Ottawa considering buying private landfill in east end

The city says it is in talks to acquire a new landfill at the intersection of Highway 417 and Boundary Road. CTV’s Natalie van Rooy reports.

The City of Ottawa is in talks to purchase a private landfill in the city’s east end, with staff calling it a rare opportunity to help address the capital’s future household garbage disposal needs.

The finance and corporate services committee will hold a special meeting on Friday, Nov. 21 to consider whether to purchase the Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre at the intersection of Highway 417 and Boundary Road.

Earlier this year, the city was notified the 475-acre property, owned by Taggart Miller Environmental Services, was up for sale, and entered into a non-disclosure agreement to participate in the competitive bidding process.

Staff say the city’s bid has proceeded to Phase 2 of the acquisition process, but the proposal was submitted on the condition that the city have the opportunity to engage the public before deciding on whether or not to proceed with the transaction.

In a report for the committee, staff say the opportunity to purchase the Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre “presents numerous benefits to the city.”

“The site is already permitted with provincial approvals, which, if acquired, would save the City significant time, cost, and regulatory uncertainty; this positions Ottawa to respond proactively to long-term waste management needs,” staff said in the report released late Wednesday afternoon.

“As the site plans are not yet complete, acquisition would allow the city to have direct control over how the site is used in the future, including decisions about waste management technologies, timelines for development, and environmental oversight.”

• Private landfill wants to accept Ottawa’s household garbage

According to the city, the Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre is the “first and only landfill approved” by the Ontario government in over two decades. It has approval to receive up to 450,000 tonnes of waste annually, with an expected lifespan for 30 years.

Staff say the landfill is authorized to accept residential, industrial, commercial and institutional waste, and construction and demolition waste. The site’s operational approval includes hydrocarbon contaminated soil treatment, surplus soil management, a drop off site for separate materials, and leaf and yard waste composting.

The report does not outline a potential cost of purchasing the land for a new landfill. A report for the environment and climate change plan in June estimated a new landfill could cost an estimated $439 million to $761 million, plus $16.5 million a year in operating and maintenance costs.

Staff note Taggart Miller has already obtained all the major approvals and permits for the site, “through significant time, resources and capital investments.”

“Taking over 15 years to secure, the value of these cannot be overstated, nor should their rarity be ignored, especially given that Ontario’s available landfilling space is expected to run out within the next decade,” staff said.

“If the City were to be the successful bidder in the process, it would lead to the acquisition of ownership of the CRRRC and all associated permits and approvals. This would provide the City with care and control over future engagement sessions, site planning, development timelines, and operational decisions.”

“The CRRRC will be an active landfill within Ottawa’s boundaries in the future. Ownership of this asset would ensure that decisions regarding the site’s use are made in alignment with Ottawa’s strategic priorities and newly-approved Solid Waste Master Plan, in consultation with residents and stakeholders.”

Coun. Isabelle Skalski plans to hold dedicated office hours on Monday at her Metcalfe ward office to discuss the proposal to buy the landfill.

“This report marks the start of the public consultation process and gives residents a valuable chance to share their thoughts on what public ownership of the CRRRC could mean for the community,” Skalski said on Facebook Thursday morning.

Who will own and operate the landfill?

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says there are other options outside of city ownership for the landfill.

“The question is who will own and operate that landfill?” Sutcliffe told CTV News.

“It could end up being another municipality that owns the landfill and trucks garbage into Ottawa, to put in the landfill. It could end up being a private company that has clients all over. The region, all over Ontario. Or it could be the city of Ottawa that ends up owning the landfill.”

‘Makes sense’ for Ottawa to buy a landfill

Waste Watch Ottawa’s Duncan Bury tells Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa at Work that buying a landfill would “effectively kill the incinerator idea.”

“Given a choice between the two, landfill has much less environmental impact and, in fact, can be managed much better than an incinerator,” Bury said Thursday morning.

“It has been approved, it’s sitting there and I think it makes all sorts of sense for the city to seriously considering purchasing it.”

Bury notes the landfill on Boundary Road is “not without controversy,” noting nearby residents did not want a private landfill in the community.

Lucie Régimbald of the Dump this Dump2 group says she opposes the city’s possible acquisition of the landfill, due to its location and cost.

“The community fought tooth and nail against this project from the get-go,” Régimbald said.

“Look at the 2026 budget, the property taxes are going to go up. So, then you throw in this landfill, lots of money and we don’t have it.”

Waste Watch’s Bury says with the city looking to extend the life of the Trail Road Landfill and purchase a new landfill, Ottawa would be in a “unique situation in terms of its landfill capacity.”

“It’s a resource and an asset that should be husbanded and stewarded and not filled up, but it’s important that we have that option,” Bury said. “Yes, let’s go ahead and get this site. I think it makes all sorts of sense.”

In March 2024, the owners of the Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre offered to take the city’s household garbage, saying it was seeking permission to accept residential waste.

“In seeking this approval, the CRRRC will be better positioned to be part of the solution for the City of Ottawa’s current and developing waste management challenges,” the owners said.

Future garbage needs

Ottawa’s current municipal landfill, the Trail Road Landfill on Trail Road, is expected to reach capacity in the next 10 to 15 years.

The Solid Waste Master Plan has implemented several options to extend the life of the landfill, including a new three-item garbage limit for households, the banning of industrial, commercial and institutional waste from the Trail Road dump, and using private landfills. Starting in 2026, the city will send approximately 60,000 tonnes of residential waste a year to private landfills.

The City of Ottawa identified a “waste-to-energy incinerator” was one of the best options to deal with the city’s future garbage needs.

Staff recommended in June that the city conduct an “in-depth evaluation” of three scenarios: the use of private facilities once the Trail Road Landfill is full, building a waste-to-energy incinerator (WTE) in the City of Ottawa, and also explore building a new municipal landfill because it would be required if the city does proceed with a waste-to-energy incinerator or a mixed waste processing facility.

With files from CTV’s Natalie van Rooy.