Short answer: in Texas, only sludge transporters registered with the TCEQ may pump and haul grease trap waste. You must check and sign the trip ticket, get back a final copy signed by the transporter and the disposal facility, and you stay responsible for the waste until it reaches that facility. Your city sets how often to pump.
The state rules come from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) guide Waste from Grease Traps, Grit Traps, and Septic Tanks (RG-389, revised August 2026). City rules add pumping schedules and record-keeping on top.
Who can pump a grease trap in Texas?
Only sludge transporters registered with the TCEQ can legally pump and transport grease trap waste. Before service, the TCEQ suggests you:
- Ask to see the transporter’s Notice of Registration.
- Check for an unexpired registration sticker on the truck door.
Some cities add their own permit. In Corpus Christi, only a city-permitted liquid waste hauler may pump your trap. In Amarillo, pumpers must be permitted by the city’s Industrial Waste Department and use the city’s manifest.
What do you do with the trip ticket?
The trip ticket (also called a manifest) is your proof the waste was pumped and disposed of properly. The TCEQ guide says to:
- Check it: your business name, address and phone number, and the date and time of service.
- Sign it to confirm the information is correct.
- Get the final copy signed by you, the transporter and the receiving facility. The transporter must send it to you.
- Keep it for as long as your local authority requires.
The state guide doesn’t set a retention period, so the city decides:
| City | How long to keep trip tickets |
|---|---|
| Lubbock | 3 years, on site |
| Corpus Christi | 5 years, per the city’s FOG manual |
| Amarillo | Most recent manifest on site for inspectors |
Who is responsible for the waste?
You are. The TCEQ guide says generators “are responsible for their waste until it reaches the proper disposal facility.” That means you should confirm the facility your transporter uses is authorized to receive grease trap waste. Grease trap waste can go to a landfill or a liquid waste processor, but not every landfill accepts it.
How quickly must a trap be emptied?
Once the transporter arrives for a scheduled service, the grease trap must be fully emptied within 24 hours (30 TAC 312.143(c)). Partial pumping isn’t enough to meet this rule.
How often must you pump a grease trap in Texas?
The state guide doesn’t set one interval. It says frequency depends on trap size, waste volume, the manufacturer’s recommendations and local rules, and to pump before the trap is full. Cities set the schedule:
| City | Pumping rule |
|---|---|
| Lubbock | Interceptors at least every 90 days |
| Corpus Christi | Every 90 days or at 25% of depth, whichever comes first |
| Amarillo | No fixed interval; service within 10 business days if an inspector flags it |
For other cities, see how often grease traps must be cleaned, and for prices, our grease trap cleaning cost guide.
Checklist before you hire a pumper in Texas
- Ask for the TCEQ Notice of Registration and check the truck sticker.
- Confirm any city permit your city requires.
- Ask which facility receives the waste.
- Agree on a schedule that meets your city’s rule.
- Check and sign every trip ticket, and file the final signed copy.
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Sources
- TCEQ RG-389, Waste from Grease Traps, Grit Traps, and Septic Tanks (revised August 2026)
- City rules: see the Lubbock, Corpus Christi and Amarillo pages for each official source
By the Grease Trap Guide team. How we make our guides. This summary isn’t legal advice; confirm current requirements with the TCEQ and your city. Last reviewed October 2026.
