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Get them out of your back lot

Sell your IBC totes. Send the details, get a quote.

Photos, location, previous contents. We pass it to partner buyers in our network serving Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, who can quote a price and arrange pickup.

Get quotes

Sell your totes.

Tell us how many, what they had in them, and where they are. Partner buyers can come back with a price and a pickup option.

What affects the price

What a buyer offers depends on previous contents, visual condition, cage and pallet condition, valve condition, quantity and location. In general:

Food / beverage history, A-grade condition tends to get the best offers.
Food-compatible industrial (soap, mild ag chemistry), B-grade usually sells for less.
General industrial (paint base, lubricants), C-grade sells for less again.
Damaged cages with salvageable bottles, or cage-only units, may still have some value to reconditioners.

Larger quantities usually get better offers, and pickup cost may be included or deducted depending on the buyer, the quantity and the distance.

What buyers usually won't take

Most buyers decline totes that previously held:

Chlorinated solvents (trichloroethylene, perc, etc.)
Isocyanates
Strong acids or bases
Pesticides not cleared for tote reuse
Fuels, hydraulic fluid, anti-freeze
Anything unlabeled — if you don't know what was in it, buyers have to assume the worst

Pickup logistics

Where: Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Further afield, ask.
How: Pickup is available through partner suppliers, typically by flatbed or box truck, with a window confirmed in advance.
Loading: Let the buyer know whether you have a dock or forklift on site.
Payment: Payment method and timing are set by the buyer; ask for them with your quote.

Why sell instead of paying for disposal

Disposing of totes usually costs money. Selling them can turn that cost into a small payment, which adds up across a large clear-out.

It also means a usable tote gets reused, which avoids manufacturing a new container to replace it.

Selling your empties — the field guide

The long-form file.

If you've got empty totes sitting in your back lot, here's what affects buyback offers and how to get useful quotes from partner suppliers that buy used IBCs.

Process

How it actually works.

01

Describe your totes

Quantity, size, brand if known, previous contents, condition, and your Northeast Ohio location. Photos help.

02

We route the request

We pass it to partner suppliers in our network that buy used totes.

03

Suppliers reply

Interested suppliers reply with an offer and pickup or drop-off options.

04

You choose

Accept the offer that works for you and arrange pickup and payment directly with that supplier.

Deep dive

The detail behind the surface.

§ 01

What drives the buyback number

Five variables, roughly in order of impact:

1. Previous contents. Food-grade history is usually worth the most, followed by mild industrial and agricultural contents. Aromatic solvents or unknown contents may have little or only scrap value.

2. Bottle and cage condition. Minor cage damage may be repairable. Cracked bottles or failed cage welds reduce the value to parts or scrap.

3. Bottle brand and origin. Bottles from major manufacturers are often easier for buyers to resell.

4. Quantity. Larger lots in one place are cheaper to collect, which can improve per-tote offers.

5. Distance and access. Pickup cost depends on how far the supplier travels and how easy loading is.

§ 02

Getting your totes ready

Totes that are drained, have valves closed and hatches tightened, sit fully on their pallets, and are grouped by size and contents are easier to assess and load. Set damaged units aside and mention them in your request.

Got a question this doesn't cover? Send it through the quote form.

FAQ

Quick answers.

01What if I don't know the previous contents?

Say so in your request. Suppliers may still make an offer for the cage and pallet, but the bottle is often worth little without known history.

02Will anyone take just a few totes?

Some suppliers will. Small lots may get lower per-tote offers or require drop-off, since pickup costs are spread over fewer units.

03How do I get paid?

Payment is arranged directly with the supplier whose offer you accept. Ask about payment method and timing before pickup.

04Do UN/DOT markings matter?

They can. Legible markings may make a tote easier for a buyer to resell for regulated uses. Mention them and include photos.