The decision to buy a landfill site in the city’s southwest will now be decided by Ottawa City Council after the proposed purchase has been approved by the Finance and Corporate Services Committee.
The site, near Boundary Road and Highway 417, is owned by Taggart Miller Environmental Services Inc. and has already been approved by the province for use as a landfill. A staff report, which supports the purchase, notes that the site represents a rare opportunity.
“The CRRRC [Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre] is the first and only landfill approved by the province in over two decades,” the report says.
“The CRRRC has obtained all 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.”
Emma Banebridge, representing Community Action for Environmental Sustainability (CAFES), told the committee her organization supports the purchase because it’s the best option to ensure the site is used responsibly.
“We believe that public ownership of the landfill is in the best interests of the city and its residents, because the City of Ottawa would be the most accountable to Ottawa taxpayers,” she said.
“And with public ownership, there would be an incentive to reduce the waste going into the landfill because with less waste going in, that means that the life of the landfill is extended.”
Rural communities are tired of being treated like second-class citizens. They’re tired of being the backyard dumping ground storage shed for the City of Ottawa.
Osgoode Coun. Isabelle Skalski
But Osgoode Coun. Isabelle Skalski, whose ward borders the site, said local residents have major concerns.
“As the councillor that represents the residents of Carlsbad Springs, I want to start by saying that residents were beside themselves when they learned last week that the city is contemplating the purchase of this site,” she said.
“In the last eight days, I’ve attended several community meetings, fielded endless emails and phone calls. One message rings loud and clear: Rural communities are tired of being treated like second-class citizens. They’re tired of being the backyard dumping ground storage shed for the City of Ottawa.”
The CBC has reported the site has been a source of intense opposition from community members, who have planted signs saying “No Dump in Carlsbad.”
Ottawa, however, is running out of waste disposal options. Under a 2023 council decision, starting in 2026 Ottawa will divert one-third of residential waste — about 60,000 tonnes annually — to private landfills, extending Trail Road’s life by up to two years.
According to staff, purchase of the Carlsbad Springs land would be funded through debt that has already been budgeted in the solid waste plan.
“We will be spending money on solid waste regardless,” said Mayor Mark Sutcliffe after the meeting. “Yes, we will be using debt.”
A price for the property has not been disclosed. The staff report says that the price will be determined by the property’s value, the approvals and environmental checks already in place as well as potential business opportunities.
The decision to proceed was approved by a vote of 8-3, with councillors Luloff (Orléans East-Cumberland), Brown (Rideau-Jock) and Kitts (Orléans South-Navan) voting against.
The committee decision brings the city a step closer to securing the CRRRC, though the final decision rests with council on Nov. 26.
