Moose Jaw city council approved the creation of a new capital program stream to explore the potential long-term expansion of the city's existing landfill. The decision came during Tuesday night's council meeting after administration recommended establishing the new work stream to evaluate whether expanding the current landfill remains a viable alternative to developing a new waste facility. The area the city would look to expand is east of the current landfill. The approved stream will be included in the 2027 capital budget and allow administration to move forward with a request for proposals seeking engineering expertise on the project. According to administration, the study will examine the technical, regulatory, environmental, operational and financial requirements associated with expanding the landfill, along with the likelihood of obtaining provincial approval. Expansion option gets fresh look For years, the city focused its long-term planning on building a new landfill after discussions with Saskatchewan's Ministry of Environment suggested expansion of the existing site would be difficult. Director of operations Bevan Harlton said the history resulted in a major gap in the city's planning efforts. "The gap specifically is that we haven't invested significant time or energy to expand the landfill site," he said. However, discussions with the ministry in 2026 and increased public interest in exploring alternatives have prompted a new review of the option. "Operations' lens on this is as far as this report and this recommendation allows us to pursue that further and to gain our own understanding of if that door is open or if it's not," Harlton said. The report notes that any expansion would be treated by the province as a "new build," requiring extensive environmental studies, engineering assessments, setback reviews and site remediation work. Among the issues that would need to be addressed are groundwater conditions, environmental impact assessments, engineered liner systems, leachate management and setbacks involving nearby water bodies, residences and infrastructure. Harlton told council the purpose of the engineering study is not simply to determine whether expansion is possible, but whether it can be achieved at a reasonable cost. "I would say also it may be best represented as not a yes-no, but as a yes and at what cost," he said. "Council could see what those costs are and what it would take and a determination can be made about that investment versus the amount of years we can get." Related Stories: Council approves annexation of land for new solid waste facility New landfill to be delayed for years more as landowners, RM fight annexation RM of Moose Jaw disappointed with city’s move to annex land for landfill Consultants, Ministry of Environment clear the air about proposed landfill ▶️ Stream this news story: 800 CHAB, Country 100, Mix 103 Stakeholder approval could be critical In addition to technical studies, administration reported that stakeholder consent could ultimately determine whether an expansion moves forward. The Ministry of Environment has advised that any formal application would require engagement with nearby landowners, residents and businesses, along with consideration of other potentially affected stakeholders. The ministry has identified those approvals as critical path requirements for any future expansion proposals. A map included in the report highlighted numerous regulatory constraints surrounding the landfill property including proximity to waterways, pipelines, rail infrastructure and occupied dwellings. Existing site could reach capacity by 2030 Administration's report indicates the current landfill is operating in contingency airspace and has an estimated 210,000 cubic metres of remaining capacity. The spring 2026 airspace assessment projected the active landfill could reach capacity sometime between May 2029 and June 2030, depending on future waste volumes. The city-owned property contains three primary areas, an 18-acre former landfill area, a 48-acre active landfill area, and a 42-acre section identified as a potential expansion zone. Engineering RFP planned With council's approval secured, administration plans to release a request for proposals later this month seeking qualified engineering consultants to conduct the analysis. The city expects to award the contract in January 2027. The study will help determine whether expanding the existing landfill is feasible and whether it could serve as an alternative to constructing a new solid waste facility. The new solid waste facility has faced challenges in the last couple of years. In March, council voted to annex land north of the city in the RM of Moose Jaw after the RM rejected the discretionary use application from the city to build the facility. The process is expected to take years with landowners and the RM opposing the annexation. Councillors welcome new direction Several councillors voiced support for exploring the expansion option before committing to a new landfill project. Coun. Chris Warren said the city needs definitive answers after years of discussion. "Move beyond the assumptions and determine once and for all if expansion is a feasible option," Warren said. "If the answer is no, then we have the confidence that we thoroughly explored that option. If the answer is yes, then we've got another path that we can consider." Coun. Patrick Boyle pointed to a recent landfill expansion project in Weyburn, noting that the municipality approved work valued at roughly $4.8 million this year, significantly less than the cost estimates associated with developing a new landfill. Meanwhile, Coun. Dawn Luhning said a successful expansion could save taxpayers millions of dollars. "Knowing that option is a potential for us and a serious potential for us that if it's approved and can be done could save the city millions over the next three to eight years in the construction of a new facility is honestly music to my ears as an elected official," she said. Council ultimately approved the creation of the new capital stream unanimously, allowing administration to begin the process of determining whether the existing landfill's next chapter could involve expansion rather than replacement.