1. A system for sorting waste items, the system comprising: a plurality of container compartments, each container compartment configured to receive a removable container; a plurality of removable containers configured to be placed within the container compartments, wherein each of the removable containers is associated with at least one of a plurality of waste categories, a handheld scanner configured to scan information associated with a waste item; a control system configured to compare information obtained from the handheld scanner with waste item classification information contained in a database; wherein the control system is further configured to assign the item to at least one waste category; and wherein the control system is further configured to identify one of the removable containers based on the waste category; wherein the control system is further configured to open the identified removable container to permit disposal of said waste item; and wherein the control system is further configured to restrict access to the identified removable container after said waste item has been disposed.