Protecting People and the Environment
Costco Wholesale is committed to environmental protection and safety in all aspects of our gasoline business. Costco's business philosophy emphasizes long-term trust relationships with our members and employees, all of whom live and work in the communities we serve.
Certified Costco gas attendants
The best environmental and safety features of Costco gas stations are our trained fuel attendants. Attendants must pass a certification test before they can work at a Costco gas station. Our attendants work at the fuel islands so they can respond immediately to any safety or environmental issue.
Continuous leak monitoring
All Costco gas stations have corrosion-proof, double-wall, underground storage tanks and piping. Everything underground is continuously monitored for leaks via an electronic monitoring system. The entire station will automatically shut down if a leak is detected. These electronic alarm systems are monitored around the clock by both our employees and an outside service.
Air pollution control
All cars and light-duty trucks manufactured since 2001 for sale in Canada are equipped with Onboard Refueling Vapour Recovery (ORVR) canisters. ORVR-equipped vehicles capture the vapour displaced during refueling, which allows the vapours to help run your car instead of pollute the atmosphere. Costco works cooperatively with various government agencies to stay at the forefront of our common air pollution control efforts.
Spill cleanup program
The best equipment in the world doesn't prevent the occasional surface spill. Spilled fuel is a safety as well as environmental concern, so we train our gas station attendants on how to properly clean up a surface spill. Every Costco station operates with a spill kit on the fuel islands.
Safety
Trained and certified Costco attendants stationed on the fuel islands make our gas stations safe places to buy fuel. Our employees help customers in a variety of ways, including providing aid to anyone requiring physical assistance in fueling their vehicle. They are charged with enforcing the national fire code, including prohibitions against smoking, leaving the engine running, or filling portable containers not certified for such use.