Sydney Water blames food outlets for illegally adding to fatberg. But restaurants say ‘if it’s a problem, it’s their problem’

Up to 12,000 businesses could be illegally discharging waste into the sewage catchment that flows to Sydney’s Malabar plant – home to a huge fatberg. Composite: Victoria Hart/Anne Davies/Guardian Design

Sydney Water says up to 12,000 food businesses in the city’s south-west could be illegally discharging fats, oils and grease into the sewage catchment that flows to Malabar – home to a problematic fatberg that could be as big as four buses.

The rise in restaurants and food manufacturers without proper grease traps and waste control measures is partly due to an increase in businesses overall.