The City of Ottawa advanced its plan to acquire an east-end landfill location following approval at committee level on Friday. The proposal to purchase the Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre on Boundary Road near Highway 417 from Taggart Miller was discussed at the finance and corporate services committee meeting. Alain Gonthier, the city’s general manager of public works, emphasized the necessity of securing a new site before the Trail Road landfill reaches capacity to avoid costly waste disposal at a private facility in the future.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe expressed support for the acquisition, highlighting that regardless of ownership, the Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre will operate as a landfill. The decision on whether the site should be publicly or privately owned, or owned by another municipality, is crucial for long-term waste management strategy and taxpayer value considerations.
Councilor Glen Gower and Duncan Bury of Waste Watch Ottawa favor public ownership of the landfill, citing increased control and accountability. However, some local residents in the east end remain skeptical due to concerns about expenses, transportation impacts, and environmental consequences. The committee approved moving the proposal to council for a final decision, with only three councillors voting against it.
The issue has caused a divide among councillors, particularly along rural and urban lines, with those representing rural areas expressing reservations about the plan. Councilor David Brown stressed the need to shift towards sustainable waste management practices, emphasizing the importance of modernizing the waste system rather than investing in traditional landfill approaches. Councilor Isabelle Skalski, while not part of the committee, voiced opposition to the purchase, echoing constituents’ frustrations about their community being burdened with waste disposal responsibilities.