Ottawa asks residents to weigh in on landfill and waste-to-energy options by December 14
The City of Ottawa is running a public survey until December 14 on two options for handling waste once the current landfill fills in 12 to 15 years.
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The City of Ottawa opened a public survey on November 9 asking residents to weigh in on how the city should handle its garbage once the current landfill runs out of room. The survey closes December 14.
CTV News reported Monday that the city's landfill is projected to reach capacity within 12 to 15 years. With that deadline approaching, the city is asking residents to choose between two paths: expanding or replacing the existing landfill, or building a waste-to-energy facility that burns garbage and converts the heat into electricity.
Why the city is asking now
Ottawa City Council approved a Solid Waste Master Plan in June 2024, according to the city's solid waste page. That plan is meant to guide how the city handles waste for the next 30 years.
Council already took one step toward stretching the life of the existing landfill: CTV News reports the city recently voted to limit each Ottawa household to three trash containers per week.
Building a new landfill could cost hundreds of millions of dollars, CTV News reports. The city has not published a final cost figure for either option.
The two options
Landfilling means the city continues to bury waste underground, either by expanding the current site or finding a new one. It is the approach Ottawa has used for decades, but space is finite.
Waste-to-energy incineration burns garbage at high temperatures and uses the heat to generate electricity. It cuts down on how much material ends up buried, but raises questions about air quality and ash disposal.
The city has not said which option it prefers. The survey is one of several public engagement steps before council decides.
Other ways to give feedback
Beyond the online survey, the city is offering two in-person open houses and one virtual information session. Dates and locations for those sessions are listed on the city's solid waste master plan page at ottawa.ca.
The survey closes December 14. Residents can find it and the event details through that page.
Questions this story answers
What is Ottawa asking residents about?
The City of Ottawa is asking residents to give their views on two options for handling the city's garbage once the current landfill runs out of space. The two options are expanding or replacing the landfill, or building a waste-to-energy facility that burns garbage and uses the heat to generate electricity. CTV News reported the survey opened November 9 and closes December 14.
Why does Ottawa need to decide now?
The city's current landfill is projected to reach capacity within 12 to 15 years, according to CTV News. City Council approved a Solid Waste Master Plan in June 2024 to guide waste decisions for the next 30 years. The public survey is one part of that planning process, alongside in-person open houses and a virtual information session.
When does the Ottawa waste survey close?
The survey runs from November 9 to December 14, 2026, according to the City of Ottawa's solid waste master plan page. Residents can fill it out online through that page at ottawa.ca. The deadline is December 14, 2026.
What is waste-to-energy incineration?
Waste-to-energy incineration burns garbage at high temperatures and uses the heat to generate electricity. It reduces the volume of material that goes to a landfill but raises questions about air quality and what to do with the ash that remains. Ottawa City Council is weighing this option alongside traditional landfilling as part of its long-term waste strategy.
What did Ottawa City Council already decide about garbage?
CTV News reports that council recently voted to limit each household to three trash containers per week. That decision was made to reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill and to extend how long the current site can be used.
How much would a new landfill cost Ottawa?
CTV News reports that building a new landfill could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The city has not published a final cost figure for either option; the public survey is one step toward narrowing down which path the city will take.
Where can Ottawa residents take the survey?
The survey and details about in-person open houses and a virtual information session are on the City of Ottawa's solid waste master plan page at ottawa.ca. It is open until December 14, 2026. The same page lists the dates and locations of in-person events.
Who decided Ottawa needed a solid waste master plan?
Ottawa City Council voted to approve the Solid Waste Master Plan in June 2024, according to the city's own solid waste page. The plan guides waste management decisions for the next 30 years and sets out the process for choosing a long-term approach to handling the city's garbage.
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