Patent ID: 7119689

Claim:
A system for sorting a plurality of medical waste items of various kinds, the system comprising: a plurality of container compartments, each container compartment configured to receive a removable container; a plurality of removable containers, wherein each of said removable containers comprises an opening and a movable lid, wherein the removable containers are configured to be placed within the container compartments, wherein each of the removable containers is associated with at least one of a plurality of medical waste categories and wherein the movable lid is movable to an open position wherein the movable lid is movable to a covered position; a waste item identification device configured to read a barcode on an item of medical waste; a database comprising medical waste item classification information derived from rules and regulations affecting the disposal of medical items; and a control system configured to compare information obtained from the barcode to information contained in the database and wherein the control system is further configured to assign the item to at least one medical waste category; and wherein the control system is further configured to identify one of the removable containers based on the medical waste category; wherein the control system is further configured to allow the movable lid of the identified removable container to move to the open position; and wherein the control system is further configured to lock the movable lid in the covered position when the control system determines that the removable container is full.