even the official garbage dump in the middle of this residential area is little more than a vast foul-smelling pit. the authorities are reportedly looking for a suitable site for a new garbage dump. >> i think in my community we have to identify institutions that can help us because buying land is expensive. obviously it's also a question of educating the public. but clearly we musn't waste this opportunity to recycle just because there's no site for it. >> long way home has been recycling for a while and is already doing what it can to develop its concept further. the team built this house for david and his single mother. the house is energy self- sufficient. it's what the project dubs an "earthship" -- based on completely green principles. >> matt paneitz's project receives no state subsidies. his funds come from the volunteers themselves -- like these students from boston. the project wouldn't be possible without them. >> it has been a fight. you know, you start off having to finance your project by yourself. when you prove that you are worthy of receiving donations. then people start wanti

now there's an official garbage dump here; the waste is pulverized and then put into a landfill.he many illegal dumps which destroy the countryside have disappeared and there's less environmental pollution. >> the remaining waste is inspected regularly. measuring probes are used to monitor the process of decay. if necessary, the waste will be aerated again. this is done using pumps which force air through underground pipes. the air then comes out through small holes in the ground. today everyone's happy with the project -- but it was hard to get it off the ground. >> the catalyst for such projects was really pressure exerted by china's central government to do something to protect the environment. but during the course of the realization, you can see people's mindsets change. they gradually become proud of their projects. >> if matthias ginter had his way, every city in china would have a waste treatment facility like this. he hopes others will now follow gaobeidian's example. >> and now its time to tickle your tastebuds with another global snack. whenever our reporters travel th