The holidays mean lots of food and lots of trash. Atlanta began taking a different approach to waste earlier this year, in partnership with Rubicon Global, a waste management company. They  say this “smart trash” model cuts costs for the city, and helps combat climate change. We talked with Atlanta Chief Resilience Officer Stephanie Stuckey-Benfield and Rubicon Global’s Michael Allegretti.

 

Much of what we eat today was first developed for soldiers, and that influence is also felt on Southern food. We talked about this with food writer Anastacia Marx de Salcedo, author of the book “Combat-Ready Kitchen: How The U.S. Military Shapes The Way You Eat.” We also checked in with Brunswick farmer and army veteran Matthew Raiford.

 

So, after turkey salad and sandwiches and soup, you might still have leftovers. And even when it’s not Thanksgiving, food waste is a big problem in landfills. What else could we do? Enter Compost Wheels. The Atlanta-based group takes food waste from homes and businesses and helps turn it into compost for area farms. GPB’s Sean Powers followed a Compost Wheels delivery to learn how we all can play a larger role in urban agriculture.

 

A recent NPR poll finds 60 percent of black Americans say they or a family member have been stopped unfairly by police. Some 45 percent say they or a family member have been treated unfairly by the courts. Ameer Mohammed of Atlanta wants his experiences with police to be a learning experience for his son, Faheem, 14. We listened to a conversation between them, produced by GPB intern Maya Martin.

 

In the Jim Crow South, black and white neighborhoods were separated by law. Some police departments added African-American officers to their squads to cover the black communities. Atlanta hired eight men in 1948, but their authority was greatly restricted. These officers inspired Thomas Mullen’s novel “Darktown.” We talked to Mullen earlier this year about the sequel, “Lightning Men.”

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