Sell used IBC totes from your business

Used IBC totes resell based on what they held, how empty they are, and the condition of the cage, valve and bottle. The common sizes are 275 and 330 gallons. A tote that held food-grade or non-hazardous liquid, drained and capped, is reusable stock; one with hazardous residue needs cleaning and paperwork before anyone can take it.

Add IBC totes to a lot Run the value check

What resells

Totes that held food-grade or non-hazardous liquids
Drained totes with lids and valves present
Straight, unbroken cages and sound pallet bases
Bottles without cracks, deep scoring or UV chalking

What lowers the value

Bent cages or broken welds (the cage may be rebottled; the bottle may not be reused)
Missing valves or caps
Totes that sat outdoors for years; sunlight weakens the bottle

What we can’t take

Totes still holding product beyond normal drain-down
Totes that held hazardous material without a cleaning record or a clear description of the contents

How do you prepare a lot of IBC totes?

Drain each tote fully and close the valve and lid.
Write down what each group held. Safety data sheets help.
Note the size (275 or 330 gallon) and whether the cages are straight.

Which questions decide the grade?

The value check asks these for IBC totes:

What did the totes hold?
Are they drained and capped?
What shape are the cages in?
Are the valves and lids there?

Answer them for your IBC totes to see whether the line is likely resale, possible, or disposal.

How much truck space do IBC totes take?

For planning, the truckload calculator counts about 2 units per 48 x 40 floor position: empty, stacked two high on their own pallet base (48 x 40 footprint). A 53 ft dry van holds about 26 positions loaded straight. Change the figure in the calculator to match how yours are packed.

What size should you write on the lot?

A short description is enough, for example 275 gal or 330 gal. If you have several sizes, use one line per size.

Questions about selling IBC totes

Do you buy IBC totes that held chemicals?

It depends on what the chemical was, how well the tote was emptied and whether there is documentation. Describe the contents in the lot and the quote will say whether those totes can be taken.

Does the retest date on the label matter?

For totes that will carry regulated hazardous materials again, yes: US rules (49 CFR 180.352) require periodic leakproofness testing and inspection. For non-hazardous reuse it matters less, but it still tells a buyer the tote’s age.

Is there a minimum for IBC totes?

Yes, commercial quantities. The minimum depends on the lot and the pickup location, and the quote states it. Mixing IBC totes with other lines in one lot is the easiest way past it.