debian 8 php memory_limit = -1 still not enough but works as root

Question

I am trying to do a composer install with a normal user on a vps with 1GB of memory and always fall short of memory

I set both my php.ini at -1 and get from php -i | grep memory

memory_limit => -1 => -1
Collecting memory statistics => No
opcache.memory_consumption => 128 => 128
opcache.preferred_memory_model => no value => no value
opcache.protect_memory => 0 => 0

so looks like the limit is lifted but I still cannot do a composer install; however if I run composer install as root which I am NOT supposed to do then it works !!!! why ??? first time I am seeing this; can anyone help ?

my composer.json

"require": {
    "php": ">=7.2.8",
    "ext-ctype": "*",
    "ext-curl": "^7.2",
    "ext-iconv": "*",
    "ext-json": "*",
    "beberlei/doctrineextensions": "^1.1",
    "jms/serializer-bundle": "^3.1",
    "knplabs/knp-paginator-bundle": "^2.8",
    "sensio/framework-extra-bundle": "^5.1",
    "stof/doctrine-extensions-bundle": "^1.3",
    "symfony/asset": "*",
    "symfony/console": "*",
    "symfony/event-dispatcher": "4.2.*",
    "symfony/expression-language": "*",
    "symfony/flex": "^1.1",
    "symfony/form": "*",
    "symfony/framework-bundle": "*",
    "symfony/monolog-bundle": "^3.1",
    "symfony/orm-pack": "*",
    "symfony/process": "*",
    "symfony/proxy-manager-bridge": "*",
    "symfony/serializer-pack": "*",
    "symfony/swiftmailer-bundle": "^3.1",
    "symfony/translation": "4.2.*",
    "symfony/twig-bundle": "*",
    "symfony/validator": "*",
    "symfony/web-link": "*",
    "symfony/yaml": "*"
},
"require-dev": {
    "symfony/debug-pack": "*",
    "symfony/dotenv": "*",
    "symfony/maker-bundle": "^1.0",
    "symfony/profiler-pack": "*",
    "symfony/test-pack": "*",
    "symfony/web-server-bundle": "*"
},