Fly-tipping will soar across Staffordshire if plans to start charging people for dumping and recycling their rubbish at tips are given the go-ahead, councillors and residents have warned.

All 14 of the region’s household waste and recycling centres are now “subject to review”.

Staffordshire County Councillor Robert Marshall said the authority was considering the possibility of charging residents for using the facilities. Number plate recognition may also be used.

It would snare people who “abuse” the service by using tips too often but residents and councillors have reacted with fury to the suggestion.

Salesman Adam Ashworth, of Etching Hill, Rugeley, regularly uses the centre on Power Station Road and said a charge could put him off.

“I’m not suggesting that I’ll dump all of my rubbish down a country lane, but no doubt there are some people who will be inclined to do exactly that” he said.

“It seems very brass-necked to suggest that we pay for these facilities through hefty council tax bills and then pay again when we want to recycle our rubbish.

“And putting in number plate recognition technology seems like a heavy-handed way to stop businesses using the site.

Problem

“I was under the impression that the Tories want to reduce the number of cameras peering down at us.”

Burntwood campaigner Eric Drinkwater, a former county councillor, claimed fly-tipping would become a county-wide problem as residents refuse to pay a fee for something they have already funded through council tax.

And Lichfield District councillor Steve Norman, who has led protests against the closure of the Burntwood site, said: “Councillor Marshall’s choice to review his own decision sounds the death knell for the Burntwood site.

“Of course there will be problems if there is a charge. People will take advantage of the situation, the district council’s bins will most certainly be filled.”

Recycling centres under review are in Burntwood, Cannock, Rugeley, Lichfield, Stafford, Stone, Wombourne and Bilbrook.

By Alex Campbell