It is best when the material can easily be turned over once a month or so. A trash can will allow this. By mixing the material, more of it gets a chance to settle deep in the pile where it can really cook. A clean five gallon plastic bucket can be used if some large holes are drilled in the bottom and sides. Here is an example of a crate with chicken wire.
Earthworms speed up the process and enrich the soil.
As the material degrades the pile will create heat. Barns have caught on fire from hay from combustion of the heat in biological degradation.