Anything that has lived can live again. It will compost into soil if you give it enough time.

For fast hot thermophilic compost I like a pile accessible from all sides which is easy to turn. At least a cubic meter of material covered with a tarp to keep it moist. If it doesn't get hot its too dry or too wet or not enough nitrogen (fresh greens, manure, kitchen scraps). If it stinks its probably too moist (anaerobic) ie not enough air. If it gets too hot (lots of nitrogen) you loose a lot of volume which turns into gasses.

You evolve an intuitive feeling for the right mixture and when to turn. If you turn every second day to keep it hot it will sanitize into healthy soil within 18 days (berkley method) . I recomend Jeoff Lawton as a good compost guru.