Cost guide
Grease trap cleaning cost in Australia, 2026
Most aggregators won't tell you what something costs. We will. Real ranges by city and trap size. Then a quote form so you can confirm your actual price in 60 seconds.
| City | 1,000L | 2,000L | 3,000L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $225 – $280 | $349 – $434 | $473 – $588 |
| Melbourne | $230 – $280 | $357 – $434 | $483 – $588 |
| Brisbane | $220 – $280 | $341 – $434 | $462 – $588 |
| Perth | $190 – $230 | $295 – $357 | $399 – $483 |
| Adelaide | $190 – $230 | $295 – $357 | $399 – $483 |
| Canberra | $260 – $320 | $403 – $496 | $546 – $672 |
| Gold Coast | $220 – $280 | $341 – $434 | $462 – $588 |
| Newcastle | $220 – $290 | $341 – $450 | $462 – $609 |
| Wollongong | $220 – $290 | $341 – $450 | $462 – $609 |
| Hobart | $230 – $300 | $357 – $465 | $483 – $630 |
| Darwin | $350 – $420 | $543 – $651 | $735 – $882 |
| Geelong | $230 – $280 | $357 – $434 | $483 – $588 |
Confirm your actual price
Free for venues. Three Wastesafe contractors quote your job, typically same business day.
All figures + GST. External access. Inside-kitchen, basement, or rooftop access typically adds 15–30%.
What's actually included in a grease trap clean?
A standard "pump-out" includes: full extraction of solids and liquids, scraping and inspection of internal baffles, refilling with clean water, and a waste transport certificate. Most contractors photograph before/after.
What's not included unless quoted: jet-blasting drain lines, replacing damaged baffles, repairing lids or seals, or pumping out interceptors larger than the booked size.
Recurring contracts vs one-off cleans
If your trap needs more than 2 cleans a year, a recurring contract usually wins on cost. Contractors discount 15–25% for scheduled cycles because they can plan their truck routes. Most also throw in priority emergency support at no extra cost.
Ad-hoc cleans suit seasonal venues or pop-ups, but expect to pay full retail.
Why prices vary so much between contractors
Disposal costs differ by facility. Truck capacity differs by operator. Some run smaller vans (cheaper but two trips for big traps). Distance from the depot to your site matters more than people think. Recurring customers always get a better rate than a new caller.
We send your job to up to 3 licensed contractors at once so the price-discovery happens in a day, not a week of phone tag.
Hidden costs to watch for
- Weekend or after-hours surcharges (15–40% premium)
- Overfull traps that exceed the booked volume (charged per litre)
- Hand-pumping for inaccessible traps (labour rate, not flat rate)
- Travel beyond a contractor's normal zone
FAQ
- How much does grease trap cleaning cost in Australia?
- A standard 1,000-litre trap with external access costs $190–$420 + GST depending on city. Sydney $225–$280, Melbourne $230–$280, Brisbane $220–$280, Perth and Adelaide $190–$230, Canberra $260–$320, Newcastle and Wollongong $220–$290, Hobart $230–$300, Darwin $350–$420. Most providers operate a 1,000-litre minimum charge to cover the truck call-out — so a 500L trap is typically billed at the 1,000L rate. Larger traps and difficult access push prices higher.
- What factors affect the price?
- Trap size (500L vs 5,000L), access (external vs basement vs rooftop), frequency (one-off vs recurring contract), urgency (scheduled vs emergency), distance to disposal facility, and FOG load. Recurring contracts can be 15–25% cheaper per clean than ad-hoc.
- Why are emergency call-outs 3–4× the cost?
- Emergency call-outs usually mean an overflow event, weekend or after-hours work, and a contractor diverting a truck from scheduled work. A planned 1,000L clean might be $280; the same clean as an emergency overflow on a Sunday can hit $1,200+.
- How can I lower my grease trap cost?
- Get on a recurring contract, choose the right trap size for your volume, install dosing or strainer systems to reduce FOG load, schedule cleans before they're urgent, and re-quote every 12 months — contractor pricing varies more than venues realise.