[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Health of the Township of Union as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted were applicable.]
[Adopted 5-4-1948 (Ch. 581, Art. I, of the 2004 Code)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated;
DRY-CLEANING ESTABLISHMENT
A place of business conducted for the purpose of cleansing or removing dirt, grease or other stains from wearing apparel, textiles or fabrics, or similar items, by processes using nonaqueous liquid solvents, flammable or nonflammable, and shall include the process of dyeing clothes or other fabrics or textiles in a solution of dye colors and nonaqueous liquid solvents.
LAUNDERETTE
A place of business conducted for the purpose of laundering items brought to said establishment by individuals and wherein there is located one or more washing machines owned by the establishment and which are used by the individuals bringing the laundry to said place of business.
LAUNDRY
A place of business conducted for the purpose of laundering items that may be brought to said place of business or collected by said establishment and brought to said location, wherein all of the work is done by or under the supervision of the owner of said business.
[Amended 3-4-1970; 12-12-1990]
It shall be unlawful to conduct a laundry, launderette or dry-cleaning establishment in any residential building; provided, however, that:
A. 
This prohibition shall not apply to a residential building in which there are located washing or laundry facilities operated and used for the exclusive benefit of the occupants of said building, in which event no license shall be required.
B. 
This prohibition shall not apply to any residential building in which the operator of the proposed laundry or launderette is the owner of said residential building, and provided further that said residential building does not contain more than three families, in which event, however, the operator of said laundry or launderette shall be required to obtain a license as provided for in this article and to otherwise comply with all of the terms of this article.
[Amended 12-2-1970; 12-12-1990]
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to operate any laundry, launderette or dry-cleaning establishment without securing from the Board of Health of the Township of Union in the County of Union a license for said purpose. A separate license shall be required for each establishment. Said license shall expire on the 31st day of December following the date of its issuance. No such license shall be issued unless the premises in which the business is to be conducted comply in all respects to the requirements of the Fire Department, the Building Code and the Plumbing Code.[1] The annual license fee for the full year, or any portion thereof, in the case of a laundry or a launderette shall be the sum provided for in the Fees Schedule.[2]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 270, Construction Codes, Uniform.
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 693, Fees, Board of Health.
[Amended 12-19-1955]
The entire premises devoted to the conduct of said laundry or launderette shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition at all times, and all areas where the actual work of washing or laundering is performed shall be adequately ventilated and provided with sufficient natural or artificial light. All walls shall be covered with nonabsorbent paint, cement or other impervious material. There shall also be available an adequate supply of hot and cold water for flushing and cleaning purposes. The floors of such room or area shall have a covering of impervious material. There shall be provided a slab of concrete not less than four inches thick in front of all washing machinery or equipment, and such slab shall extend from a point not less than 12 inches under such machinery or equipment and shall terminate at a point not less than 48 inches from the front face of such machinery or equipment. This concrete slab shall be so graded as to drain into a floor drain having a direct connection with the house drain. All washing machinery and equipment discharging waste or water shall discharge into a waste line which shall be directly connected to the house drain. Such waste line shall not receive the discharge of any other fixtures. Each piece of machinery or equipment shall be separately and independently trapped and vented and shall conform with the provisions of the Plumbing Code of the Township of Union.
It shall be unlawful for the operator of any laundry or launderette to knowingly receive from any person, firm or corporation, or for any person, firm or corporation to deliver to any laundry or launderette, any household washing garments, bedclothes or other articles which come from a residence or other premises quarantined by reason of the presence of a communicable disease. Every laundry and launderette shall have posted in conspicuous places in the receiving room open to the public that it is unlawful to deliver to said laundry or launderette any items from any such residence or other premises which is so quarantined.
Every laundry and launderette shall keep a record of the name and address of all persons sending or bringing items to said laundry or launderette.
All machines used for washing or laundering shall be thoroughly cleaned before its next use by an attendant employed by the operator of such laundry or launderette by a scalding process to which a germicide is added, the temperature of the water so used to be at least 165° F. during the entire cleaning process.
In all cases where the patrons of said laundry or launderette use an extractor to remove surplus water, the laundry must thereafter be placed in the dryer on the premises before it may be removed therefrom, and all such dryers must be operated at a temperature of not less than 175° F. in order to effect sterilization.
No laundry or launderette shall permit diapers or any other materials containing bodily excrement or discharges to remain outside of the laundry or launderette. All such articles shall be washed in machines especially designated for such purpose, and all such machines so designated shall be appropriately and conspicuously marked and shall not be used for any other purpose.
All machinery used in any laundry or launderette shall be operated in such a manner so as to cause no unnecessary or unreasonable noise or vibration to the detriment of the well-being of the neighborhood.
[Amended 4-5-1961]
No launderette shall be permitted to operate unless an attendant shall be on the premises at all times during the hours of operation of said launderette.
[Amended 3-4-1970; 12-2-1970]
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction, be subject to the penalty of not more than $500 nor less than $5, in the discretion of the court. Conviction under the terms of this article shall be sufficient cause for the revocation or suspension of the license herein provided for.
[Adopted 12-12-1990 (Ch. 581, Art. II, of the 2004 Code)]
The Township of Union's Department of Health and Environmental Protection guidelines for dry-cleaning establishments include the following:
A. 
Any new or renovated facility utilizing perchloroethylene or any other potentially hazardous material must meet all applicable local, state and federal standards (i.e., NJDEP, OSHA, etc.).
B. 
In new or renovated establishments, vaportight (i.e., gastight) barriers or surface treatments must be utilized to prevent fugitive perchloroethylene emissions from entering any adjacent facilities. This condition should be met whether other engineering controls, such as local exhaust ventilation, are planned or already exist. Common HVAC systems that would allow the spread of such vapors to other occupied areas will not be permitted.
C. 
Vapors must be minimized to reduce personal exposure and contact of chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent (i.e., perchloroethylene) with an open flame or hot surface. All ventilation plans require local approval.
D. 
Portable perchloroethylene detectors (i.e., halide detector) must be available on site for detection of leaks and other sources of perchloroethylene emissions on a regular basis.
E. 
All reasonable efforts must be made to reduce or eliminate emissions and protect employees during routine maintenance or emergency procedures (i.e., gloves, NIOSH-approved respiratory protection, chemical splash goggles, local exhaust, personal hygiene, etc.).
F. 
Unless otherwise approved, on-site storage of perchloroethylene shall be limited to machine capacity plus one fifty-five-gallon drum of new product or its equivalent. Containers of perchloroethylene must be stored upright and be provided with an approved pump system. Product storage is to be located in a nonpublic area and placed in a leaktight container or trough capable of collecting all accidental spill material.
G. 
Records are to be maintained on site noting quantity of generated waste, removal date and the name, address and telephone number of the licensed hazardous waste hauler.
H. 
Written emergency procedures are to be developed and implemented that include appropriate training and education of all affected employees as required by the "OSHA Hazardous Communication Rule," Title 29, Part 1920.1200. The following items are to be included in the emergency procedures:
(1) 
Emergency telephone numbers posted near each phone.
(2) 
At least one person with proper first aid training must be present on each workshift. First aid kits adequate for the number of employees present must be available in a prominent location.
(3) 
Perchloroethylene is to be promptly removed from the skin and soap and water to prevent absorption and irritation.
(4) 
Immediate medical attention must be obtained for anyone exposed to large amounts of perchloroethylene vapors. Employees are to be reminded not to enter hazardous areas without proper safeguards.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 550, General Provisions, Board of Health, Art. I)]
Any person, firm or corporation who violates or neglects to comply with any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a penalty of not more than $500 nor less than $50, in the discretion of the court.