Committee invests in climate priorities, water and waste diversion
The City’s Environment and Climate Change Committee met on Tuesday where members approved its portion of Draft Budget 2023, including investments that support climate change resiliency and adaptation, and in the programs and infrastructure that deliver essential water services and waste collection to residents, businesses and visitors.
The draft budget introduces a new $5-million annual capital commitment to help implement the City’s Climate Change Master Plan, supporting efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance climate resiliency. This base funding complements more than $52 million in new investments across all committees and citywide that prioritize our environment and advance the City’s climate change objectives, including:
- $23.3 million to purchase zero emission buses
- $12.2 million for integrated infrastructure renewal projects
- $4.5 million to stabilize the slope of the Ottawa River along Ottawa Road 174
- $3 million to conserve energy in City facilities
- $1.7 million in tree planting to enhance Ottawa’s forest canopy
- $1 million to manage wet weather flow in the urban area and reduce flood risks
- $725,000 to acquire greenspace to make our city more resilient to increasing temperatures and precipitation
Starting April 1, 2023, the average household connected to the City’s water supply would pay an additional $38 per year on their water bill. Rural households not connected would pay an additional $10 per year for their stormwater fee, which pays for culverts and stormwater facilities that help prevent flooding and reduce the amount of pollutants entering waterways.
The draft budget commits $342.9 million in capital investments towards the City’s water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, including:
- $59.2 million to renew the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre wastewater treatment plant.
- $54.9 million to repair and replace watermains to ensure a continued supply of quality drinking water
- $22.6 million to renew the two water purification plants, including the design and replacement of generators at both facilities
- $15.8 million to renew culverts
- $23.5 million to renew sewage pumping stations
Waste collection fees would increase for households with curbside waste collection by $12 per year, bringing the total to $130. That ranks among the lowest fees for curbside waste collection in major Canadian cities. Multi-residential households would pay an additional $6 per year, for a total of $83.50.
The City would make investments to support solid waste projects and efforts to divert waste from the landfill, including:
- $1.8 million to continue developing and implementing the Solid Waste Master Plan and related projects, including transitioning existing waste diversion programs to the Province’s new producer responsibility model.
- $3 million to expand and develop the buffer land properties to support increased leaf and yard waste processing and acquire new specialized equipment
- $500,000 to expand and maintain the Trail Road Landfill gas collection system
Council will consider the draft budget on Wednesday, March 1.
