If possible, use rainwater from your Rain Barrel to moisten the pile, as chlorinated municipal water sources can slow down the natural rate of breakdown. Occasionally, a compost pile's performance is less than optimal. Make sure that your pile has sufficient warmth for high levels of bacterial activity. Most bins are made from black recycled plastic so that they can absorb radiant heat from the sun. Colder climates might require insulation jackets be placed around the pile.
Moisture is another factor that can cause problems.
Without enough water, the pile remains too dry and decomposition can slow down considerably. N mix seems to work best. Like cockroaches and pigeons, rodents will always be a part of human society. If you have a known rodent problem, select bins that do not have large openings between the slats. Moreover, when discarding your food scraps, bury them in the compost pile's center, so that access is difficult.