Odds are if it's that inexpensive coming from a government agency, it's being subsidized somewhere else. Maybe general taxes, refuse fees or recycling fees.

I'm sure some plants are able to grow in pure compost just like they can using hydroponics. I'm not sure it's the best method.

Sounds like a heck of a deal though.

Lloyd

It is a deal, but I don't know if I would want to raise food I was eating from in that. We have a city wide green bin collection. They collect the food scraps and make them into compost, but I really hope they sterilize it. I don't think they actually use sewage in there, but one still does not know exactly what is in there. That is why I feel more comfortable making it myself. Plants will do ok, in straight compost, but that plant has to be one that likes rich soil. Some plants like a poor soil for example CA poppies, they won't bloom well in a rich soil.

Gotta go with tropical_thought here. Call me paranoid if you wish, but I refuse to use any "compost" but my own. How can you know what is in your compost unless there is official verification of what is in it after being tested? If it is being used for ornamentals as opposed to garden plants, no prob. If you are using it for your garden, all the heavy metals and non- (or slowly-) biodegradable organic pesticides may be entering your veggies. Governmental compost would be questionable to me.
My stuff comes from my yard where I have control. Hey, I am a certified state pesticide applicator - but wouldn't use public compost on my garden. There are many things that go into "public" compost that you don't want to know about.
hortster