Whit Whitmire of Compostwheels checks a list of homes he has to visit to pick up food waste that will eventually be turned into compost.

Whit Whitmire of Compostwheels checks a list of homes he has to visit to pick up food waste that will eventually be turned into compost. / On Second Thought

After Thanksgiving dinner, you might still have leftovers that end up in the trash. Food waste is a big problem in landfills. The Atlanta-based group Compostwheels is trying to reuse a lot of that material by collecting it from homes and businesses, and turning it into "black gold," or as most of us know it, compost. GPB’s Sean Powers followed a Compostwheels delivery to learn how we all can play a larger role in urban agriculture.

 

 

Whit Whitmire of Compostwheels carries a bucket full of food waste that he's collected during the day. He'll put this in a compost pile at Freewheel Farm in Atlanta.

Whit Whitmire of Compostwheels carries a bucket full of food waste that he's collected during the day. He'll put this in a compost pile at Freewheel Farm in Atlanta. / On Second Thought

Freewheel Farm in Atlanta's Grant Park neighborhood receives food waste from Compostwheels. It then gets turned into compost to maintain the vegetation.

Freewheel Farm in Atlanta's Grant Park neighborhood receives food waste from Compostwheels. It then gets turned into compost to maintain the vegetation. / On Second Thought

Brent Hall of Freewheel Farm (l) throws a pumpkin that Whit Whitmire (r) picked up during one of his stops. He is smashing the pumpkin to make it easier for it to absorb in a compost pile.

Brent Hall of Freewheel Farm (l) throws a pumpkin that Whit Whitmire (r) picked up during one of his stops. He is smashing the pumpkin to make it easier for it to absorb in a compost pile. / On Second Thought

Brent Hall of Freewheel Farm mixes up a compost pile at his farm.

Brent Hall of Freewheel Farm mixes up a compost pile at his farm. / On Second Thought

At its earliest stage, new food waste gets absorbed into a compost pile with the help of saw dust.

At its earliest stage, new food waste gets absorbed into a compost pile with the help of saw dust. / On Second Thought

It can take up to 20 weeks for the compost to be ready to spread on a field.

It can take up to 20 weeks for the compost to be ready to spread on a field. / On Second Thought

Tags: Compostwheels  farming  Agriculture  Atlanta  Georgia