How does that affect your sludge? Is it recyclable with that stuff in it?
My son works at our local plant, and of course he sees the same things you see. It's a small plant - less than 300 customers, but they are creative.
Their sludge goes to an outfit that turns it into fertilizer.
Our sludge goes into containers and is taken by a waste handler, and I don't know what happens after that.
The junk we've been getting at that pumping station is so small in relationship with the total flow that it has no measurable affect on the overall system, just our pumps.
Years ago we had a similar problem at another pumping station and the installation of a grinder (aka Muffin Monster) solved it. In that case the rags were a different material and made it to the treatment plant in sufficient quantity to foul float switches. We also had trouble with grease messing up the float switches at this station. An aerator pretty much eliminated that issue. The treatment plant can deal with the grease we send it.
Our authority has four pumping stations. Two serve mostly single homes and they run very smoothly. The one that started this conversation serves an area with nursing, retirement and low income homes. The one with the original rag and grease problem serves an area with some commercial properties (think food) and a bunch of townhouses.
The authority I'm on is one of three that make up the "system" that was set up to serve two municipalities back in the 60's. Our authority and another operate conveyance systems with pumping stations. A third is responsible for the operation of the plant. The treatment plant has two full time certified operators.