The Sharra rubbish tip which serves the capital, Tirana, is also poisoning the people of Albania.

BBC: Albania's environmental wasteland

In the 1970s, archaeologists excavated the remains of a Roman rubbish tip in the fort of Vindolanda.

BBC: Walking Hadrian��s Wall

Indeed, the grubby courtyard next to a rubbish tip down the dirt lane housing the equipment does not inspire confidence.

ECONOMIST: Dialysis in China: Free for now | The

Its poor returns, however, are only the tip of the rubbish heap.

ECONOMIST: In the boardroom

Waves of gleaners sift the sweepings of Hanoi's streets, just as children pick over the rubbish of Maputo's main tip.

ECONOMIST: Bursting cities, bust infrastructure