Food: The Fifty-Fifty Rule: A perfect mixture of material consists of

½ brown (carbon-based material)
½ green (nitrogen-based material) by weight.

Air: Like us, the organisms that live inside your compost bin need air to survive,  so mix or turn the pile three to five times per season using a pitchfork, garden hoe or shovel.  Proper aeration will make a big difference, principally, speeding up the whole process. You will know if your bin is not getting enough oxygen if the pile smells of ammonia.

Water: Your bin needs to be moist, not damp.  The organisms need water to survive, but not too much or they will drown.  The ideal moisture level of your compost pile should be that of a wrung out sponge.

Surface Area: The Smaller the better! Cut up or shred your organic waste materials before placing them into the compost bin.  This increases the surface area and speeds up decomposition.

Bin Volume: Not Too Big: A bin should be between 3 and 5 feet square.  A bin that is too small cannot retain enough heat, but a bin that is too large, won’t get enough air to the centre of the pile.  It is also easier to manage two or three medium bins that one large one.