Many reconditioners attach a tag to each tote before it leaves — often a weatherproof label fixed to the cage. Formats vary from supplier to supplier, but a useful tag usually carries the fields below. If you’re buying food-grade or audited totes, ask the supplier what their tag includes; partner suppliers can often provide a sample.
Tote ID
A short alphanumeric serial, sometimes with a prefix for the bottle’s original manufacturer. It ties the physical tote to the supplier’s records.
Manufacture date
Stamped or molded on the bottle by the original manufacturer, usually visible near the top hatch or on the rating plate. Many suppliers set a maximum bottle age for resale; ask what theirs is.
Grade
Typically A, B, or C, using the supplier’s own definitions. Since grading isn’t standardized, ask what each grade means to that supplier (see the “grades explained” resource).
Previous contents (last known)
The fluid the bottle last held before reconditioning: “corn syrup,” “UAN-32,” “food-grade ethanol,” or “unknown.” An unknown history should rule a bottle out of food-grade service regardless of other factors.
Wash protocol
A code for which cleaning was applied — for example rinse only, detergent wash, or a multi-stage food-grade wash — cross-referenced to the supplier’s written protocol.
Wash date and operator
The date and an operator or crew code, which lets the supplier trace a quality complaint back to a specific shift.
Final rinse check (food grade)
For food-grade units, the result of the final rinse check, such as discharge pH, confirming no detergent residue remains.
Why it matters
Two reasons. First, audit trail. When a food-grade buyer’s auditor asks “how do you know this tote is food grade,” the tag plus the supplier’s documentation is the answer. Second, quality control. With per-tote records, a supplier can investigate a residue or odor complaint instead of guessing.
What a tag doesn’t cover
A tag usually lists only the most recent prior fill, not the bottle’s complete history. If you need the full chain, ask whether the supplier keeps it and can share it by tote ID.
Questions on this one? Use the quote form to request a quote, and we can put you in touch with partner suppliers in Northeast Ohio.