Better not count on getting free compost from the city this year. It still contains traces of Clopyralid, an herbicide.

“We’ve been testing it and, all in all, it’s gone down, and it continues to degrade on its own, albeit slowly,” said Diana Sjogren, a waste reduction and recycling specialist for the city.

Late last year, city officials suspended the annual giveaway after realizing the compost contained enough Clopyralid to harm vegetables and flowers. At the time, Clopyralid was a common ingredient in lawn herbicides.

The city’s 4,000 tons of compost are made from more than 9,000 tons of leaves and grass clippings collected throughout the spring, summer and fall.

After detecting Clopyralid in the compost, city officials launched an education campaign aimed at discouraging homeowners and lawn-treatment companies from using it.

“We’ve talked to several lawn-service companies and, as yet, we’ve not had anyone say they were using it,” Sjogren said. “We’ve yet to find one big source.”

Sjogren said her office planned to increase its education efforts in the coming weeks.

“We’re going to try to get the word out in time for the fall weed-and-feed fertilizer treatments,” she said. “There still may be people using Clopyralid who don’t know they’re using it.”

A list of chemicals containing Clopyralid is posted on the city recycling department’s Web site: www.lawrencerecycles.org.

Diane Pearson-McMillen, Lawrence, smooths out some compost in this 2001 photo. The city has not decided whether it will distribute this year's compost, which contains traces of Clopyralid, an herbicide.

Sjogren said it was unclear whether the Clopyralid levels in this year’s compost crop would be reduced enough to allow it to be given away.

“That decision has not been made,” she said. “Not yet.”

The bulk of last year’s compost, she said, has been spread on lawns maintained by the city. “Oh, it’s perfect for grass,” she said.

Since detecting Clopyralid, city officials have resisted giving away the compost for use on lawns. They noted that once it was given away, they would have no control over its use.