Restricted access waste sorting system

Abstract

A system for disposing of medical waste is generally configured to sort waste items into a plurality of containers according to applicable rules and regulations governing the handling and/or disposal of such items. In some embodiments, a system comprises sorting stations each of which houses a number of disposable containers. Each station can identify an item of waste, determine the most appropriate container for the item, and facilitate disposal of the item in the appropriate container. In some embodiments, a detection system for determining a presence and/or a quantity of waste items within a container is also provided. In some embodiments, access to discarded waste items is restricted once the waste items have been placed in a container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A waste sorting system, comprising:
 a plurality of container compartments, each container compartment configured to receive a container;   a plurality of containers configured to be placed within the container compartments and adapted to receive a waste item;   at least one lid that that restricts access to the contents of at least one of said containers, while said container is open and capable of receiving said waste item;   an input device configured to receive information associated with the waste item;   a control system configured to classify said waste item into a waste category based on the information received from the input device;   wherein the control system is further configured to open one of the containers based on the waste category.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container associated with said lid is adapted for disposal of narcotics. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said lid is adapted to restrict access to users that use the waste sorting system to dispose of waste items. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said lid is adapted to restrict access while said container is in said container compartment and adapted to permit access when said container is removed from said compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises a V-shaped cross section and circular outer edges. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wherein the lid comprises a shield that is configured to restrict access to the contents of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wherein the lid comprises a latch assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wherein the control system locks the lid in a closed position after said waste item is disposed into said container. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a scanner. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a touch screen. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a scanner. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a barcode scanner. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect the level of waste within at least one of said containers. 
     
     
         15 . A method for sorting waste, comprising:
 providing a plurality of container compartments, each container compartment configured to receive a container;   providing a plurality of containers configured to be placed within the container compartments,   receiving information associated with a waste item;   classifying said waste item into a waste category based on said received information;   opening one of said containers based on said waste category; and   restricting access to the contents of said opened container, while said opened container is open and capable of receiving said waste item.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of restricting access to the contents of said opened container comprises providing a lid that comprises a V-shaped cross section and circular outer edges. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of restricting access to the contents of said opened container comprises providing a shield that is configured to restrict access to the contents of the container. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of receiving information associated with a waste item comprises reading a barcode located on said waste item. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of receiving information associated with a waste item comprises receiving information from a device selected from the group consisting of one or more of the following: touch screen, keyboard, and scanner. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of classifying said waste item comprising comparing said received information with classification information contained in a database.