Plans to generate energy from waste at the proposed incinerator at Four Ashes could save the taxpayer £7.5 million every year for the next 25 years.

Staffordshire County Council’s leader, Councillor John Taylor, said if controversial proposals for the incinerator at Four Ashes Industrial Estate do not go ahead the cost of waste management would rise to almost £1billion over 25 years because of the extra cost of using landfill.

He said: “If we do nothing the cost of waste management will rise to almost a £1 billion. The extra cost of landfill will have to come from somewhere. 

“That will mean cutting other essential public services, like education, social services or bus services just so we can go on dumping our rubbish. That would be madness. This project will save the council taxpayers about £200 million over the period of the contract.”

The Government gave Staffordshire its sign of approval for the project and is providing funding for a £122.4 million plant as part of the county’s aim to have no waste going to landfill by 2020.

Those against the plans have raised issues about pollution and chemicals coming from the incinerator as well as increased traffic.