We keep a small plastic container on the sink. Hold about 2 cups of household cooking garbage such as banana peels, orange peels, fresh herb stems, egg shells, etc. When that's full, we move it to a container on the patio that holds about two quarts. When that is full, we move it to a Styrofoam ice chest that is covered and kept on the back porch (it's getting closer to the compost pile now.) Once that is about 3/4 full (I toss in shredded paper, and other browns in between dumping the 2 qt container.) I take it to the compost pile and add it as a layer. It's usually very wet when I add it so I haven't worried about it being too dry.
I just started composting and hope this is ok to do this way. I didn't realize I needed to check my pile for moisture and heat so soon until I started reading the threads here. I just started it about two weeks ago. It's uncovered and we've had a lot of rain. It's about 3' diameter x 3' high. Made from very heavy black plastic that has holes all around it. Looks like the wire fencing cylinders I've seen in threads here, except made from a very heavy gauge plastic held by screws where the ends overlap. got it free from my county

. I could probably get a second one to start a new transfer bin.
Any thoughts?