In Los Angeles where I live and in many other many cities across the United States, you can actually get free quality compost. The sanitation department actually recycles the green waste that you throw away with a trademark mix of Los Angeles Zoo animal manure. The product is non-hazardous, and non-toxic. All you have to do is pick it up at one the sites as listed below.
I can tell you from experience this stuff works! Much better than a lot of the products you get at the stores with filler. A reasonable price for a cubic yard of compost would cost about $25-$35 at the store but can be free. The LA Sanitation Department is definitely not motivated by private interest.
The pros and cons of getting the free Mulch and Compost:
Pros
- Free and does not cost you anything
- Abundant and available every day at the sites
- Nutritious and healthy for trees and plants
- Environmentally friendly, recycling of biodegradable waste
- Can be delivered directly to your home
- The product is non-hazardous, non-toxic and not subject to hazardous waste regulations.
Cons
- Sometimes you may get a bad batch where some small amount of the material is not biodegradable that made it through the filter
- Transport, it is somewhat hard to carry the compost unless you have the vehicle for it and can become heavier as you take more
- The smell of the manure is an acquired taste, especially if you’re the one transporting it
Final thoughts – Take a look at the compost and go for a batch that has a healthier darker black color. Remember the compost is delivered almost daily so if this batch isn’t dark enough to your liking you can simply wait for another delivery.
Here is more information on the LA City Sanitation program.