BUSINESSES have been blamed for fly-tipping rubbish at the gates of closed recycling centres in some areas of Somerset.

Although the exact locations of the incidents have not been revealed, the Somerset Waste Partnership said investigations of the illegally dumped waste had led to the identification of a number of Somerset-based companies.

All have been written to in the first instance and warned they could face court action and heavy fines if it happens again.

The revelation comes just days after Minehead hotelier Bryan Leaker contacted the Free Press to complain about a reduction in the opening hours at Minehead's recycling centre.

He blamed a decision to close the site immediately after a bank holiday weekend for a huge pile of unwanted waste that was dumped at the locked gates.

There is no suggestion any of the dumped items came from local firms.

Since the beginning of April, all the county's recycling centres have been closed for two days each week after Somerset County Council withdrew £1.9 million in funding to save money.

This week, a spokesman for the waste partnership, which operates waste collection and recycling for the county's six local authorities, said a "limited" number of sites had been affected by "low levels of fly-tipping".

Anyone convicted in a magistrates' court of fly-tipping could face up to five years in jail or a £50,000 fine. In a crown court there is no limit on the size of the fine.

There are also further penalties of up to £5,000 if firms fail to check that their waste carrier has a licence or that their waste is going to a licensed site.

Business rates do not cover rubbish and recycling collections and businesses have to make their own arrangements for waste disposal.

Steve Read, the partnership's managing director, said: "We appreciate there are lots of burdens on local businesses but, together with householders, we all have a duty of care in relation to the waste we produce.

"This doesn't end unless we hand it over to someone or to some place which is licensed to take it.

"We don't yet know if these companies were aware that their waste was being fly-tipped but we will be contacting the businesses concerned to remind them of their obligations."

The waste partnership publishes a directory of contractors licensed to dispose of commercial rubbish under "business recycling advice" on its website http://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk">www.somersetwaste.gov.uk.

Householders are also being encouraged to make the most of the county's network of furniture re-use groups, such as the service offered through Engage West Somerset in Alcombe.

All manner of bulky items such as desks, sofas and wardrobes can be collected by and then reused by the charity, providing they are in good condition.

A partnership spokesman added: "The reuse network is a fantastic asset for the county.

"Not only does it assist those on limited incomes by selling vital household items at low cost during today's tough times, but it helps residents by taking good quality household items they no longer need.

"That has kept hundreds of tonnes of furniture from going into wasteful and costly landfill and we hope that in future it could even prevent a few people from being tempted to fly-tip an unwanted but working telly, heater or fridge."

Engage's furniture re-use project can be contacted on 01643 707484.