Toronto's main landfill could be full in just 10 years. The city's racing to come up with a solution | CBC News

"Toronto's main landfill could be full in just 10 years, and city officials are weighing a series of long-term options for how to deal with its garbage. A new report heading to the city's infrastructure and environment committee on Sept. 26 lays out the progress on Toronto's residual waste management work plan. The plan was first approved by council in 2023."

"It warns Green Lane Landfill, situated about 40 minutes southwest of London, Ont., could be full by 2034 or 2035 as population growth and new housing commitments add to the city's overall waste stream. The city has been exploring a range of possibilities: Expanding Green Lane: Consultants say a vertical and horizontal expansion of the site could extend its life by another two decades, potentially to 2060."

"But environmental groups and nearby First Nations say the process is flawed and leaves out the communities most affected. What are environmentalists and Indigenous communities saying? Emily Alfred, waste campaigner with the non-profit and advocacy group Toronto Environmental Alliance, says the city's consultation around "waste-to-energy" has misled residents. "The greenhouse gas emissions are pretty substantial. And even if you make energy, the point is that the energy that you make from the incinerator is one of the dirtiest forms of energy.""

Green Lane Landfill could be full by 2034 or 2035 as population growth and new housing commitments increase Toronto's waste stream. The residual waste management work plan, approved in 2023, outlines options including vertical and horizontal expansion of Green Lane that could extend its life to around 2060. The city has contacted other municipalities and private operators to explore a new landfill, but no partners have expressed interest so far. Officials are also studying a waste-to-energy incineration facility to generate electricity. Environmental groups and nearby First Nations say consultations are flawed and that emissions and community impacts are being overlooked.

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