Composting is one of the most important things we can do for the environment and our gardens.
Everything that once was living will become compost, it's just how fast you want to harvest it. My system has three bins made out of wooden pallets. I fill the first with kitchen scraps, garden refuse, untreated lawn clippings shredded leaves and more. The only thing that doesn't go in there is meat, dairy and oils, they attract rodents.
Once the first bin is filled, then I start filling the second, by the time it's filled the first bin is usually ready to use. That's the lazy man's way to do it. Every time you turn that pile it will decompose 50 percent quicker.
The compost you harvest from the bin is all a plant needs for the entire season. You'll be putting less stuff to the curb and you'll be creating the best soil ammendment for your plants.
Here are links to composting and vermicomposting classes with the Pennsylvania Resources Council http://www.prc.org/community_adultedu.html