Guide · seller’s playbook
How to sell used IBC totes without getting quietly shortchanged
A few things move the offer for used totes, and a few buyer habits should make you walk away. Here is what buyers look for and how to prepare.
Request an offer for your totes
Quantity, last product and location. A partner supplier in our network will follow up with an offer and pickup options.
The process, from decision to payment
- 01
Count and photograph
Unit count by size, one photo of a cage plate, one of a bottle interior through the lid, and one wide shot showing access.
- 02
Find the fill records
The last product, and who filled it. A documented food, beverage or water history can open up more resale options than an identical undocumented unit.
- 03
Drain the heels properly
Recover remaining liquid into labelled containers and arrange proper disposal. A tote with unknown liquid in it becomes a waste job.
- 04
Consolidate if you can
One larger pickup from one dock is usually easier to arrange than several small ones.
- 05
Get offers in writing
Per-unit price, pickup window and conditions. A written offer is harder to renegotiate on arrival.
- 06
Prepare for pickup
Caps on, units grouped, clear access for a forklift or liftgate, and someone authorised to sign.
- 07
Get paid and keep the paperwork
A bill of sale, and a record of where the totes went if your waste reporting needs one.
What drives the offer
| Factor | Effect | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Documented food or water history | Raises | Opens food and potable resale |
| Documented industrial history | Raises | Allows confident resale into technical duty |
| No documentation at all | Lowers | The buyer must assume the worst |
| Larger lot in one location | Raises | Freight is spread across more units |
| Very small lot | Lowers, or may not be collected | Pickup cost can exceed unit value |
| Heels drained | Raises | Removes a waste-handling problem |
| Caps and valves present | Raises | Hardware costs money to replace |
| Cage undamaged | Raises | The cage is the most reusable part |
| Bottle cracked | Lowers | May still be worth rebottling |
| Dock or forklift access | Raises | Faster, simpler loading |
| Restricted access | Lowers | Needs special equipment or more time |
Offers are made by partner suppliers and depend on their current needs and your location.
Three buyer behaviours that should end the conversation
1. Deductions after arrival. The truck turns up, a reason is found, and the agreed price drops. Ask for a written offer, and ask the buyer to raise any condition concerns before loading, not after.
2. "We will pay market rate." A real buyer quotes a number per unit. A vague reference to the market is a promise to decide the price after they have your totes.
3. Refusal to say what happens next. If a buyer will not say whether your units are being reconditioned, resold or recycled, that is worth knowing, especially if your company name is on the label. Ask about label removal if brand protection matters.
Selling to a reconditioner versus a marketplace
Selling one tote at a time on a classifieds site can bring a higher headline number. It also means handling enquiries, no-shows, cash, loading help and the question of what is left in each bottle. For a few units it can be worth it; for a large lot it rarely is.
Questions people actually ask
How much are used IBC totes worth?
It depends on condition, documented prior content, quantity in one place, access and location. Offers are made by quote from partner suppliers.
Will anyone buy just two totes?
Pickup for very small lots is often not worth a truck. Dropping them off yourself, or combining with neighbours, is usually the answer.
Do I need to clean totes before selling them?
Always drain the heels. Beyond that, buyers usually wash totes themselves, so documentation is generally worth more than your own washing.
What if my totes held hazardous chemicals?
They may still be saleable if the content is documented and the residue is manageable. Some contents need a licensed waste route; a straightforward buyer will say so before pickup.
Where used totes can go
| Channel | Your effort | Risk | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reconditioner or tote buyer | Low | Low | Larger lots |
| Classifieds, one at a time | High | No-shows, strangers on site, unknown residues | A few units |
| Auction lot | Low | Unpredictable result | Clearing quickly |
| Scrap metal dealer | Low | Bottle may not be recycled | Units past reuse |
| Waste hauler | None | You usually pay, and liability stays with you | Last resort |
| Give away locally | Low | Liability if the history is unknown | Benign-history units only |
| Keep for internal reuse | Storage | UV damage while stored | Only if you have shade |
Classifieds can pay more per unit but become impractical for more than a few. Offers through this site come from partner suppliers in our network.
The documentation that raises an offer
Half an hour of paperwork can be worth more than a day of cleaning.
Documentation is what opens food and potable resale for a used tote. Here is what to gather.
1. The product. The specific name of the last thing in each tote, not just a category.
2. Who filled it. The company that put the product in. This makes the record verifiable.
3. Dates. Approximate fill and empty dates. A year is enough.
4. Any other uses. One line on whether the tote was ever used for anything else.
5. Allergens, if food. A buyer reselling into food production needs this.
6. Storage history. Indoors or outdoors, and roughly how long. This predicts UV condition.
7. Photographs. Cage marking, bottle interior through the lid, and a wide shot showing access.
Where to find it if it is lost
Purchase records, goods-in paperwork, any surviving label, the company that filled the totes, or the person who ran the line. If your site is closing down, gather this first, before the people who know leave.
More selling questions
Should I clean them before selling?
Always drain them. Beyond that, buyers usually wash totes themselves, so time spent on documentation is generally better spent.
What if some of my totes are damaged?
Include them in the lot and say so. A cracked bottle in a sound cage may still be worth rebottling.
Can I sell totes that held a hazardous product?
Often, with documentation and a drained heel. Some contents need a licensed waste route, and a straightforward buyer will tell you before pickup.
How do I avoid being lowballed?
Get more than one written offer, ask that each states how long it stands, and avoid arrangements where the price is set after pickup.
What to include when you request an offer
These details let a buyer price the lot without a round of follow-up questions.
- Quantity and size of each type of tote.
- Prior content: the specific product, who filled it, and roughly when.
- Condition: drained or not, caps and valves fitted, any damage.
- Storage: indoors or outdoors, and for how long.
- Access: loading dock, forklift availability, and whether a large truck can reach the site.
- Photos: cage marking, bottle interior through the lid, and a wide shot of the lot.
- Timing: when the totes need to be gone.
What not to say
- "Make me an offer." It tends to bring a low one.
- "Various sizes and conditions." Count and sort them first.
- Photos of only the best units. The buyer will see the rest at pickup and the conversation changes.
More selling questions
How many buyers should I contact?
Two or three is usually enough to compare offers without turning it into a project.
Should I sell or keep them for our own reuse?
Keep them if you have shaded storage and a likely use soon. Sun damage while stored is a common way a saleable tote becomes scrap.
Is there a best time of year to sell?
Demand for water and agricultural totes tends to rise in spring, but quantity and documentation matter more than season.
What if a buyer disappears after agreeing?
It happens, which is why a written offer with a pickup window matters.
Where people go from here
Reuse first, then recycle.