The City of Moose Jaw will be seeking three different locations for a new landfill, which could include annexing land from the RM of Moose Jaw.
The city entered into an agreement with GHD Limited in 2022 to produce a conceptual design for a future solid waste facility with a service life of 75 years. Through the design process, it was determined the city would require a 320-acre site.
“What we are talking about here is the future of a solid waste facility that will offer service to the City of Moose Jaw for 75 years or not,” said director of operations Bevan Harlton.
The concept design includes landfill cells, leachate management, water management for both run-off and run-on, groundwater management, a landfill gas management area, compost area, concrete and asphalt management area, wood waste management area, internal roadways, public drop-off areas, and facility scales and scale house.
The city says the new design is more advanced than the current landfill and includes features required for an operational permit from the Ministry of Environment.
The site would include two separate systems for run-off and run-on water. Run-off water will be diverted around the site to prevent interaction with landfill operations. Run-on water will be directed to a holding pond, where it will be tested before being released.
Landfill cells will be lined and equipped with a leachate capture system, and waste will be covered daily. Leachate will be collected, stored and transported for proper disposal.
Fencing will be installed adjacent to the active cells, and litter control will be part of regular daily maintenance. The site will have a 100-metre buffer zone, and additional fencing may be added.
The city had shortlisted preferred sites and spoke with a land agent regarding potential land purchases. The agent contacted 13 landowners representing more than 30 quarter sections of land. Of those, only one was willing to sell, and the City of Moose Jaw submitted a discretionary use application to the RM of Moose Jaw.
The RM held a contentious public hearing on March 19, 2024, where many concerns were raised regarding the city's application for a proposed site 2.5 kilometres north of the city. That June, the RM rejected the application. According to the city, one RM councillor voted in favour, four opposed and one declared a conflict of interest.
In April 2024, the Ministry of Environment gave a presentation to city council and confirmed the expansion of the current landfill would not be a viable solution.
“We had follow up through the mayor’s office in 2025 asking about the opportunity to extend the current landfill, whether it’s to the east or west, under its existing permit to operate, and that request was declined,” Harlton said.
The city engaged Wallace Insights to once again explore potential paths forward for a new solid waste facility.
Alan Wallace of Wallace Insights said the city is under pressure to secure a new location.
“We feel a bit of time pressure to get moving because there was a failure at the discretionary use application with the RM of Moose Jaw last year. We’re now under a little bit more of time pressure to secure a location,” Wallace said.
An area around the wastewater treatment plant and lagoons was identified. While this location would not require annexation, it is subject to the 15 Wing Moose Jaw Airport Zoning Regulations. The city would need to engage with 15 Wing to request amendments or exemptions to those regulations that currently restrict development near the treatment plant.
Wallace added there is a runway running southwest to northeast that will likely be decommissioned.
The other options involve annexing one of two locations north of the city in the RM of Moose Jaw. One of those locations is the same site denied in 2024 following the city’s discretionary use application.
Wallace told council it could take 12 to 18 months if the annexation process is referred to the Saskatchewan Municipal Board for mediation.
As part of the annexation process, the city would be required to pay 15 times the current property taxes as “tax loss compensation,” although phased payments could be negotiated, according to a report to council.
Harlton said a waste-to-energy alternative was explored, but the province currently does not have a pilot program in place and such a facility would still require a new site.
“It’s running between $95 to $250 per ton. It’s not feasible right now. It’s not something that people can afford right now, but if we get a site, we can look at it in the future,” Harlton said.
Coun. Patrick Boyle raised concerns, saying city council should have chosen one option and moved forward. He opposed the lagoon site, citing road slope issues and uncertainty around the runway’s future, especially with increased defence spending.
Boyle was also against the site previously denied by the RM, calling it clearly unsuitable. He said annexing the second site was the only remaining option. He described the situation as a “gun to the head,” saying there were no ideal choices but the city could not be left without a landfill.
Councillors Heather Eby and Dawn Luhning supported pursuing all three options, saying the city must explore every possibility due to the time constraints and uncertainty over which option would be viable.
The motion to seek an exemption from 15 Wing passed 3–2, with councillors Boyle and Carla Delaurier opposed. The motion to seek annexation for the land previously denied by the RM passed 4–1, with Boyle opposed. Mayor James Murdock declared a conflict of interest and did not participate in the discussions or votes. Coun. Jamey Logan was absent.
As of 2024, Moose Jaw’s current landfill is operating in “contingent airspace,” with projections indicating all remaining airspace will be used up between 2028 and 2030, at which point the landfill will no longer be able to accept waste.