Now, here is my concern...should I be worried about chemicals that had been used on people's lawns and similar types of things if I use the free compost? Also, what about people who (incorrectly) bag up and send off things like poison ivy along with their leaves?

I realize if I want to be sure about what's in my compost, I should just buy it or make it myself (I do compost, but I just used all of my finished for one bed...I still have 3 more to make!), but I'm wondering what you would do? Would you use the free city compost and not worry about it, or get it from another source?

I've used my city's compost to top dress the ground for a new lawn, and it grew like mad.

I think the dilution effect of all the leaves, shredded limbs and other yard waste will help diminish the concentrations of any baddies that may be in there, whereas if you picked up mystery bags of grass at the curbside and made compost primarily from that, you can potentially have a much higher dose.

I think I will use it, but also mix in some commercial compost or composted manure if I can find a good local source for that to supplement my own compost.