Costco Fined for Equipment Violations at an Oregon Roastery

Costco’s Kirkland Colombian coffee

Environmental regulators in Oregon have fined Costco Wholesale Corporation nearly $3,000 for failing to properly install an afterburner designed to reduce odors and air pollution at a Costco coffee roastery inside a Salem store.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality cited the company for failing to install a temperature monitor designed to ensure the afterburner was working properly. Costco has since complied and immediately installed the monitoring system.

Costco roasts several blends of coffees, sold whole bean and ground, under the company’s Kirkland brand.

“Without a way to monitor the temperature of the afterburner during operation there is no way to ensure the reduction of odors and pollution,” ODEQ said in an announcement of the citation. “Without pollution controls coffee roasting produces a strong odor and smoke that can contribute to respiratory distress in some individuals.”