Jiao Jianwei is a senior engineer at the Longgang Energy Eco-Park in Shenzhen. Every day, the facility processes 5,000 tonnes of waste, burning it to generate electricity that powers millions of homes. The leftover ash is also turned into eco-bricks used to pave city roads. From landfills to incineration, China has transformed its waste industry with advanced technologies. Today, the country operates more than 1,000 waste-to-energy plants – nearly half the world's total. With national goals like "carbon neutrality" and "zero-waste cities" taking shape, engineers like Jiao are turning trash into treasure.