Municipal Request to Access W12A Landfill Policy

Legislative History: None

Last Review Date: August 26, 2025

Service Area Lead: Director, Climate Change, Environment and Waste Management

1.         Policy Statement

1.1       The Corporation of the City of London owns and operates the W12A Landfill in accordance with the Terms and Conditions issued by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). 

The amended Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA No. A0421102), issued under the Environmental Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.19 authorizes the receipt of waste generated within the regional Service Area, defined as:

i. City of London

ii. Elgin County

iii. Middlesex County

iv. Huron County

v. Lambton County

vi. Perth County

This policy outlines the process for a municipality located within the Service Area noted above to request a Municipal Service Agreement (MSA) for the delivery of solid non-hazardous waste to the W12A Landfill.

2.         Definitions

Agreement(s) shall mean a Municipal Service Agreement (MSA) as described in Section 4.1 of this Policy.

Environmental Approval (EA) shall mean the conditions associated with the Environmental Assessment approval for the expansion of the W12A Landfill.

Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) shall mean the legal authorization issued by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) that provides terms and conditions to operate a landfill site.

Solid Non-Hazardous Waste is defined under Ontario Regulation 347 of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and typically includes materials such as:

• municipal solid waste (residential garbage, recyclables, organics);
• industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (IC&I) waste that is not hazardous;
• construction and demolition debris (e.g., wood, drywall, concrete);
• non-hazardous contaminated soil; and
• treated biomedical waste that no longer poses a hazard.

Tipping Fee shall mean a fee imposed by the City of London for the acceptance and disposal of waste at the W12A Landfill. The tipping fee is approved by Municipal Council through the Fees and Charges By-law.

Waste Diversion Programs shall mean any initiative:

• that diverts designated materials (e.g., tires, electronics, organics,) from landfill;
• operated by producers (e.g., manufacturers, importers) who are now responsible for the collection, reuse, and recycling of their products;
• required by Ontario provincial legislation and regulation; and
• overseen by the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA), which ensures compliance and transparency.

3.         Applicability

3.1       This policy applies to all formal requests submitted by municipalities located within the approved Service Area of the W12A Landfill that are seeking to enter into a Municipal Service Agreement with the City of London for the delivery of solid non-hazardous waste, in compliance with provincial approvals.

4.         Guiding Principles

4.1       Municipal Service Agreements (MSAs)

Municipal Service Agreements (MSAs) for access to the W12A Landfill are based on the following principles:

a)        The requesting municipality must demonstrate that:

i. all provincially mandated waste diversion programs are implemented; and

ii. these programs are actively promoted within the municipality in a manner that supports effective waste diversion.

b)         The City of London will ensure that:

i. a portion of the tipping fee revenue (on a per tonne basis), as identified in the Council-approved W12A Landfill Community Enhancement and Mitigative Measures Program, is allocated annually; and

ii. ten dollars ($10.00) per tonne from the tipping fee charged under the MSA is directed to a dedicated fund to support the W12A Beautification Plan, Tree Planting Program under the Landscaping Screening Plan, or other Council-directed initiative(s) as part of the W12A Community Enhancement and Mitigative Measures Program.

c)         The tipping fee established in the MSA will be 50% higher than the Business Waste rate as set by Municipal Council through the Fees and Charges By-law.

d)         The term of an MSA must be a minimum of three (3) years and a maximum of five (5) years, unless extenuating circumstances justify an exception.

e)        Tipping fees are subject to adjustment based on market conditions and other relevant factors. Updates may be brought to Committee and Council as required.

4.2      Administration

The administration of this Policy is the responsibility of the Deputy City Manager, Environment and Infrastructure, or their written designate. Their responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

a)         receiving and processing all municipal applications;

b)         issuing agreements in compliance with this Policy and applicable By-laws;

c)         applying terms and conditions to agreements as permitted under this Policy;

d)         refusing, revoking, or suspending approvals as necessary and in accordance with this Policy; and

e)         reviewing and approving exceptions in section 4.1 (d) as appropriate.

4.3      Reporting

The Deputy City Manager, Environment and Infrastructure, or their written designate, will report to Council through the appropriate standing committee with the details of any new Municipal Service Agreement established under this Policy.