I usually have 3 cans going at a time: one can I am adding too, one is resting and being turned into compost, and one I am taking compost from and using it in the garden.
Don't include meat, oils or oily things (like butter or fried veggies or oils in general...or mayonnaise) or dairy products like cheese, milk, yogurt, or eggs. These will attract vermin.
When your bucket is full of kitchen scraps, walk on down to where you store your new handy dandy compost bin/trash can. Dump in your kitchen scraps. Add three times that much in brown materials.
Spray with a hose if you want to jumpstart things, getting everything inside good and damp. This will start the magical process of things breaking down in there.