Does what the tote held matter?
Yes. Prior contents decide whether a tote can be reconditioned, rebottled (a new inner bottle in the old cage) or only recycled, and what paperwork goes with it. Buyers commonly ask for the product name or safety data sheet of the last contents.
What is the "empty container" rule?
Under federal hazardous waste rules (40 CFR 261.7), a container that held a hazardous waste is "empty" only when everything that can be removed by normal practices (pouring, pumping, aspirating) has been removed, and either no more than one inch of residue remains or the residue is within a weight limit; for containers larger than 119 gallons, such as most IBCs, that weight limit is 0.3% of total capacity. Acutely hazardous contents have stricter rules. If your totes held anything regulated, check with your environmental lead before they are offered.
How are totes graded?
The bid form uses Repackify's condition values: used (emptied), rinsed, triple rinsed, not rinsed (residue), damaged cage or bottle, reconditioned, rebottled and new. Agree with the buyer which conditions are paid, which are taken free, and which are refused.
The clauses that matter most here
- § 1Material and specificationWhich grade you are selling, and the quality limits the buyer can hold you to.
- § 8Contamination and rejectionWhat happens when a load misses the specification: downgrade, claim or rejection.
- § 12Title and riskWhen the material stops being yours, and who carries the loss if a trailer burns.
Questions
- Do IBC totes need to be rinsed before sale?
- Buyers differ. Many pay more for rinsed or triple-rinsed totes; totes that held regulated materials must meet the federal empty-container rule before they can be handled as empty.