How garbage can boost U.S. economy

New York’s decision last November to ban food waste from dumping grounds may turn out to be one of the city’s smartest decisions ever. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont are already doing the same, as are Seattle, San Francisco and Portland. The United States could finally be waking up to the benefit of the “circular economy,” or taking what you throw away and finding as much value in it as possible.

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How weak job participation rips the housing recovery

The December jobs report speaks volumes about why the housing recovery is not as robust as it should be, given still historically low mortgage rates and still relatively low home prices. Specifically, the weak job participation rate, falling to the lowest level since 1978, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, explains why so many are barred from home ownership and why others in trouble on their mortgages are unable to save their homes.

Read more: http://www.cnbc.com/id/101326470