A refuse removal system for picking up waste material in an optimally sanitary manner including a claw mechanism including a first set of arcuately formed finger members and a second set of arcuately formed finger members that are displaced each from the other in a longitudinal direction. A flexible bag having an open section and a closed section is fixedly attached to the claw mechanism. A pair of actuating members provides actuation of the arcuately formed finger members between an open and closed position. Prior to operation of the refuse removal system, the first and second sets of arcuately formed finger members are located external to the bag while the actuating members are internal to the bag in a manner in which the claw mechanism passes through the bag wall.