VISITS to West Somerset's recycling centres are down and the percentage of waste being recycled has dropped by a third since charges were introduced and opening hours cut.

Figures compiled by the Somerset Waste Partnership for the four months from April to the beginning of August show a reduction in both the number of visitors and the amount of waste being recycled across the county since cost-cutting measures were introduced in April.

In West Somerset, there was a drop of 1,418 tonnes of material going through the centres in Dulverton, Minehead and Williton compared to the same time last year.

All three saw a decline in the amount of recyclable waste being processed - by 50.7 per cent at Dulverton, 35.21 per cent at Minehead and 32.46 per cent at Williton.

At Dulverton, where a £2 pay-per-visit charge was introduced in April, there was a 57 per cent drop in the number of trips to the centre.

Minehead and Williton fared better but still saw drops of 22 per cent and 18 per cent compared to the same time last year.

Countywide, there was 21,967 tonnes less material recycled, the equivalent of 42 per cent of the 2010 figure.

But waste partnership bosses insist that the decline has not led to a huge surge in fly-tipping, although official figures only record fly-tipping incidents on public land.

Waste dumped on private land is left to the landowner to deal with and is not recorded as a cost to the public purse.

A spokesman for the Somerset Waste Partnership, which oversees the county's waste and recycling services on behalf of the district and county councils, said there were currently no plans to close any sites or introduce new fees or charges.

However, a review of recycling site hours is likely to be carried out after a survey of users found the majority of respondents wanted sites open from 10am to 6pm and open on Sunday afternoons rather than Monday evenings.

The review is one of a number of recommendations being put to a meeting of the Somerset Waste Board today (Friday).

Members from the six councils represented on the governing board will be asked to review the various recycling site arrangements following April's changes, which were designed to save £1.9 million a year as a result of a cut in Somerset County Council funding.

The changes involved recycling sites' hours being reduced to 40 a week, including two days closed, £2 entry fees at the Dulverton, Coleford, Crewkerne and Middlezoy sites to avoid them closing, and charges being introduced for four non-household materials such as soil, hardcore, gas bottles and tyres.

The board will be told that no further recycling site changes are needed immediately as the drop in the amount of waste being deposited at the centres has led to lower costs being incurred by the partnership.

Statistics show that while the weight of material going through recycling sites has fallen - saving a forecast £38,000 a month more than first expected - this has not been diverted into fly-tipping, household rubbish bins or neighbouring counties' recycling sites, since the tonnages of these so far this year have shown no overall increase.

Despite an initial and predicted rise in fly-tipping after the changes, a report to the board shows longer term statistics suggest a slow return towards previous levels may have started.

Board members will be advised to continue the staggered two-day-a-week closure of each recycling site and 40-hour week but to approve a review of opening hours with contractor Viridor in light of the user survey.

No major timetable changes are likely to be introduced before April 2012.

The board chairman, County Cllr Derek Yeomans, said: "Clearly, Somerset's residents care about their waste services, and the results of this survey are very important in helping board members understand the needs of site users and how best to plan for any further changes in future.

"Even with the changes introduced in April, there are recycling sites open throughout the week and most remain free to use for household materials.

"All sites close two days during the week, with half closed on Tuesday and Wednesday and half on Thursday and Friday, so there is always a local alternative open. Full details of recycling site hours, fees and charges are available from our website."