Grade Afrom $109
275 Gal Food-Grade Reconditioned
Triple-rinsed, food-grade prior contents only. Ideal for water, beverages, and edible oils.
- · 48 × 40 × 46 in
- · ~120 lb empty
- · Natural HDPE bottle
- · Galvanized cage
Used IBC totes
The greenest tote is one that already exists.
Our core stock: cleaned, inspected, graded used totes. Grade A for anything edible, Grade B for everything else — both far cheaper and far greener than buying new.
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Quote a used tote order
Tell us food-grade or industrial, how many, and where — we'll email pricing and availability.
Grade A vs. Grade B
Two grades. One simple rule.
Grade A (food-grade) totes only ever held FDA-approved edible contents and were triple-rinsed and sanitized — choose them for drinking water, beverages, food oils and anything ingestible. Grade B (industrial) totes are washed and perfect for non-potable jobs: rainwater harvesting, compost tea, brine, dust suppression and process water. Both ship on the standard 48 × 40 in footprint.
In stock now
Used totes ready to load
Grade Bfrom $79
275 Gal Industrial
Washed industrial totes for non-potable use: rainwater, compost tea, dust control, brine.
- · 48 × 40 × 46 in
- · ~115 lb empty
- · Washed HDPE bottle
- · Steel cage & pallet
Grade Bfrom $129
330 Gal Industrial
Larger footprint for high-volume storage and bulk liquid handling operations.
- · 48 × 40 × 53 in
- · ~155 lb empty
- · Washed HDPE bottle
- · Reinforced cage
Grade Bfrom $59
275 Gal Rinsed (Water Use)
Budget rinsed totes for non-critical, non-potable jobs: rain capture, ballast, washdown and dust control.
- · 48 × 40 × 46 in
- · ~115 lb empty
- · Rinsed HDPE bottle
- · Steel cage & pallet
Before it ships
What every used tote passes through
Sort by history
Food-grade and industrial kept strictly separate; nothing hazardous processed.
Triple-rinse wash
Hot water and food-safe detergent; food-grade units get a sanitizing pass.
Pressure & leak test
Bottles checked for cracks, stress whitening and valve seal integrity.
Grade & label
Prior contents documented and labeled on every single tote.
Curious how reconditioning actually works end to end? Walk the line in our reconditioning guide, or see the bigger picture on our sustainability page.
The deep guide
Grade A vs. Grade B, in detail
Same rugged container, two different histories. Here is exactly what each grade certifies and where it belongs.
| Attribute | Grade A — food-grade | Grade B — industrial |
|---|---|---|
| Prior contents | FDA-approved edible only | Non-food industrial product |
| Cleaning | Triple-rinse + sanitizing pass | Triple-rinse / hot wash |
| Resin standard | HDPE, 21 CFR 177.1520 | HDPE (same resin family) |
| Potable / edible use | Yes (final rinse advised) | No — non-potable only |
| Typical jobs | Water, beverages, food oils | Rainwater, brine, process water |
| Relative price | Higher of the two | Most economical |
| Footprint vs. new | Tiny fraction | Tiny fraction |
Bottom line: if your product is not edible, Grade B is the smarter, greener buy. Compare every option on the products overview.
Before you buy
A used-tote inspection checklist
Every tote we ship is already pressure-tested and graded, but it pays to know what a sound used tote looks like. Run through these five checks when any used tote arrives on your dock.
Bottle clarity & walls
Translucent HDPE with no deep gouges, bulges or heavy stress whitening at the corners.
Valve & gasket
The 2-inch butterfly or ball valve should open, close and seal clean with no weep at the gasket.
Cap & vent
A 6-inch screw cap that seats square, with the vent intact so the bottle breathes during discharge.
Cage welds
Tubular-steel cage with straight bars, sound welds and no cracked joints where stacking loads transfer.
Pallet base
Clear 4-way forklift entry, no broken feet, and a flat base that sits level under load.
Label & history
A legible grade and prior-contents label that matches what you ordered.
Put them to work
Where used totes earn their keep
Grade B — outdoors & growing
Rainwater harvesting, garden irrigation, compost tea, aquaponics reservoirs and livestock troughs.
Grade B — site & process
Dust suppression, concrete cure water, road brine, washdown supply and non-potable process water.
Grade A — edible & potable
Emergency potable water storage, food oils, syrups, brewery and cidery process water.
A / B
Both grades, clearly labeled and documented.
48 × 40 in
Standard footprint on every used tote.
2 in
Butterfly or ball discharge valve standard.
~60 kg
CO₂e avoided per reused tote vs. new.
Used-tote questions
What buyers ask about used totes
What exactly makes a used tote 'Grade A' instead of 'Grade B'?
It is the documented fill history, not the plastic. A Grade A tote only ever held FDA-approved edible contents and received a triple-rinse plus a sanitizing pass. A Grade B tote held a non-food industrial product and was washed but not food-qualified. The HDPE resin is often identical between the two — what changes is what the tote is certified safe to hold next.
Can I store drinking water in a used IBC tote?
Only in a Grade A food-grade tote, and we always recommend a final fresh-water rinse before potable use. Never use a Grade B industrial tote for anything you will drink, even after cleaning, because its prior-contents history is not food-qualified.
Will you tell me what the tote held before?
Always. Every used tote is labeled with its documented prior contents and assigned grade. If a specific history matters — say you want only sugar-syrup or only food-oil totes — tell us and we will match inventory to your requirement rather than sending a random fill history.
How much cheaper is a used tote than a new one?
Used totes are a fraction of the cost of new first-trip tanks, and they carry a tiny fraction of the embodied carbon because the energy-intensive resin and steel production already happened. Grade B is the most economical; Grade A food-grade sits a step above it. Send your quantity and grade for a written quote.
More answers in our full FAQ, or compare fresh-bottle options on the reconditioned & rebottled page.
Have empties to sell us instead?
We buy clean used totes across New England and put them right back into service.
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