All types of caged totes are accepted without discrimination based on location, ensuring an easy and efficient process for all customers.

NO, we must follow the guidelines and laws put forth by the Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency.  

• Ensure totes are completely empty before your IBC pickup
• More than 1″ of residue can lead to rejection.
  • One inch of product equals about 7 to 10 gallons.
• Empty your IBCs to the very best of your abilities to remove remnants of previous contents
• Please ensure valves are shut to prevent spillage during transit

US EPA’s definition of an Empty Container as defined at 40 CFR 261.7:

“No more than 0.3 percent by weight of the total capacity of the container remains in the container or inner liner if the container is greater than 119 gallons in size.”

Tricks to tell your containers are empty!

• The remaining product is BELOW THE VALVE

• The bottom of the HDPE plastic tank is visible

We Accept damaged totes for recycling, but prefer to limit it to 5 to 12 damaged totes per pickup

• Definition of damaged totes includes:
  • Broken feet.
  • Bent cage.
  • Severe oxidation.
  • Container with a wood pallet.

Exclusions from Payment:

• No payment for damaged totes.
• No payment for totes with wood pallets

The short answer is: it depends.

99% of empty containers do not need to be rinsed even if they are classified hazardous.

The few exceptions include P-Listed chemicals, Red-Listed substances, and everyday pesticides and herbicides found on every farm. Some of these chemicals are know to be acute and extremely hazardous wastes.

For further information on these chemicals, you can access guidelines and best practices for disposing of residue material provided by the EPA & DTSC

P-Listed Chemicals

• The EPA has a list known as the “P-list” for identifying acute hazardous wastes.
• This list highlights chemicals with severe hazards if improperly disposed.
• Strict regulations and protocols govern the disposal of these substances.
• Containers previously containing P-Listed Chemicals must undergo triple rinsing before collection and transportation for recycling.
• Some examples of “P-listed” chemicals are listed below for the complete list click here!
  • Carbonic dichloride
  • Benzyl Chloride
  • Dimethoate

R-Listed Chemicals

• The Living Building Challenge (LBC) Red List identifies materials, chemicals, and elements posing serious health and environmental risks in the building industry.
• Many chemicals on the red list are required to be rinsed before being picked up.
• A few examples are as follows:
  • Chromic Acid
  • Glutaraldehyde
  • Permanganates
  • For a full list please review at Living Future
• To better help and understand your needs, it is imperative that you submit all your Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for review so our environmental team may assist you in safely disposing of your empty containers.

Agricultural Materials

Empty totes that previously contained agricultural chemicals like herbicides and pesticides pose as an environmental danger if not disposed of correctly. It is recommended that totes be rinsed that previously contained chemicals like:

• 2,4D
• Paraquat
• Fenpyroximate

Guidelines can be found here on how to prepare your containers before they are picked up.

IN SOME CASES AG TOTES MAY BE RECYCLED WITHOUT RINSING IF THEY ARE TRANSPORTED TO A PERMITED LOCATION.

• Please fill out the request form above, and one of our team members will assist you in finding the best solution for your AGG totes.

At IBC Tote Recycling, we pride ourselves on being a leading force in tote removal, reconditioning, and recycling. Leveraging our extensive network of tote reconditioners, we’ve established a nationwide presence, ensuring utmost satisfaction for our valued customers.

Our primary aim is to deliver environmentally responsible services that comply with Department of Transportation regulations, all while being completely free for our clients.

Furthermore, if you possess truckload quantities (60+) of Schutz, Mauser, or Grief IBC totes that meet our stringent quality standards, we’re prepared to purchase them from you at a mutually agreed upon price.

We made sure that filling out a tote devour request was as easy as possible. the sole information we’d like is your contact information, the amount of totes you’d wish to be picked up, and the way frequently you generate used totes.

We made sure that you simply can submit a pickup request 24 hours, 7 days every week . Once your request has been processed, one among our representatives will contact you to rearrange the devour .

After your tote pickup request has been processed, the next step is to gather some pictures of the totes, and the Safety Data Sheets. We do not need a picture of every tote. We just need a family style picture of all of the totes, a picture of the cages, and a picture of the valves.

It is vitally important to include the SDS forms along with the pictures because it is required by the Department of Transportation that we know the totes’ previous contents before we can move them.

Once the pictures and SDS forms have been submitted, IBC Tote Recycling will issue you a bill of lading (BOL) to confirm the tote pickup. The BOL will have all of the details and shipping logistics, including the pickup date, on the form. If there is anything misprinted on the BOL, please contact a representative at IBC Tote Recycling

If your totes passed our quality inspection, the final step in the tote pickup process is the payment.

IBC Tote Recycling will pay you the previously agreed upon price per unit in a time frame of your preference. We almost always establish payment terms for tote pick ups with our customers before the first load is ever picked up.

No Cost Tote Collection: Unlike other programs, IBC Tote Recycling doesn’t charge customers for tote pickup, eliminating any financial burden.

Payment for Totes: IBC Tote Recycling goes a step further by offering payment for unwanted totes passing quality inspections, aiding businesses in clearing warehouse space at no expense.

Nationwide Coverage: Regardless of location in the continental U.S., our trucks are ready to pick up all totes, simplifying the process for customers.

We pickup the standard capacities or “sizes”

275 Gallon Totes

330 Gallon Totes

Manufacturers producing 135-gallon IBCs: While we can accept these cage totes, we regret to inform you that we do not offer compensation for them.

Depending on where you are located we are able to accommodate drums and barrels.

Shipping totes with residual product at the bottom, commonly referred to as “heel,” can lead to several consequences.

In the majority of instances, we will need to arrange the shipment back to the manufacturer from whence they originated.

No problem! As long as the cage maintains its structural integrity, we’ll arrange for a truck to pick them up.

If the previously contained product is water-miscible and non-hazardous, we’ll clean the tote and put it up for resale.

If we can’t remove the remnants of the previous contents, we’ll recycle the HDPE material.

If the cage is damaged, we’ll crush it and send it to a metal recycler for processing.

Industries involved in glue, polymer, or paint production often generate totes that are challenging for us to clean.

• Traditional waste disposal methods entail hidden costs like landfill fees, transportation expenses, and labor.
• Opting for free IBC tote pickup services bypasses these costs, potentially saving businesses significant money.
• Financial benefits include avoiding landfill fees and transportation expenses, allowing capital to be reallocated.
• Embracing sustainable waste management practices promotes a positive brand image and can enhance customer loyalty.
• Example: A manufacturing plant can redirect funds saved from waste disposal towards improving production processes.

• Transparency in processes, from scheduling pickups to recycling methods, is essential.
• Clear communication about our recycling practices ensures alignment with ethical and environmental standards.

Schutz Packaging Systems was founded in 1991, and they are the largest producers of IBC totes in the United States. They produce totes for all types of chemicals, conditions, and circumstances. Some of their most popular totes include the Ecobulk MX, the Ecobulk MX-EX Antistatic Tote, the Ecobulk MX-EX Foodcert Tote, and the Ecobulk MX-EV FDA Tote.

All of these totes are multifaceted, and can be used for a myriad of different tasks, but they are specialized for holding and transporting specific types of materials.

We will happily remove any Schutz container off your property