Size of the pile . If it is smaller, the material will eventually decompose, but it will not heat up sufficiently to kill weed seeds and pathogens. Presence of microorganisms . A good way to make sure that there is an adequate supply of microorganisms in the pile is to add good garden soil, rotted manure or old compost. Materials with high levels of carbon relative to nitrogen include paper, straw, sawdust, old leaves.
Some food wastes, green plants, and grass clippings tend to be relatively high in nitrogen.
Therefore, it is not a good idea to add carbonaceous material to your garden unless you add some nitrogen with it, particularly during the growing season. Similarly, when making the compost pile, it is important to provide enough nitrogen to the microorganisms to enable them to decompose the carbonaceous material. How well the pile is insulated . It is important in cool regions to cover the pile or to compost in a container of some sort, especially during the fall and spring. The pile can be covered with a layer of soil, leaves, straw or plastic.