Residual Waste Disposal Strategy

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About this project

To plan for the future, the City is developing a long-term Residual Waste Disposal Strategy. The Strategy includes completion of an Individual Environmental Assessment (EA) for the expansion of the W12A Landfill which is expected to reach capacity in 2024. The individual EA requires approval by the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks.

The City is proposing to approximately double the current capacity of the landfill by increasing the maximum height of the existing waste footprint by 26 metres which will extend its life to 2049. In addition, the service area will be increased to a regional area, which includes: City of London, County of Huron, County of Perth, County of Elgin, County of Lambton, and County of Middlesex. The proposed design capacity for landfill expansion over the 25 year planning period is 9.9 million tonnes including 0.5 million tonnes from neighbouring municipalities (about 5%). The document Overview of the Proposed W12A Landfill Expansion provides details about why a vertical expansion was chosen and what changes will be made to the landfill when it is expanded.


About this project

To plan for the future, the City is developing a long-term Residual Waste Disposal Strategy. The Strategy includes completion of an Individual Environmental Assessment (EA) for the expansion of the W12A Landfill which is expected to reach capacity in 2024. The individual EA requires approval by the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks.

The City is proposing to approximately double the current capacity of the landfill by increasing the maximum height of the existing waste footprint by 26 metres which will extend its life to 2049. In addition, the service area will be increased to a regional area, which includes: City of London, County of Huron, County of Perth, County of Elgin, County of Lambton, and County of Middlesex. The proposed design capacity for landfill expansion over the 25 year planning period is 9.9 million tonnes including 0.5 million tonnes from neighbouring municipalities (about 5%). The document Overview of the Proposed W12A Landfill Expansion provides details about why a vertical expansion was chosen and what changes will be made to the landfill when it is expanded.

  • Draft Environmental Assessment Study Report Available for Review

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    April 20, 2020

    The City has completed the Draft Environmental Assessment Study Report (EASR) and is seeking feedback prior to formally submitting the documents to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. The draft EASR documents all aspects of the environmental assessment and consists of:

    Volume

    Documents

    Volume 1

    (EASR)

    Draft Environmental Assessment of the Proposed W12A Landfill Expansion, City of London

    Volume 2

    (Approved Amended Terms of Reference)

    Proposed Amended Terms of Reference Environmental Assessment of the Proposed W12A Landfill Expansion, City of London

    Volume 3

    (Technical work plans and Waste Quantity Projections)

    Atmosphere Work Plan – Revision 2

    Groundwater Work Plan

    Surface Water Work Plan

    Biology Work Plan

    2019 Updated Residual Waste Projections and Landfill Capacity Assessment

    Volume 4

    (Existing Conditions and Impact Assessment Reports)

    Air Quality Existing Conditions and Impact Assessment Report

    Noise Existing Conditions and Impact Assessment Report

    Groundwater Existing Conditions and Impact Assessment Report

    Surface Water Existing Conditions and Impact Assessment Report

    Biology (Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems) Existing Conditions and Impact Assessment Report

    Land Use Existing Conditions and Impact Assessment Report

    Agricultural Existing Conditions and Impact Assessment Report

    Archeological Existing Conditions and Impact Assessment Report

    Heritage Impact Assessment Report

    Socio-economic Existing Conditions and Impact Assessment Report

    Visual Existing Conditions and Impact Assessment Report

    Traffic Assessment in Support of the Environmental Assessment

    Design and Operations Existing Conditions and Impact Assessment Report

    Volume 5 (Consultation Report)

    Consultation Log


    We invite you to review and provide comments on the draft documents. The comment period is open till Wednesday May 21, 2021. Comments can be submitted at using the participation tab on this page or by emailing comments to the contacts listed below.

    If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jay Stanford (jstanfor@london.ca, 519.661.CITY (2489) ext. 5411) or Wesley Abbott, Project Manager (wabbott@london.ca; 226-376-2311).

  • Community Engagement on Preferred Landfill Expansion Alternative

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    In November and December 2020, the City held a fourth series of Open Houses (November 18 and 19, 2020) and other engagement processes to get feedback from stakeholders on the proposed preferred landfill expansion alternative. This included the opportunity to review online materials, request for virtual meetings, request for in-person meetings where virtual meetings cannot be accommodated (all COVID-19 requirements, precautions and safety measures will apply), or telephone conversations.

    The preferred landfill expansion alternative is a vertically (upwards) expansion within the existing waste footprint. In addition, the on-site buffer area will be expanded to the north and east onto existing City property. The findings of the EA studies and information on how the landfill would be expanded if approved was presented. The individual environmental component results of the existing conditions studies, the predicted effects of the proposed expansion on the environment, and the commitments London is making to mitigate any adverse effects was also presented. Additionally, information on the development of the City’s Resource Recovery Strategy and potential changes to the W12A Landfill Community Enhancement and Mitigative Measures Program (CEMMP) was made available to the public.

    Presentation Slides

    The presentation slides below were displayed at the November 18 and November 19 open houses.

    View the Environmental Assessment presentation.

    View the Resource Recovery presentation.

    View the Community Enhancement of Mitigative Measures Program presentation.


  • What is being proposed?

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    The Residual Waste Disposal Strategy will include expansion of the City's W12A Landfill. Key elements of the proposed expansion include:

    • find solutions that will manage residual waste until 2049 (25 years beyond the current approved capacity of the W12A Landfill);
    • allow neighbouring municipalities to use any new/expanded waste disposal facilities developed by the City, approved by the Province and under conditions approved by Municipal Council;
    • place limits on the amount of Residual Waste that will be accepted at any new/expanded waste disposal facilities; and,
    • commit to increasing the current London residential (household) waste diversion rate to 60% by 2022 from the current rate of 45%.

  • Background

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    In the City of London, more than one tonne of waste is produced per person each year. This includes waste generated at home as well as business waste. Much of this waste is diverted through numerous reduction, reuse, recycling and composting programs. The waste that remains is considered residual waste. All the residual waste generated at home and a portion generated by businesses is disposed of at the City’s W12A Landfill along with some waste generated from outside the City. The City’s landfill is expected to reach capacity in 2024.

    Some of the City’s business waste is taken to landfills located outside of the City for disposal.

    Why Waste – Residual Waste Disposal Strategy

    To plan for the future, the City has started development of a long term Residual Waste Disposal Strategy. The Strategy involves the development of a long-term plan to manage residual waste and involves completion of an Individual Environmental Assessment (EA) as prescribed by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). The individual EA requires approval by the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

  • Terms of Reference

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    Preparing Terms of Reference

    The first phase in the Environmental Assessment (EA) process is preparation of a Terms of Reference (ToR). The ToR becomes the framework or work plan for carrying out the EA. The steps in preparing a ToR are presented in “The Process” tab and summarized below.

    Develop Proposed ToR

    The Proposed ToR was developed with extensive stakeholder engagement which included open houses, a project website, establishment of a Waste Management Community Liaison Committee, attendance at community events and newspaper and social media advertisements.

    Submit Report

    The Proposed ToR was approved by City Council on October 2, 2018 and formally submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) on October 12, 2018.

    Government Review

    MECP reviews document and seeks comments from stakeholders. The 30 day comment period for stakeholders ran from October 12, 2018 to November 12, 2018.

    The City has the option to amend the Proposed ToR to address comments received during the government review. This took place from December 14, 2018 to February 8, 2019. The Proposed Amended ToR was submitted to the MECP on February 8, 2019. The City also submitted a black-lined copy which shows all the changes that were made to the original Proposed ToR.

    Ministry Decision

    The Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks approved the Amended TOR on July 30, 2019.

    Key Features of the Amended Terms of Reference

    The key features of the Amended ToR are:

    • Expansion of the W12A Landfill is the most appropriate disposal option based on previous waste studies.
    • Add an additional 25 years of capacity to the W12A Landfill.
    • Commitment to increase residential waste diversion from 45% to 60% by 2022.
    • Decrease the maximum amount of waste that can be received in a year from 650,000 tonnes to 500,000 tonnes.
    • Create a regional service area for the landfill.