Toronto Mayor David Miller announced Tuesday that the city plans to buy a landfill site near London, Ont., in a move to keep the city's trash troubles from piling up.

"This purchase is critical for the future of the city," Miller told reporters at city hall. "It allows us the opportunity to control our own future and … to provide security to the people of Toronto over the next decade."

No details were immediately available on how much the city expects to pay for the 130-hectare Green Lane Landfill, located north of Highway 401 and southwest of London.

City councillors must vote on the deal before it is set to close on Wednesday. After that, city staff would negotiate to finalize the details.

The city intends that the landfill site will eventually take all the garbage it ships over the border to Michigan landfills.

Phased out by 2010

Ontario entered into an agreement with Michigan in late August to phase out all garbage shipments from the Greater Toronto Area by 2010. About 350 trucks carry garbage from Ontario to Michigan every day.

Some councillors have already expressed concern that the city is going to make a huge enemy in London.

Early reports that the city might buy the site were met with criticism from London Mayor Anne Marie Decicco-Best.

She asked her staff to look into the report, but conceded that there is likely nothing her city can do to stop such a purchase.

Councillors spent much of Tuesday debating the issue in an in-camera session, which is usually reserved for confidential issues such as land deals and lawsuits.