawful for any grease waste hauler to do either of the following:
(1)
Reinsert, deposit, dump, place, release, or discharge into a grease trap, grease interceptor, manhole, cleanout, or other sanitary sewer appurtenance any materials that the hauler has removed from the grease trap or grease interceptor, or to cause those materials to be so handled.
(2)
Cause or permit to be discharged in or on any waters of the state, or discharged in or deposited where it is, or probably will be, discharged in or on any waters of the state, any materials that the hauler has removed from the grease trap or grease interceptor, or to cause those materials to be so handled.
(b)
The prohibition in subdivision (a), as it pertains to reinsertion of material removed from a grease trap or grease interceptor, shall not apply to a grease waste hauler if all of the following conditions are met:
(1)
The local sewer authority having jurisdiction over the pumping and disposal of the material specifically allows a registered grease waste hauler to obtain written approval for the reinsertion of decanted liquid.
(2)
The local sewer authority has determined that, if reinsertion is allowed, it is feasible to enforce local discharge limits for fats, oil, and grease, if any, and other local requirements for best management or operating practices, if any.
(3)
The grease waste hauler is registered pursuant to Section 19310 of the Food and Agricultural Code.
(4)
The registered grease waste hauler demonstrates to the satisfaction of the local sewer authority all of the following:
(A)
It will use equipment that will adequately separate the water from the grease waste and solids in the material so as to comply with applicable regulations.
(B)
Its employees are adequately trained in the use of that equipment.
(5)
The registered grease waste hauler demonstrates both of the following:
(A)
It has informed the managerial personnel of the owner or operator of the grease trap or interceptor, in writing, that the grease waste hauler may reinsert the decanted materials, unless the owner or operator objects to the reinsertion.
(B)
The owner or operator has not objected to the reinsertion of the decanted materials. If the owner or operator of the grease trap or interceptor objects to the reinsertion, no decanted material may be inserted in that grease trap or interceptor.
(c)
A grease waste hauler shall not transport grease removed from a grease trap or grease interceptor in the same vehicle used for transporting other waste, including, but not limited to, yellow grease, cooking grease, recyclable cooking oil, septic waste, or fluids collected at car washes.
(d)
For purposes of this section, a “grease waste hauler” is a transporter of inedible kitchen grease subject to registration requirements pursuant to Section 19310 of the Food and Agricultural Code.
(e)
Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than six months or a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both a fine and imprisonment.
A second and subsequent conviction, shall be punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or a fine of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), or both a fine and imprisonment.
(f)
Notwithstanding Section 1463, the fines paid pursuant to this section shall be apportioned as follows:
(1)
Fifty percent shall be deposited in the Environmental Enforcement and Training Account established pursuant to Section 14303, and used for purposes of Title 13 (commencing with Section 14300) of Part 4.
(2)
Twenty-five percent shall be distributed pursuant to Section 1463.001.
(3)
Twenty-five percent to the local health officer or other local public officer or agency that investigated the matter which led to bringing the action.
(g)
If the court finds that the violator has engaged in a practice or pattern of violation, consisting of two or more convictions, the court may bar the violating individual or business from engaging in the business of grease waste hauling for a period not to exceed five years.
(h)
The court may require, in addition to any fine imposed upon conviction, that as a condition of probation and in addition to any other punishment or condition of probation, that a person convicted under this section remove, or pay the cost of removing, to the extent they are able, any materials which the convicted person dumped or caused to be dumped in violation of this section.
(i)
This section does not prohibit the direct receipt of trucked grease by a publicly owned treatment works.
References
referencesCal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 19310.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 1463.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 14303.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 14300.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 1463.001.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026