Ottawa city officials are set to propose the acquisition of a landfill site in the rural southeast of Ottawa during a council meeting on Friday. The staff report, although lacking specific details such as the price, characterizes this move as strategic due to the rapid filling of the municipality’s primary landfill. This potential purchase could involve residential waste trucks shuttling to and from the 192-hectare property near Highway 417 and Boundary Road, providing a waste disposal site that could last around 30 years and is comparable in size to the existing Trail Road facility in the west of Barrhaven.
About ten years ago, the mentioned site faced significant opposition from local residents who vehemently opposed it, even receiving financial support from a former council and opposition from the then-mayor. Despite receiving approval from the Ontario government in 2017, the landfill has not yet been operational and currently appears as nondescript rural fields near the city’s first Amazon logistics warehouse.
Leading up to the council discussion, it has been revealed that the city has transitioned from being against landfills to considering purchasing one. The process began when the Taggart Group, a part of the land-owning entity, approached the mayor’s office to initiate the sale. Since April, City of Ottawa staff have been engaged in confidential due diligence under a non-disclosure agreement, informing council members in closed sessions about developing proposals to secure ownership of the landfill site.
Simultaneously, local residents have reignited their opposition, expressing concerns about potential impacts on well water, air quality, and infrastructure neglect for rural communities. If the city proceeds with the purchase, it would incur additional debt to cover the undisclosed costs, as its current solid waste reserves are insufficient. This may lead to an increase in garbage fees in the short term but is projected to balance out over the long run, according to staff assessments.
Over recent years, Ottawa has been working on a solid waste master plan to address the challenge of a growing population and the nearing capacity of the Trail Road landfill. This has led to policy changes limiting curbside waste and exploring alternative waste management solutions, including incineration and utilizing private landfills in Moose Creek and Carp Road. The city council is expected to receive a recommended waste management option and business case in early 2027.
As discussions continue, there remains uncertainty regarding the price the city is willing to pay for the landfill site. Previous estimates for constructing a new municipal landfill ranged from $439 million to $761 million, emphasizing the criticality of securing landfill space as existing options are projected to deplete within the next decade. Despite public concerns and the potential financial implications, the city’s consideration for this landfill purchase underlines the evolving waste management landscape in Ottawa.