Claim: San Francisco giving gardeners toxic sludge

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - San Francisco is generally regarded as environmentally conscious. But one public interest and environmental advocacy group is protesting the city's practice of giving away treated sewage as compost.

The city calls it a "high-quality, nutrient-rich, organic bio-solids compost" and gives it to any and all takers. But the Organic Consumers Association says it could contain thousands of industrial, pharmaceutical and chemical toxins and carcinogens.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission insists the sewage is treated to the point of sterility.

Sewage or bio-solids compost is available across the U.S. But organic groups say San Francisco's compost has become the focal point precisely because the city is so environmentally aware.