As-is used IBC totes
A used, as-is IBC tote was emptied by ordinary pumping or draining. The bottle, valve and cage are intact and it is not washed. Residue of the last contents is still inside, so the buyer cleans it or reuses it for the same product.
What it looks like
Expect stains, a smell and sometimes a film. The valve may show crusted product. The cage is whatever it was in service. This is the plainest grade: a tote as it came off the floor.
Open the cap and look down. The bottom should be wet but not pooled. If liquid sits above an inch, it is a dirty tote.
How a tote gets this grade
The product was pumped or drained and nothing more. No flush, no wash, no test. A heel may remain, but under the line that would make it dirty.
It is the cheapest grade to source in concept, and the one where the last contents matter most. You are buying the history.
The jobs it suits and the ones it never does
Suits
- Same-product reuse: a tote that held a cleaner can hold the same cleaner.
- A buyer who will wash it anyway.
- Parts, such as a cage, valve or cap.
Never
- Drinking water.
- A different product than the last one.
- Plants, until it is washed.
What to check before you say yes
- The label and the SDS.
- The smell.
- A heel above an inch.
- The valve.
In South Florida
In Doral and Medley, as-is totes come off docks in pallet quantities. Importers of cleaning products or food ingredients send the same product back to the same supplier, which is the cleanest as-is reuse there is.
A grower should treat as-is as raw material. Wash it, flush it and smell it before it goes near a plant.
Mistakes we see
- Buying as-is without the SDS.
- Mixing the next product with the old one.
- Using it for irrigation without a wash.
- Calling it clean.
Reading the paperwork and the plate
Compare what you were told with what you can see. A seller who calls a load as-is should be able to say what the tote last held, when it was emptied and how long it has stood. A tote that smells of citrus, solvent or sweet syrup tells its own story, and the story should match the label.
With an as-is tote, the label is the single most important thing you will read. If the label has been removed or scratched off, the grade should drop to unknown and the price of your risk goes up. Photograph the label and the plate before you move the tote, and keep the pictures with your own records.
Check how the tote was stored. A tote left outdoors with the cap off may hold rainwater, leaves and insects on top of its old residue. That mix is harder to handle than the residue alone, and you should never assume that water in the bottom of a used tote is clean.
Next to its neighbors
| Grade | Bottle | Where it usually goes |
|---|---|---|
| Triple-rinsed | Flushed three times | Irrigation, rain |
| Used, as-is | Pumped out | Same-product reuse |
| Dirty | Heel left | Washing, recycling |
Questions people ask
What documents should come with an as-is load?
A label or safety data sheet for the last contents, the count, and photos of each plate. Without the label the grade should be called unknown and treated with care.
Can as-is totes be stacked on a truck?
Only if the plate allows it and each bottle is empty, closed and undamaged. Strap the load and keep caps tight so a leaking valve cannot soak the pallet below.
Why buy as-is?
When you will wash it yourself or reuse it for the same product.
Is as-is the same as dirty?
No. As-is is pumped out with a thin residue. Dirty still holds a visible heel.
Can I use it for irrigation?
Wash it first and flush it. Know the last contents before you do.
Do you wash as-is totes?
We grade them as-is, and a washed one moves up the rail.
Is as-is legal to move?
If it held a hazardous waste, the empty-container rule matters. See the RCRA guide.
Ask for as-is totes
Tell us the last contents you can accept.