Council approves next steps to purchase the Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre

City Council today approved next steps to purchase the Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre (CRRRC), a privately owned waste management site in Ottawa’s east end. 

The CRRRC is the first and only landfill approved by the Province in more than 20 years and will be operated as a landfill regardless of ownership, with an expected lifespan of 30 years. Buying the CRRRC will give the City control over how and when the site is developed, ensuring decisions reflect community priorities and long-term waste needs. Beyond the land itself, the purchase also secures all provincial approvals, saving years of regulatory work and providing certainty for future planning.  

The City will require a landfill to manage residual waste in a safe and sustainable way in the long term, regardless of future diversion efforts or waste system solutions. Every system leaves some material that cannot be recycled or converted to energy, and that waste must be disposed of responsibly. Owning the CRRRC will ensure the City has long-term landfill capacity while the population is projected to grow significantly. The City does not plan to use the site as a landfill immediately – it will be developed according to Council’s direction, with opportunities for residents to provide input on how it is designed and managed. 

Council authorized staff to finalize an asset purchase agreement and approved the budget authority for the purchase price. The cost remains confidential under a non-disclosure agreement that was required to participate in the competitive bidding process. Staff will report back to Council in open session through the legislative process once the acquisition is complete to share the details of the agreement, including the cost, anticipated by the end of Q1 2026. 

Today’s decision does not determine when or how the site will be used, nor does it rule out or guarantee any future waste management solution included in the City’s long-term solid waste strategy. Council will consider the results of that study in 2027, and all options under review would still require landfill capacity.