Committee recommends Council consider acquiring the Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre

The Finance and Corporate Services Committee today recommended Council consider the acquisition of the Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre (CRRRC), a provincially approved waste management site in Ottawa’s east end. Today’s meeting was an opportunity to receive public input on the City’s potential acquisition of this rare and strategically important asset and outline the City’s interest in its acquisition. 

The CRRRC is the first landfill approved by the Province in more than 20 years and comes with various provincial permits already in place. Acquiring the site would give the City control over how it is developed and operated, ensuring decisions reflect community input and align with Ottawa’s long-term waste needs and goals. Ownership would secure up to 30 years of permitted landfill capacity and reduce the City’s reliance on private landfills. 

This is a significant opportunity for Ottawa to take control of a fully permitted site rather than leaving it in the hands of another municipality or private corporation. The CRRRC will operate as a landfill regardless of ownership, but acquiring it would allow the City to manage timelines, environmental standards and truck traffic in a way that reflects community priorities. Residents had the opportunity to share their views at today’s Committee meeting, and if the City moves forward with a successful bid, there will be additional consultation on how the site is developed, operated, and its future use. 

Owning the CRRRC would secure long-term landfill capacity at a time when Ottawa’s existing Trail Waste Facility Landfill is projected to reach capacity within the next decade if status quo waste disposal continues. With the city’s population projected to grow to 1.5 million by 2053, this acquisition would help manage increasing waste volumes responsibly. It would provide Ottawa flexibility to incorporate future waste technologies and ensure the site’s use aligns with the City’s climate and waste diversion goals. 

The City has participated in a competitive bidding process under a legally-binding non-disclosure agreement to protect its negotiating position and ensure fairness. This is common and standard practice for major transactions. While details such as the proposed purchase price cannot be shared during the process, transparency remains a priority for the City of Ottawa. Future updates on the project will be provided publicly to Committee and Council, as soon as permissible. 

Today’s committee meeting does not provide a decision or recommendation regarding the long-term waste management solution for the City. Council will consider staff recommendations on such a solution in 2027. Whether or not the City is successful in acquiring the CRRRC does not preference or preclude any waste management option currently under consideration by City staff as all options being considered would rely to at least some extent on landfilling. 

The report now moves to City Council for consideration on Wednesday, November 26.