A system and method for monitoring a container environment using a control device for communicably coupling a data collection unit and an external device, the data collection unit having one or more openings for receiving one or more containers and configured to: monitor parameters of the at least one container; compare the monitored parameters with predetermined upper or lower limits; detect that the monitored parameters are within the predetermined upper or lower limits and indicate an in-range condition; detect that the monitored parameters exceed the predetermined upper or lower limits and indicate an out-of-range condition; and transmit, to the external device, a signal indicative of at least one of the in-range condition and the out-of-range condition.