Green Lane Landfill nears capacity, St. Thomas seeks answers from Toronto on waste future

The Green Lane landfill is slated to reach capacity by 2035, so where does that leave St. Thomas? CTV’s Gerry dewan explains.

The Green Lane landfill - a prominent waste disposal site visible to commuters on Highway 401 - is projected to reach its capacity within the next decade, prompting St. Thomas officials to press the City of Toronto, the landfill’s owner, for a concrete plan of action.

Originally opened in 1978 and sold to Toronto in 2006, the 71-hectare site in Southwold Township serves as the primary disposal facility for Toronto and several Elgin County municipalities, including St. Thomas. An agreement signed in 2017 guarantees St. Thomas waste disposal capacity for as long as the landfill remains open. However, with an original capacity estimation pointing to closure around 2035 or 2036, St. Thomas has a significant stake in Toronto’s long-term waste management strategy.

St. Thomas City Council received an update on the situation Monday from City Engineer Kevin De Leebeeck, following a mid-April meeting with Toronto officials. De Leebeeck noted that Toronto is currently revising its waste management strategy with the goal of extending the landfill’s service life. “They’re going through updating their waste management strategy, looking to extend that service life, as well,” De Leebeeck reported.

The City of Toronto is exploring a range of options to manage its waste beyond the current site’s lifespan. These include utilizing short-term landfill contracts, pursuing energy-from-waste, otherwise known as incineration facilities (an option reportedly supported by Toronto residents) and considering collect-and-dispose contracts for future collection models. Efforts to find medium-term landfill contracts or partner for new landfill construction have so far yielded no interest from other municipalities.

A technical study commissioned by Toronto found that expanding the Green Lane landfill, through vertical and horizontal modifications, is technically feasible and could extend its life by an estimated 25 years, potentially to 2060. However, this process would require new environmental approvals and a lengthy environmental assessment, estimated to take five to seven years. Toronto is also considering purchasing private landfill capacity. No definitive decisions have been made, with Toronto staff prioritizing the exploration of all avenues before committing to a specific path.

St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston emphasized the need for Toronto to evaluate its next steps, stating that while St. Thomas will “stand back and let this first phase happen,” the city must closely monitor the situation. “These are decisions that we will be faced with within ten or more years now,” Preston noted, expressing gratitude that city staff brought the issue to council’s attention early. He acknowledged the complexity of permits and environmental assessments for any expansion or new facility, assuring that “this one will be well studied. We’ll do it all the right way.”

The City of Toronto’s updated Long-Term Waste Strategy is anticipated to be completed in 2028. Any amendments to the current Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) for Green Lane, including closure plans, would necessitate Ministry of Conservation and Parks Director approval and a two-year notification period for St. Thomas and other affected Elgin County municipalities. Mayor Preston confirmed that St. Thomas council will continue to request regular updates from Toronto on the status of the Green Lane landfill.