Services
Five things that can happen to a container.
RE:IBC Totes is a referral service. You tell us what you need done to a tote — sell it, wash it, rebottle it, recycle it or move it — and we match the request with a partner supplier in our network who quotes and does the work.
The short answer
Request a quote to sell used totes, have them reconditioned or rebottled, send them for recycling, or arrange pickup and delivery. Services are available standalone through partner suppliers — you do not have to be buying totes. Pricing is by quote from partner suppliers.
The services
Pick the one that matches your problem.
Sell
Sell used IBC totes
Wash
Reconditioning & washing
Rebuild
Rebottling
Last resort
Recycling & reclamation
Move
Pickup & delivery
Prep
Quote checklist
At a glance
What each request needs.
Every service is quoted by the partner supplier who takes the job. These are the details that let them quote it.
| Service | What to include | Standalone? |
|---|---|---|
| Sell used totes | Quantity, photos, prior contents, pickup location | Yes |
| Reconditioning | Quantity, prior contents, gasket compound if known | Yes |
| Rebottling | Cage condition, bottle size, intended contents | Yes |
| Recycling | Quantity, prior contents, whether drained | Yes |
| Pickup & delivery | Both locations, quantity, loading dock or not | Yes |
Why a referral service
The IBC trade is spread across many independent suppliers. Some focus on washing, some on rebottling, some on buying back used units, and coverage varies by region. Finding the right one for a single job can take a lot of phone calls.
We take one quote request and match it with a partner supplier in our network that offers the service you need. The supplier quotes you directly, does the work and answers your questions about the containers.
Requests come from across the United States; availability depends on partner suppliers. If reconditioning the totes you already own is a better fit than buying replacements, say so in your request and the supplier can quote both.
Service, not only supply
You do not need to be buying totes to request a service. If you already have containers and just need them washed, tested or sold, that is a normal request to send.
Sell used totesAsk for the paperwork
Prior contents, wash method and test results matter for reuse. Ask the partner supplier what records they keep for each unit and request copies with your quote.
Request a quoteService questions
Can I get service on totes I already own?
Often, yes. Many partner suppliers will wash, test, re-gasket or rebottle containers a customer already owns rather than selling replacement units. Tell us how many you have, what they last held and what you need done, and we match the request with a partner supplier that offers that service.
Do I have to buy totes to arrange pickup or delivery?
No. Pickup and delivery are available through partner suppliers, and some will move totes you bought elsewhere or collect a lot you want to sell. Describe the load and both locations in the quote request and a partner supplier follows up.
Is there a minimum order?
It depends on the partner supplier and the service. Some will handle a single tote; others prefer a full pallet or a truckload for pickups. Include your quantity in the request and the supplier will tell you what they can do.
How long does a service job take?
Timing is set by the partner supplier who takes the job and depends on their schedule, the service and the condition of the containers. Ask the supplier for a timeline when they follow up with your quote, and plan around what they confirm in writing.
Limits
Six jobs a careful supplier will turn down.
Good suppliers explain what they will not do. These are common limits worth knowing before you ask.
Usually declined
Resell a container with unknown contents
Without a prior-contents history a container cannot be described to the next user. Unknown-contents totes usually go to recycling instead.
Usually declined
Call an industrial container food grade after washing
Washing does not change a container's history. For food contact, ask the supplier for documentation and check current regulations; a new bottle is the usual route.
Usually declined
Leave an expired UN marking unexplained
A UN marking records a design type and test history. If the marking is out of date, the container may not qualify for hazardous-material transport — check current regulations.
Usually declined
Promise a grade before seeing the units
Grades depend on the bottle, cage, base and valve. Expect a supplier to confirm a grade from photos or inspection, not from a description alone.
Usually declined
Wash pesticide or solvent containers for general reuse
Some chemicals bind into or permeate polyethylene. These containers are usually recycled or kept in dedicated service.
Usually declined
Pressurize a poly IBC
Standard HDPE IBCs are atmospheric containers. Pressure work calls for a purpose-built vessel.
Before units leave your site
How to prepare containers for a service.
A few minutes of preparation saves a round of questions and helps the partner supplier quote accurately.
| Step | Why | If you skip it |
|---|---|---|
| Drain as fully as you can | Leftover product has to be captured and disposed of properly | Possible disposal charges and a slower intake |
| List prior contents for each unit | Determines the wash method and whether a unit can be reused | Units may be set aside until contents are confirmed |
| Leave caps and valves fitted | An open outlet collects grit that can damage seals | Extra cleaning, sometimes a failed unit |
| Say if you want the same units back | Service on your own totes is handled differently from a sale | Units may be treated as a sale |
| Note the gasket compound you need | EPDM, Viton and silicone are not interchangeable | A default gasket that may be wrong for your product |
| Flag anything hazardous | Some contents limit who can accept the containers — check current regulations | Units may be refused on arrival |
| Photograph the load before it leaves | Settles any damage question quickly | Transit damage becomes a disagreement |
| Confirm the return location | Lets the supplier plan return transport | Delays at the far end |
Choosing
Which service your problem actually needs.
People frequently ask for the wrong one, usually because the symptom and the cause are different things. Work from the left column.
| Your situation | You probably want | Not | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Totes sitting behind the building | Sell used totes | Disposal | Used totes in reusable condition often have resale value |
| Totes leaking at the valves | Replacement valves or gaskets | Replacement units | A valve or gasket is a small part compared with a whole tote |
| Bottles stained and customer-facing | Rebottling | Heavy washing | Staining in the bottle wall usually does not wash out |
| Moving from industrial to food service | Rebottling or new totes | Washing | History, not cleanliness, is the issue — ask for documentation |
| Residue that will not clear | Rebottling | Repeated washing | Repeated passes rarely fix what one or two did not |
| Cracked pallet bases | Base replacement | Scrapping the units | A new base can save an otherwise sound container |
| End-of-life units | Recycling | Landfill | HDPE and steel are recyclable where facilities accept them |