How the buying program works

1. Email us a rough count and, ideally, a photo of the totes stacked on pallets.
2. We quote per unit based on condition, previous contents, and quantity.
3. If you accept, we schedule a pickup (drop-trailer for 10+, box truck for smaller loads).
4. Our driver shows up with a check cut to the quoted number, verifies the load, and hauls it out.
5. You get your dock back. We get the totes.

What we pay for

• Standard caged HDPE totes (275 and 330 gallon)
• Food-grade totes with documented previous contents
• Caged steel totes (varies by prior chemistry)
• Stainless totes (premium pricing, ask)
• Accessories and valves in bulk — even orphaned parts

What we'll haul but won't pay for

• Totes with undisposable residuals still inside (we can point you to a cleaner)
• Cages that are bent beyond straightening AND have unusable bottles
• Any tote labeled with RCRA hazardous-waste markings — different paperwork, different program

Typical buy rates

Published rates below are a starting point. Actual rates depend on quantity, condition, and how much of your load we can send directly to reconditioning versus recycling.

• A-grade reusable (275 gal): $35 – $60 per tote
• B-grade reusable: $15 – $30 per tote
• As-is / recycle stream: $4 – $10 per tote
• Food-grade (documented): $55 – $90 per tote
• Caged steel: $80 – $240 per tote (chemistry-dependent)
• Stainless 304/316L: $250 – $2,000+ per tote (condition & features)

Detailed grading criteria (what determines your price)

When we quote your load, we're mentally sorting each tote into one of five categories. Here is exactly what we look for — and what moves the price up or down:

Photo requirements for remote quotes

If you're emailing us for a quote (rather than having us visit the site), here's what makes the quoting process fastest:

1. Overview shot: A photo showing the full lot of totes — how they're staged, whether they're palletized, and the approximate count.
2. Close-up of a representative tote: One photo showing the bottle condition (clear, stained, yellowed?) and the cage condition.
3. Valve area: A close-up of the bottom valve — is it intact? Leaking? Missing?
4. Any labels: A photo of the UN/DOT label (if present) and any product labels or stickers that indicate previous contents.
5. Problem areas: If you know some totes are damaged, photograph the damage — bent cages, cracked bottles, forklift holes.
6. Location context: A shot showing how we'd access the totes — loading dock, ground-level, fenced lot? This helps us plan the pickup vehicle.

Four to six photos typically give us enough to quote within a couple of hours. Detailed photos of problem totes help us price the mixed-condition loads more accurately — and usually result in a higher overall quote because we can separate the reusable totes from the recycle-stream ones.

Seasonal pricing trends

IBC tote supply and demand fluctuate seasonally. Here's what that means for sellers:

• Spring (March–May): Highest demand for used totes. Farmers, landscapers, and construction sites all ramp up. Our buy rates are typically at their peak because we can turn inventory fast. Best time to sell.
• Summer (June–August): Demand stays strong but supply increases as food processors and beverage makers empty seasonal inventory. Prices stabilize or dip slightly on standard grades. Food-grade premiums hold steady.
• Fall (September–November): Supply peaks as year-end cleanouts begin. Prices soften on B-grade and recycle-stream totes. A-grade and food-grade hold value. Good time to sell if you have clean, documented totes.
• Winter (December–February): Demand drops for outdoor and agricultural use. Supply drops too (fewer cleanouts). Prices are generally flat. Stainless and specialty totes are season-independent.

Fleet program: sell and buy on a schedule

Our fleet program is designed for companies that both generate and consume IBC totes:

• Scheduled pickups: We visit your site on a fixed cadence (weekly, biweekly, or monthly) to collect empties. No need to accumulate a huge lot.
• Standing buy rate: We lock a per-tote buy rate for the quarter based on your typical tote condition. No re-quoting every load.
• Offset purchasing: If you also buy reconditioned or rebottled totes from us, we net the buy/sell transactions. You get one invoice (or one check) per month.
• Logistics integration: Every pickup of empties is paired with a delivery of reconditioned totes when possible. You save on freight and we save on diesel.
• ESG documentation: Fleet customers receive a quarterly sustainability report showing total totes diverted, CO₂e avoided, and material recirculated — ready for your ESG filing.