Township of Berlin, NJ Grease Traps

All food service establishments shall be required to install a grease trap, unless an exemption is granted pursuant to this article. All other commercial and/or industrial establishments shall be required to install a grease trap/interceptor when, in the reasonable opinion of the Township Plumbing Subcode Official, grease, flammable waste, oil and sand interceptors or oil reclaimers are necessary due to the type of activity/use of the property. The following regulations and requirements shall apply to all external grease traps where such grease traps are installed or required to be installed:

Grease and oil interceptors shall be constructed of impervious materials, capable of withstanding abrupt and extreme changes in temperatures. They shall be watertight and substantially constructed and equipped with readily removable access covers. The design and pertinent data shall be submitted to the Township Plumbing Subcode Official for review and approval prior to construction or installation. Separators must be constructed entirely on the property of the owner.

Grease traps and interceptors shall be installed in accordance with the Plumbing Subcode adopted by the Commissioner of Community Affairs as set forth in N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.15.

[Amended 4-29-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-3]

Grease traps shall have the grease retention capacity as indicated in the Plumbing Subcode, as adopted in N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.15.

[Amended 4-29-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-3]

In all cases, grease traps shall conform to the Plumbing and Drainage Institute G101-8 Standards.

All grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be maintained by the owner, at his expense, in continuous, efficient operation at all times.

It is the responsibility of the establishment owner, lessee or assignee to carry out all proceedings necessary to have any and all grease interceptors opened and ready for inspection and to see that the equipment is put back in proper operation after the inspection. All inspections will be conducted by the Plumbing Subcode Official and/or such other employee of the Department of Public Works as designated by the Director thereof.

[Amended 10-28-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-11]

Forms for periodic inspections will be furnished by the owner, lessee or assignee and posted as close as possible to the interceptor to which it applies. The forms shall be protected from soiling. In those instances where the interceptor is chemically treated, the method and chemical of such treatment shall be approved by the Plumbing Subcode Official and/or such other employee of the Department of Public Works as designated by the Director thereof. Any proposed chemical changes shall be furnished to the Plumbing Subcode Official and/or such employee designated by the Director of Public Works. Copies of maintenance and removal records shall be provided to the Department of Public Works, c/o the Director and the Plumbing Subcode Official, within seven days of such occurrence.

[Amended 10-28-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-11]

The fee for inspection of grease traps and interceptors shall be as set forth in Chapter 156, “Fees.

[Amended 10-28-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-11; 4-29-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-3]

All existing food service establishments without grease interceptors shall install grease interceptors and follow the inspection schedule as set forth. The existing food service establishments shall have 90 days from the effective date of this article to install a grease interceptor.

The Plumbing Subcode Official and/or, as the case may be, such other employee of the Department of Public Works designated by the Director, shall require all interceptors to be efficient in operation and may, at the expense of the owner, lessee or assignee, require independent laboratory tests to ascertain the concentration of grease being emitted from the effluent line of the unit. All grease traps shall be cleaned in accordance with the foregoing schedule and the Township provided with a bill or receipt from a licensed county-registered grease and waste disposal company or qualified recycling company. Disagreeable odors shall require deodorant to combat said offensive odors.

[Amended 10-28-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-11]

Any person, company or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of this article shall, on a first offense, be subject to a thirty-day notice to comply with this article. Any subsequent offense of any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction thereof before the Municipal Court of the Township, be subject to a fine not exceeding $500. A separate offense may be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.