Council approves exploration of long-term waste management solutions

Council today approved exploring how to manage waste in the future. The City will take an in-depth look at three possible, proven options to ensure Ottawa is ready when the Trail Waste Facility Landfill reaches capacity. 

The City studied five different waste management options. After reviewing the environmental, technical, financial and social impacts of each, three options will be considered in more detail: 

• Keep using the Trail Waste Facility landfill and switch to private facilities when full: This option is the simplest and least costly in the short term, but it comes with long-term risks. The City would rely on private companies, which could mean unpredictable costs and limited space. No significant capital investment would be needed in the near term, but tipping fees could be controlled by the owners of the private facilities with the potential to be higher in the future. 

• Build a waste-to-energy incineration facility: This facility would burn waste to create energy and reduce landfill use by up to 77 per cent. While it would provide revenue from energy capture and could have a low environmental footprint, it would be expensive to build and operate. The estimated capital costs range from $497 million to $862 million, with annual operating costs of $47 million. Opportunities to offset the costs through partnerships would be explored through the next steps of this project. 

• Build a new landfill: Even with new technologies, the City would still need to manage some residual waste. A new landfill would be costly to build. Finding a site and securing approvals for it could be challenging. At the same time, a new landfill could produce less greenhouse gases than incineration. The estimated capital costs range from $439 million to $761 million, with annual operating costs of $15.6 million. 

Final recommendations will be brought for consideration during Q1 2027. The City is also working to extend the life of the Trail landfill by six to 15 years through better waste diversion and a possible expansion within its existing boundaries. This will give the City the time to plan, approve and build a new system to meet Ottawa’s growing waste needs.

Making it easier to dispose of household hazardous waste 

Council approved a strategy to improve how residents can safely dispose of household hazardous waste like paint, batteries and chemicals. Large collection events would continue, with at least nine planned each year in 2026 and 2027.

The City will also begin planning for new pilot micro-collection events in 2026. These smaller events will take place in different areas of the city and will make it easier for more residents with limited quantities of household hazardous waste to participate. The City will explore establishing permanent multi-use drop-off depot(s) in the future and could include options for other divertible materials as part of the actions outlined in the Solid Waste Master Plan. Staff will report back with long-term recommendations in 2027.  

Council approves Official Plan amendments to align with the Province 

Council approved amendments to the City’s Official Plan (OP) that would ensure it is consistent with Provincial Planning Statement, 2024 (PPS 2024). The Province adopted this land-use planning policy framework in October and the required OP amendments are mainly related to five key subjects. The amendments will:

• Establish that privately initiated applications to expand urban or rural village area boundaries may only be considered where the City does not have enough land for 15 years of residential growth

• Clarify that Ottawa’s OP already includes the “strategic growth areas” required by PPS 2024, listing them as lands with a Hub and Corridor designation where new mid-rise and high-rise growth will be focused

• Identify and establish density targets for areas within a radius of 500 to 800 metres of existing or planned transit stations that operate in partially or completely dedicated rights-of-way

• Adjust the list of permitted uses on lands that PPS 2024 calls “Employment areas,” and establish the criteria if such lands are proposed to be redesignated

• Define Ottawa’s agricultural land base and outline when studies may be required, given PPS 2024 mandates municipalities must consider the impacts of land-use planning decisions on the entire agricultural system

New City facilities approved in Little Italy

Council approved OP and zoning amendments to facilitate development of City-owned lands southwest of Somerset and Preston streets, in line with a concept plan that Council approved in December. The proposal includes recreational facility, an addition to the Plant Recreational Community Centre, a park, an elementary school and daycare, residential buildings with about 608 dwellings, and parking.

Council approves Heritage Façade program

Council approved a pilot program to renovate façades on heritage properties in Centretown. The City would fund up to 75 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $75,000 for projects along Bank Street and in Somerset Village. This is part of the City’s commitment to invest in the downtown core. Eligible projects include new storefront signage, exterior lighting and removal of inappropriate building elements. Improvements to storefront entrance would also be eligible, including accessibility improvements such as door openers, ramps and railings. The pilot will run from summer 2025 to the end of December 2026, or until the budget is spent.

Ottawa’s drinking water remains safe and reliable 

Council received an annual report reviewing how the City is managing the safety and quality of Ottawa’s drinking water, as required by Ontario’s Safe Drinking Water Act. The 2024 Management Review results show that Ottawa’s Drinking Water Quality Management System is working very well. The City passed all third-party audits with full marks and scored 100 per cent on important health indicators for water quality. Since 2009, this system has helped ensure that Ottawa has some of the safest drinking water in the world.

Councillor Skalski added to committees

Council also moved to add Councillor Isabelle Skalski to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee, Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, the South Nation Conservation Authority Board of Directors, the Osgoode Care Centre Board of Directors and the Service Review Working Group.