Sefton’s council leader Tony Robertson said the issue was extremely complex and some significant decisions needed to be taken in near future.

He added: "The city-region’s leaders want to know what the implications are before making a firm decision.

"The solution we put in place is likely to be in place for a huge number of years and that makes it even more important we assess what we need now and what is likely to be needed in future.

"One of the problems here is that just because a company says it is going to provide something, it does not actually mean it will.

"There are an awful lot of imponderables about all this.

"The situation I am outlining is to a certain extent crystal ball- gazing.

"If recycling rates continue to improve, it will mean we need to treat less waste than if recycling rates were not going up.

"This is a complex area and we are clearly need to make some significant decisions in the not- too-distant future."

Runcorn chemical giant Ineos Chlor is hoping to cut its £100m-a- year electricity bill by burning waste in a 600,000-tonne plant on the banks of the Mersey to generate power.

It intends to burn rubbish from Merseyside, along with that from Warrington, Halton and Greater Manchester.

Biossence, the company behind the plant, also has permission for a 400,000-tonne site in Eastham, which will use steam to clean and separate raw waste.

The remaining "organic matter" will be turned into gas for power.

It is expected to make an application for another similar plant in Widnes, while Jack Allen Holdings also has plans for a 150,000-tonne treatment plant near Garston.

Last month, Energos was given planning permission to build a 96,000-tonne gasification plant in Villiers Road, Knowsley Village.

Carl Beer, director of MWDA, said: "We are currently in discussion with the chairman of the city-region cabinet regarding the arrangements of a meeting with the Merseyside district council leaders.

"Until further details have been co-ordinated and the meeting has taken place, we have nothing further to add at this point."