Introduction

Proponent

City of Ottawa

Location

City of Ottawa

Type

Waste

Reference Number

99107

Contact

Environmental Approvals Branch, 416 314-8001
Toll free 1-800-461-6290

Current Status

Environmental assessment: approved,  June 1, 2005

Project Summary

The purpose of the undertaking is for the expansion of the Trail Waste Facility Landfill, located in the City of Ottawa.

Project History

  • Environmental assessment: approved
    • Date submitted:  May 31, 2002
    • Expiry of public comment period:  July 19, 2002
    • Expiry of public comment period for Ministry Review:  November 8, 2002
    • Decision date: June 1, 2005
  • Terms of reference: approved
    • Date submitted:  October 3, 2000 (PD 18/10/00)
    • Expiry of public comment period:  November 21, 2000
    • Decision date: January 15, 2001

Environmental Assessment

The City of Ottawa submitted an environmental assessment for the expansion of the Trail Waste Facility Landfill, located in the City of Ottawa on May 31, 2002. A Terms of Reference for the undertaking was approved on January 15, 2001. The proposed undertaking involves the vertical expansion of Stages 1-4 of the existing landfill, and the addition of a new Stage 5. The expansion would be entirely within the existing property boundary, and would provide landfill capacity for 10 to 40 years, depending on the rate of waste diversion.

The public was invited to comment on the environmental assessment for a seven-week period, which ended July 19, 2002. No comments were received from the public. Minor operational concerns raised by the government review team have been satisfactorily addressed.

On October 4, 2002, the Ministry of the Environment issued a Notice of Completion for this environmental assessment. The 5-week public comment period expired on November 8, 2002, during which time comments about the proposed undertaking, the environmental assessment and the Government Review could be made. No public comments were received.

On June 1, 2005, Cabinet approved with conditions, the landfill optimization/expansion (Order in Council No. 913/2005). In making the decision to approve the undertaking, consideration was given to the purpose of the Environmental Assessment Act, the environmental assessment, the Government Review of the environmental assessment, and public and government agency comments.

A condition of approval requires the City of Ottawa to implement the leachate management system identified in the Class Environmental Assessment document, Addendum to Environmental Study Report, Class Environmental Assessment for Long-Term Management of Trail Road Landfill Leachate and Nepean Landfill Contaminated Groundwater, March 2005.

Subject to the Environmental Assessment Act conditions of approval, the City of Ottawa can now proceed to obtain the required Certificates of Approval under the Environmental Protection Act and the Ontario Water Resources Act.

Terms of Reference

Background

The Trail Waste Facility Landfill (TWFL) is owned and operated by the Region of Ottawa-Carleton (the Region) and is located in the City of Nepean. The TWFL began receiving waste in May of 1980 and was estimated to provide refuse disposal for residents for approximately 20 years. Based on current landfilling rates, the remaining site life is estimated to be 8 to 9 years.

Despite expanding waste diversion initiatives by the Region (diverting about 30% of the residential waste stream in 1999), there will continue to be a residual waste stream that requires disposal in the future.

As part of the TWFL Optimization/Expansion Project, the Region is currently investigating ways to optimize the existing approved disposal capacity at the site through the use of different operational practices such as alternative cover materials. The Region also wishes to determine the preferred method of expanding the TWFL to extend its operating life to serve the Region’s future solid waste disposal needs. The expected additional landfill site life to be gained through expansion is in excess of 10 years. Different ways of expanding the landfill include increased height, larger footprint and landfill mining. Landfill expansion requires Ontario Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) approval.