COMPARED to the industrial revolution, the potential of the low carbon economy (LCE) seems a damp squib.

However, it is being talked up as offering some of the greatest economic opportunities ever.

In Runcorn, a company whose low-carbon innovation of hydrogen fuel cells for motoring is hailed as one which "could change the world".

Out goes finite, smelly, dirty old fossil fuels - oil, gas and coal - and in comes clean renewable energy sources: wind, water and nuclear power.

The Government has detailed eight UK sites for new civil nuclear reactors, creating a major new-build programme, worth about £8bn-10bn per plant.

The resurrection of the UK civil nuclear industry after its fall from grace caused by political pressure groups is almost miraculous.

Or is it? Continuous international research and development means this form of power is much cleaner, safer, cheaper and more easily disposed of than previously.

Also, there is the least worst scenario, whereby not only are fossil fuels finite, but pumping their waste into the atmosphere is highly destructive.

The philosophy is that, in a low- carbon economy, all waste should be minimised, by reduction, reusing, recycling.

Carl Beer, Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority chief executive, said: "Looking at how we deal with waste is a key part of developing a low carbon economy on Merseyside.

"Treating what we throw away as a resource is an essential part of Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority’s future aspirations.

"We have adopted a new vision statement - ‘Merseyside, a place where nothing is wasted’.

"We are increasingly focussing activities on waste prevention at source, re-using materials as many times as possible in production and manufacturing and using recycled materials instead of virgin materials.

"We are aiming to contribute to the wider Liverpool city region by supporting areas such as climate change mitigation, increasing renewable energy supplies, reducing waste sent to landfill and utilising and developing waste as a resource.

"This is as well as reducing the environmental impacts of what we do through waste reduction and prevention."