Im guessing its unfinished compost. Yes, everybody confuses words like compost, mulch, peat, humus, manure, composted manure, etc. I have a source similar to what you describe. I bring it home, add greens and augment my home grown compost. It is good enough to use as is but I like to cook it a little bit more.
{{gwi:102138}}

Vinn625 asks:

"If the feedstock is leaves, grass, and brush, wouldn't that make it compost?"

Depending on the ratio of the materials it could be either compost or mulch. Also, depending on what you wish to use it for, it could be either as well. Since you have said it is dark and very dry, yet have failed to say what the texture of the material is (sticks in pile, easy to identify leaves, fine granular) it is really hard to say and be correct. I would beg to guess it is probably compost that could use a little tender loving care to reach its full potential.

Were this gardener happen upon this pile I would quickly get my truck and start to remove a truckload of this material focusing on the bottom of the pile as much as possible. I too would dig as deep into the pile as feasible, for the bottom of the pile has been under the most pressure. If the pile is indeed compost and has been sitting there for a long length of time, there could possibly be humus found at the bottom and center of this pile. Since I wouldnÂt want to appear "greedy", I would only make about three (3) trips to this pile for the material; that is unless the township really wants to get rid of this pile to add more. In that case I would remove as much as I could store/use on my property.

Once I got this neglected pile of gold to my home, I would moisten it slightly as I created my new piles of potential neighborhood jealousy. To give each pile a real jolt, again if possible, I would sprinkle alfalfa meal throughout the piles to get the C:N ratio lower just to be on the safe side. My goal would be to have each pile looking like fresh "German Chocolate Cake" ready to be served (minus the frosting). I then would go back to the township and get some more of this pesky pile to spread on top of my garden/flowerbeds immediately until I was completely satisfied. My new piles would be for use next year, with a commitment to replace anything that was taken from the pile (to the bucket full).

Please forgive my wordy post Vinn625, this sort of thing happens when old Blutranes dreams of paradise. Best of luck with your project, for fortunate you are indeed. If you donÂt own a truck, I would suffer to rent a trailer and get it all! Yes, I am a sick man, but I am not hungryÂ

Blutranes

Your township probably has in the administration someone that knows enough about composting to realize that what they have is simply a pile of leaves, brush and grass and that no one has added anything more to make compost. Leaves piled up will eventually be digested into leaf mold, but that is not compost. Wood chips left to be digested by soil bacteria eventually become a dark humus like substance, but that is also not compost.
The term compost has been used to describe most anything that looks kind of almost like dark material that could, possibly, be added to soil, whether it has actually been composted or not.

I think there may be too much of a focus on symantics and definitions. "Compost" is merely decomposed organic matter - there is really no specification as to its ingredients and content yet somehow many of us in our infinite wisdom as the rulers of the this planet have decided it must be comprised of a wide selection of various ingredients to truly be considered 'compost'. Nature is quite a bit less specific and naturally occurring compost found in forest conditions or undisturbed areas seldom has much diversity of ingredients, yet it provides much the same benefits as manmade compost generated from a variety of materials. Leaf mold is merely composted leaves, partially to rather fully decomposed, ditto wood chips, animal manures, etc., once they have begun a natural process of decomposition/digestion by microorganisms. Composting is primarily a process - the decomposition of formerly living organisms and their byproducts - not necessarily what is comprising the compost or the end result.

Mulching is also a process and the materials one can use to mulch with vary widely as well. Compost in various forms and degrees of completeness can be used as a mulch as well as any other organic matter that has not yet started to decompose or breakdown. If the material your township offers is visually unidentifiable as to ingredients - you can't clearly distinguish bark or wood chunks, grass or leaves, etc. - then it is nearly fully decomposed (read composted) yard waste and can be used to improve your soils both by incorporation or as a mulch or topdressing.

Yes, there is a great deal of confusion with these terms because we tend to want to be too specific with them. If you look at them as results of processes rather than as a defined end product, the confusion is greatly reduced.

wow, I didn't expect so large of a response. Thank you all for your words of wisdom. I'm going to assume that this stuff is a "mulch". Seems I'll have to let it compost in my bin for a bit to cook.

Or just put it on top of your soil and either way it will be just fine.