Closure of Burntwood’s tip would cause more problems than it would solve, according to a local councillor.
Staffordshire County Council will vote on launching a consultation over the potential closure of the household recycling centre at a meeting next week.
But Labour representative Cllr Sue Woodward has said any plans to axe the site are bound to have a knock-on effect.
“It will have a negative impact on recycling rates – something which Lichfield District Council has always been proud of,” she said.
“It will encourage more rubbish going into black bins for landfill, it will increase the backlog of traffic at Poplars Island and it will almost inevitably see an increase in fly-tipping.
“It would mean a loss of a valued local service which residents take direct responsibility for – disposing of their own rubbish in the most appropriate way.”
Closure of the Burntwood site and another one in Biddulph could save more than £300,000.
Staffordshire County Council says it needs to find £19.3million of savings to balance the books.
Cllr Mark Winnington, cabinet member for economy and infrastructure, said: “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.”
But the news has already led to a petition being launched and Cllr Woodward has predicted that people power could save the site from the axe.
She added: “Last time Staffordshire County Council tried to close the site, public opposition saw a petition of 12,000 signatures.
“But we need at least 5000 again now to get it debated by all councillors at Stafford.
“We are going to circulate the petition to as many places as we can as soon as possible.”