County councillors are set to vote on a consultation over plans to close Burntwood’s tip.
The recycling centre is one of two sites earmarked for closure as part of proposals to save £310,000.
Staffordshire County Council needs to find £19.3million of savings to balance the books and now councillors will vote on April 16 about launching a consultation over the plans.
Cllr Mark Winnington, cabinet member for economy and infrastructure, said: “It is really important that Staffordshire people have access to quality facilities to recycle their waste and in the autumn we struck a new deal with a waste operator to provide better facilities at our sites and deliver a saving for local taxpayers.
“However, we need to continually review operations across the county council to make sure we spend every penny of taxpayers’ money where it is needed most, and on people’s priorities.
“Demand for services such as adult social care and safeguarding vulnerable children continues to rise, and our income is falling, so we need to find ways to make savings with as little impact on Staffordshire people as possible.”
The possible closure follows a recent review of the 14 household waste recycling sites across the county. Factors examined included visitor numbers, proximity to other sites and nearby population figures.
Cllr Winnington added: “This review concluded that closing the sites at Biddulph and Burntwood would have the lowest impact in comparison to other sites.
“While we appreciate this proposal would lead to slightly longer trips for people on those occasions when they do need to dispose of their bulky waste, facilities and opening hours would be extended at other sites allowing people to take more types of waste and visit at a time that suits them.
“If cabinet agrees to launch the consultation, we will be asking local people for their views to understand what impact the proposed changes would have.”
The council says the changes will coincide with extended winter opening hours on all remaining sites and a standard approach introduced to accepting carpets, mattresses and certain plastics.
The recycling centre at Cannock would also open seven days a week if the Burntwood closure went ahead.
An eight-week consultation on the proposals would begin on April 28 if approved at the cabinet meeting.
