The yard behind
the building, gone by Friday.
Plant closures, lease hand-backs, acquired sites with twenty years of accumulated containers. We bring the crew, the lift and the trucks, and we leave you with weight tickets, declarations and an empty pad.
Scope a cleanout
Rough unit count, ZIP, how they are stored, and your deadline. Photographs of the yard help enormously.
Tell us what you have.
We will tell you what it is worth.
Buying, selling, washing, hauling or recycling — one form covers all of it. Replies come from a specialist in York, PA, by email, inside one business day.
Prefer plain email? Write to info@ibctotesreco.com — include your ZIP, quantity and what the totes last held.
A one-day crew clears up to roughly 400 units where access is good. Mid-Atlantic sites schedule within a week; we hold a weekly slot for genuine deadlines. Depending on how much of the lot is reusable, a cleanout can be net positive to you — and you receive weight tickets, prior-contents declarations and a diversion certificate for whatever is recycled.
What we actually find
Cleanout lots are rarely tidy. The typical 300-unit yard breaks down into roughly a third genuinely reusable after washing, a third cage-and-pallet value with failed bottles, and a third scrap. The surprise is almost always on the good side: lots sold to us as “all scrap” routinely contain dozens of sound containers that nobody looked at, and we tell the seller when we find them rather than quietly re-grading them in our favour.
The genuine problems are different from what people expect. Standing water inside containers, which means missing lids and freeze damage. Timber pallets rotted into the ground. Cages racked out of square by years of double-stacking on soft ground. And the recurring one: a pile with four different product families mixed together and nobody left on site who knows which is which.
The declaration problem, solved honestly
We cannot wash a container whose prior contents we cannot establish — that rule does not bend for a big lot. But a cleanout rarely has clean paperwork, so we work the problem in order: a declaration from the generating site if it still exists; label photographs and UN plates where it does not; sniff bench and backlight on every unit; and conservative routing for anything uncertain. Uncertain containers go to rebottling or recycling, never into reuse on a guess.
What we will not take
- Unknown or mixed liquid still in the containers — they must be empty to drain.
- Acutely hazardous (RCRA P-listed) residues.
- Pesticide concentrates whose labels prescribe triple-rinse-and-destroy.
- Anything radiological.
- Building debris, electronics, tyres, unknown drummed liquids — we are not a general waste contractor.
Tell us what is really out there. A cleanout quote that has to be revised on site is a bad day for both of us, and in seventeen years almost every revision has come from something that was not mentioned.
Six stages, one day on site
Most of the work happens before anybody arrives.
Photographs and a rough count
Send what you can see: wide shots of the pile, a close-up of a typical unit, and one of a UN plate. We can scope 80% of a cleanout from six photographs.
Two-number quote
We quote the realistic case and the worst case, with the conditions that move between them stated explicitly. If the lot is net positive you see the payment; if it carries a charge you see that too.
Access and paperwork
Insurance certificates issued, site induction completed, permits confirmed, and the declaration sorted as far as it can be. Access width, ground conditions and gate times agreed by email.
Crew day
Crew, lift and trucks on site. Units sorted roughly as they are loaded — reusable, cage-value, scrap — so the trailers go to the right place at our end. Counted and weight-ticketed before anything leaves.
Grading at our yard
Every unit crosses the inspection bench, even on a scrap lot. You get a grade report showing what the lot actually contained, which is often the most interesting document of the whole job.
Settlement and certificates
Payment or invoice on weight-and-count confirmation, with the diversion certificate covering everything routed to recycling.
Cleanout FAQ
We have 300 mixed totes and no records. Can you still take them?
Usually yes, and it is a large part of what we do — but the declaration problem has to be solved rather than ignored. If the site that generated them still exists, we need a declaration naming the product families present, even approximately. If the site is gone, we can work from label photographs and UN plates, grading conservatively and routing anything uncertain to rebottling or recycling instead of reuse.
How fast can you clear a site?
A single-day crew clears up to roughly 400 units where access is good. Mid-Atlantic sites are typically scheduled within one week, and we keep a weekly slot for genuine same-week emergencies — lease hand-backs and audit deadlines mostly. Anywhere in the lower 48 is one to three weeks depending on lanes.
What does a cleanout cost?
It can be net positive to you. Where the lot contains a decent proportion of reusable units, the purchase value offsets the crew and freight and you receive a payment. Heavily contaminated or badly weathered lots are cost-neutral or carry a charge. We quote both numbers before mobilising, and we will not revise it on site unless we find something that was not declared.
Do you handle the ones nobody else wants?
Generally yes. Because we own a wash line, a rebottling cell and a recycling route, a lot that is worthless to a reseller is still workable for us — the bottles go to regrind, the cages go to rebottling, the pallets go to recovery. That is why we are often the fourth call and the first yes.
Are your crews insured for work on our site?
Yes — general liability, auto, cargo and workers' compensation, with additional-insured certificates issued before the crew arrives, usually within one business day of request. Crews complete your site induction and follow your PPE and permit rules.
Can you clear things other than totes?
Totes, cages, pallets, drums on pallets and loose bulk packaging, yes. We are not a general waste contractor and will not take building debris, electronics, tyres or unknown drummed liquids — say what is actually in the yard and we will tell you plainly where our line is.
Related pages
What a 300-unit yard actually contains
The grade mix is remarkably consistent. The surprise is almost always on the good side.
| Band | Share | What it becomes | Value to you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reusable after washing | ≈ 33% | Grade B or C stock | Container value |
| Cage and pallet value, failed bottle | ≈ 33% | Rebottling input | 15–25% of container value |
| Scrap | ≈ 28% | HDPE regrind + steel recovery | Material value |
| Refused at the bench | ≈ 6% | Returned or manifested | Cost line |
Solving the paperwork problem on an undeclared lot
We cannot wash a container whose prior contents we cannot establish. On a cleanout that rule does not bend, so we work the problem in order.
- A declaration from the generating site if it still exists — the cheapest and best route.
- Label photographs and UN plates where it does not. A half-torn label over a plate costs real money.
- Sniff bench and backlight on every unit, regardless of lot size.
- Conservative routing for anything uncertain — rebottling or recycling, never into reuse on a guess.
- Written grade report afterwards, telling you what the lot actually contained. Often the most interesting document of the job.
Six photographs scope eighty percent of a cleanout
Send these and the quote arrives without a site visit.
- The pile as it stands, wide, from a distance. Storage conditions predict condition better than any close-up.
- A typical unit, full height, from the valve side. Not the best one — a typical one.
- A UN plate, close enough to read every character.
- The access route: gateway, surface, turning area, and the tightest point.
- The lower corner radius of a typical unit — where bottles fail.
- The pallets, from underneath or at an angle showing the bearers.
Prior products we can and cannot accept
| Prior product | Family | SG | Programme | Best grade | Food? | Seal | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple juice concentrate (70 Bx) | Food & beverage | 1.35 | PF | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | Best inbound stock we see; sugars rinse clean |
| Orange juice concentrate | Food & beverage | 1.33 | PF | A | Yes | FDA Viton | Citrus oil fraction can scent the bottle |
| Grape juice concentrate | Food & beverage | 1.34 | PF | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | Watch for tartrate scale at the outlet |
| Liquid sugar / sucrose syrup | Food & beverage | 1.33 | PF | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | Hot rinse only, no caustic needed |
| High-fructose corn syrup | Food & beverage | 1.38 | PF | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | Viscous; 3" outlet helps decanting |
| Molasses | Food & beverage | 1.42 | PF | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | Heated rinse; heavy heel |
| Honey | Food & beverage | 1.42 | PF | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | Crystallises; heater jacket recommended |
| Maple sap | Food & beverage | 1.02 | PF | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | Benign but sugars feed biofilm fast |
| Maple syrup | Food & beverage | 1.33 | PF | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | Hot rinse; inspect lid seat |
| Apple cider | Food & beverage | 1.05 | PF | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | Vented lid essential — ferments |
| Wine / must | Food & beverage | 1.08 | PF | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | Tartrate scale; usually leased |
| Beer / wort | Food & beverage | 1.05 | PF | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | Stainless preferred for repeat service |
| Brine (pickling liquor) | Food & beverage | 1.20 | PF | A | Yes | FDA Viton | Check cage for chloride attack |
| Vinegar, 10% | Food & beverage | 1.01 | PF | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | Easy; acid-resistant seal needed |
| Soy sauce | Food & beverage | 1.20 | PF | A | Yes | FDA Viton | Salt plus colour; monitor ghosting |
| Edible soybean oil | Food & beverage | 0.92 | P2 | A | Yes | FDA Viton | 140°F minimum or fat re-deposits |
| Edible canola oil | Food & beverage | 0.91 | P2 | A | Yes | FDA Viton | As above |
| Olive oil | Food & beverage | 0.92 | P2 | A | Yes | FDA Viton | Polyphenols can tint the wall |
| Glycerine, USP | Food & beverage | 1.26 | PF | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | Often effectively first-use stock |
| Propylene glycol, food grade | Food & beverage | 1.04 | PF | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | Frequently single-product filler stock |
| Liquid egg | Food & beverage | 1.04 | PF | A | Case by case | FDA EPDM | Protein film needs verification |
| Milk / dairy intermediate | Food & beverage | 1.03 | PF | A | Case by case | FDA EPDM | Allergen changeover record required |
| Whey concentrate | Food & beverage | 1.06 | PF | A | Case by case | FDA EPDM | Protein scale; hot detergent |
| Tomato paste | Food & beverage | 1.10 | PF | A | Yes | FDA Viton | Acidic; stains but rinses |
| Fruit purée | Food & beverage | 1.12 | PF | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | Pulp load; coarse settling matters |
| Flavour concentrate / essence | Food & beverage | 0.95 | Refused | Rebottle | No | PTFE | Permeates HDPE permanently — use stainless |
| Citrus terpene oil | Food & beverage | 0.84 | Refused | Recycle | Never | PTFE | One batch ends a poly bottle's usefulness |
| Spent grain slurry | Food & beverage | 1.05 | P2 | B | No | EPDM | By-product duty; 3" outlet strongly advised |
| Yeast slurry | Food & beverage | 1.08 | P2 | B | Case by case | EPDM | Vent — active fermentation |
| UAN 32 liquid nitrogen | Agricultural | 1.32 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Rinses readily; dense — check ratings |
| UAN 28 | Agricultural | 1.28 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | As above |
| Liquid starter 10-34-0 | Agricultural | 1.38 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Polyphosphate scale at the outlet |
| Ammonium thiosulphate | Agricultural | 1.33 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Sulphur odour persists faintly |
| Potassium thiosulphate | Agricultural | 1.47 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Very dense; 275 format only |
| Calcium nitrate solution | Agricultural | 1.43 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Crystallises when cold |
| Humic / fulvic acid | Agricultural | 1.10 | P2 | B | Never | EPDM | Dark staining, usually washes out |
| Fish hydrolysate fertiliser | Agricultural | 1.12 | P3 | C | Never | Viton | Odour frequently permanent |
| Foliar micronutrient blend | Agricultural | 1.25 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Metal salts can tint the wall |
| Glyphosate concentrate | Agricultural | 1.17 | P3 | C | Never | Viton | Labelled rinse programme governs |
| 2,4-D amine concentrate | Agricultural | 1.19 | Refused | Per label | Never | Viton | Label prescribes rinse-and-destroy |
| Crop oil adjuvant | Agricultural | 0.88 | P3 | C | Never | Viton | Attacks EPDM; permeates slowly |
| Surfactant adjuvant (NIS) | Agricultural | 1.03 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Foams heavily on transfer |
| Molluscicide suspension | Agricultural | 1.22 | Refused | Per label | Never | Viton | Refused — labelled destruction |
| Livestock drinking water | Water & inert | 1.00 | P1 | A | Yes | EPDM | Effectively first-use |
| Irrigation water | Water & inert | 1.00 | P1 | A | Yes | EPDM | May carry silt; coarse settling |
| Sodium hydroxide 50% | Industrial chemistry | 1.52 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | 3,497 lb filled — check every rating |
| Sodium hydroxide 25% | Industrial chemistry | 1.27 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Easy wash; dilute and drain |
| Potassium hydroxide 45% | Industrial chemistry | 1.46 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | As NaOH; dense |
| Sulphuric acid 93% | Industrial chemistry | 1.83 | Refused | Dedicated | Never | PTFE | 4,182 lb filled; dedicated service only |
| Sulphuric acid 35% | Industrial chemistry | 1.26 | P1 | C | Never | PTFE | Fume attack on cage galvanising |
| Hydrochloric acid 31% | Industrial chemistry | 1.16 | P1 | C | Never | PTFE | Cage usually the limiting factor |
| Phosphoric acid 75% | Industrial chemistry | 1.58 | P1 | B | Never | PTFE | Dense; viscous at low temperature |
| Nitric acid 42% | Industrial chemistry | 1.26 | Refused | Dedicated | Never | PTFE | Oxidiser — embrittles HDPE |
| Hydrogen peroxide 35% | Industrial chemistry | 1.13 | P1 | B | Case by case | PTFE | Vent; absolutely no contaminants |
| Sodium hypochlorite 12% | Industrial chemistry | 1.21 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Degasses; vent and shield from UV |
| Ferric chloride 40% | Industrial chemistry | 1.42 | P2 | C | Never | Viton | Heavy orange staining is permanent |
| Aluminium sulphate | Industrial chemistry | 1.33 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Scale at the outlet boss |
| Polyaluminium chloride | Industrial chemistry | 1.35 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Gels if allowed to dry out |
| Propylene glycol coolant | Industrial chemistry | 1.04 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Ideal duty; nothing to watch |
| Ethylene glycol | Industrial chemistry | 1.11 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Toxic — never re-grade for potable |
| Calcium chloride brine 32% | Industrial chemistry | 1.38 | P1 | B | Never | Viton | Chloride attack on lower cage |
| Magnesium chloride de-icer | Industrial chemistry | 1.32 | P1 | B | Never | Viton | As above; rinse frames each spring |
| Potassium acetate de-icer | Industrial chemistry | 1.28 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Benign; airport runway chemistry |
| Urea solution (DEF) | Industrial chemistry | 1.09 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Purity-critical next fill; usually dedicated |
| Nickel plating solution | Industrial chemistry | 1.25 | Refused | Recycle | Never | Viton | Metal-bearing; never re-used |
| Chromic acid solution | Refused | 1.30 | Refused | Refused | Never | PTFE | Not accepted at the gate |
| Cyanide plating bath | Refused | 1.15 | Refused | Refused | Never | PTFE | Acutely hazardous — licensed facility only |
| Phosphate conversion coating | Industrial chemistry | 1.22 | P2 | C | Never | Viton | Scale and staining |
| Amine corrosion inhibitor | Industrial chemistry | 0.98 | P2 | B | Never | Viton | Fish-like odour can persist |
| Sodium silicate | Industrial chemistry | 1.39 | P3 | C | Never | EPDM | Sets hard if dried; wash promptly |
| Polymer flocculant emulsion | Industrial chemistry | 1.02 | P3 | C | Never | EPDM | Extremely slippery; gels with water |
| Sodium bisulphite | Industrial chemistry | 1.33 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Sulphur odour; vent |
| Antifoam silicone emulsion | Industrial chemistry | 1.00 | P3 | C | Never | Viton | Film is very hard to remove |
| Latex paint, white | Coatings & inks | 1.30 | P3 | C | Never | EPDM | Heavy ghosting; often rebottle |
| Latex paint, tinted | Coatings & inks | 1.32 | P3 | C | Never | EPDM | Pigment ghosting permanent |
| Water-based pigment dispersion | Coatings & inks | 1.25 | P3 | C | Never | EPDM | Strong colour transfer into the wall |
| Flexographic ink | Coatings & inks | 1.08 | P3 | Rebottle | Never | Viton | Resin binder plasticises the surface |
| UV-curable coating | Coatings & inks | 1.10 | Refused | Recycle | Never | PTFE | Cures in the bottle; not washable |
| Acrylic adhesive emulsion | Coatings & inks | 1.08 | P3 | Rebottle | Never | EPDM | Caustic at 180°F, often still ghosts |
| PVA wood adhesive | Coatings & inks | 1.09 | P3 | C | Never | EPDM | Wash before it skins over |
| Polyurethane resin, 2-part | Coatings & inks | 1.12 | Refused | Recycle | Never | PTFE | Cross-linked; nothing shifts it |
| Asphalt emulsion | Coatings & inks | 1.01 | P3 | C | Never | Viton | Hot caustic plus long dwell |
| Concrete release agent | Coatings & inks | 0.89 | P2 | C | Never | Viton | Oily film; 140°F detergent |
| Mineral oil, hydraulic | Oils & fuels | 0.88 | P3 | B | Never | Viton | Permeation; faint odour often remains |
| Cutting fluid, soluble | Oils & fuels | 0.92 | P3 | B | Never | Viton | Bacterial odour is the real problem |
| Gear oil | Oils & fuels | 0.90 | P3 | C | Never | Viton | Heavy film; two cycles common |
| Used motor oil | Refused | 0.89 | Refused | Recycle | Never | Viton | Waste stream — not accepted for reuse |
| Diesel fuel | Oils & fuels | 0.85 | Refused | Recycle | Never | Viton | Permanent odour; bottle compromised |
| Kerosene | Oils & fuels | 0.81 | Refused | Recycle | Never | Viton | As diesel |
| Biodiesel B100 | Oils & fuels | 0.88 | P3 | C | Never | Viton | Solvency attacks some HDPE grades |
| Vegetable-based lubricant | Oils & fuels | 0.92 | P2 | B | Never | Viton | Oxidises to a varnish if left |
| Anionic surfactant concentrate | Cleaning & sanitation | 1.05 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | It is soap — rinses, but foams |
| Non-ionic surfactant | Cleaning & sanitation | 1.03 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Easy wash |
| Alkaline degreaser | Cleaning & sanitation | 1.10 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Compatible with our own loop |
| Acid descaler | Cleaning & sanitation | 1.14 | P1 | B | Never | PTFE | Segregate heel from caustic tanks |
| Quaternary ammonium sanitiser | Cleaning & sanitation | 1.01 | P1 | B | Case by case | EPDM | Residual actives need verification |
| Peracetic acid sanitiser | Cleaning & sanitation | 1.12 | P1 | B | Case by case | PTFE | Oxidiser; vent and shield |
| Hand sanitiser (ethanol 70%) | Cleaning & sanitation | 0.87 | P1 | B | Case by case | Viton | Alcohol flashes off; little residue |
| Laundry detergent, liquid | Cleaning & sanitation | 1.06 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Optical brighteners can tint |
| Car wash soap concentrate | Cleaning & sanitation | 1.04 | P1 | B | Never | EPDM | Very common inbound stock |
| Floor finish / wax emulsion | Cleaning & sanitation | 1.02 | P3 | C | Never | EPDM | Films hard; wash before it dries |
| Potable water | Water & inert | 1.00 | P1 | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | Frequently first-use stock |
| Deionised water | Water & inert | 1.00 | P1 | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | Best-value first-use source |
| Distilled water | Water & inert | 1.00 | P1 | A | Yes | FDA EPDM | As above |
| Glycerine, technical | Water & inert | 1.26 | P1 | B | No | EPDM | Technical grade is not food grade |
| Saline solution, industrial | Water & inert | 1.07 | P1 | B | Never | Viton | Chloride; inspect cage |
| Unknown or mixed residue | Refused | — | Refused | Refused | Never | — | Safety assessment, not a grading question |
| RCRA P-listed residue | Refused | — | Refused | Refused | Never | — | Licensed treatment facility only |
| Radiological material | Refused | — | Refused | Refused | Never | — | No testing, no discussion |
| Pesticide, labelled destruction | Refused | — | Refused | Refused | Never | — | Service life ended by regulation |
Failure modes that decide the grade mix
| Mode | Cause | What it looks like | Recoverable? | Prevention | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV embrittlement | Unshaded outdoor storage | Chalky, boardy, higher-pitched tap | No | Cover or shade it | Most common |
| Stress whitening at the radius | Over-fill, freeze, uneven ground | White crackled lower corners | No | Level pad, respect max gross mass | Common |
| Plasticisation & ghosting | Pigment, resin, solvent absorption | Permanent shadow when backlit | Rebottle | Match chemistry to material | Common |
| Freeze damage | Left full and sealed | Bulged panel, split seam, blown boss | Sometimes fittings only | Drain or 2/3 fill, vented lid | Seasonal spike |
| Valve boss cracking | Unsupported pump or rigid pipe | Star crazing at the boss root | No — rebottle | Support the pump separately | Avoidable |
| Impact puncture | Forklift tine, drop, collision | Hole or deep gouge | No | Handling discipline | Rare |
| Cage racking | Soft ground, foot impact, over-fill | Diagonals differ by > 1/2" | Jig if under 1/2" | Level load-bearing pad | Common |
| Weld node cracking | Fatigue, previous field weld | Rust bloom then crack | No | Never field-weld a cage | Occasional |
| Pallet rot / delamination | Timber base outdoors | Soft bearers, split deck | Replace base | Specify steel or composite | Very common |
| Seal failure | Compression set, wrong elastomer, reuse | Weeping at the boss or lid | Yes — new seal | Replace at every product change | 71% of reports |
Grade definitions used in the report
| Grade A | Grade B | Grade C | Cage / pallet only | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottle clarity | Clear / near-clear | Haze & staining permitted | Ghosting permitted | n/a |
| Prior service | Documented edible, signed at source | Industrial, declared | Industrial, declared | Any declared |
| Wash programme | Food line, recorded | Programme to residue, recorded | Ambient rinse | Cage rinse only |
| Hydrostatic test | 100% of units | Sampled | Sampled | n/a |
| New valve & gaskets | Yes, FDA-compliant | Yes | Sound or new | n/a |
| New lid | Yes | Yes | Sound or new | n/a |
| Re-marked | Yes | Yes | Where the plate survives | No |
| Stackable when filled | 2 high | 2 high | No | n/a |
| 30-day leak warranty | Yes | Yes | No — watertight at loading | No warranty |
| Food / potable | Yes, with records | No | No | n/a |
| Cost vs new | ≈ 35–45% | ≈ 25–32% | ≈ 18–24% | ≈ 5–10% |
| Lead time | Ex-stock to 5 days | Ex-stock | Ex-stock | Ex-stock |
| Loop score (lives left) | 5–6 | 4–5 | 2–3 | 3–4 bottles |
Freight lanes and scheduling
| Destination | Distance | Transit | Mode | Equipment | Backhaul pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg / Lancaster, PA | 35 mi | Same day | Flatbed / van | Own | Frequent |
| York / Hanover, PA | 12 mi | Same day | Flatbed | Own | Daily |
| Philadelphia, PA | 95 mi | Same day | Flatbed / van | Own | Daily |
| Allentown / Reading, PA | 80 mi | Same day | Flatbed | Own | Frequent |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 200 mi | Next day | Flatbed | Own | Twice weekly |
| Baltimore, MD | 60 mi | Same day | Flatbed / van | Own | Daily |
| Washington, DC | 95 mi | Same day | Van | Own | Frequent |
| Northern NJ / NYC | 175 mi | Next day | Van | Own | Frequent |
| Wilmington, DE | 75 mi | Same day | Flatbed | Own | Weekly |
| Richmond, VA | 230 mi | Next day | Flatbed | Own | Weekly |
| Norfolk, VA | 300 mi | 1–2 days | Flatbed | Own | Occasional |
| Buffalo / Rochester, NY | 300 mi | 1–2 days | Flatbed | Own | Weekly |
| Columbus, OH | 390 mi | 1–2 days | Flatbed | Own | Common |
| Cleveland, OH | 350 mi | 1–2 days | Flatbed | Own | Occasional |
| Charlotte, NC | 450 mi | 2 days | Flatbed | Partner | Occasional |
| Atlanta, GA | 700 mi | 2–3 days | Flatbed | Partner | Rare |
| Chicago, IL | 650 mi | 2 days | Flatbed | Partner | Occasional |
| Detroit, MI | 450 mi | 2 days | Flatbed | Partner | Occasional |
| Boston / New England | 400 mi | 2 days | Van | Partner | Occasional |
| Nashville, TN | 700 mi | 2–3 days | Flatbed | Partner | Rare |
| Dallas / Houston, TX | 1,450 mi | 3–4 days | Flatbed | Partner | Rare |
| Denver, CO | 1,700 mi | 4 days | Flatbed | Partner | No |
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,200 mi | 5 days | Flatbed | Partner | No |
| California | 2,700 mi | 5–6 days | Flatbed | Partner | No |
| Pacific Northwest | 2,700 mi | 5–6 days | Flatbed | Partner | No |
Regulations behind empty-container acceptance
| Reference | Title | What it covers | Who it binds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49 CFR 172.101 | Hazardous materials table | Classification and authorised packaging reference | Shippers |
| 49 CFR 172 Subpart H | Training | Who must be trained, in what, how often, with records | Any hazmat employer |
| 49 CFR 173 | Shippers — general requirements by class | Whether an IBC is authorised for your entry | Shippers |
| 49 CFR 178 Subpart N | IBC design types, testing and marking | What the plate means and how it was earned | Makers, reconditioners |
| 49 CFR 180.352 | Periodic inspection, testing, repair & remanufacture | 2.5-year visual, 5-year leakproofness + full inspection | Owners, shippers |
| 40 CFR 261.7 | RCRA empty containers | When a container counts as empty; P-list triple rinse | Generators |
| 40 CFR 262 | Generator standards | Waste determination, manifesting, accumulation | Generators |
| 21 CFR 177.1520 | Olefin polymers | HDPE compliance for food contact | Food users |
| 21 CFR 177.2600 | Rubber articles for repeated use | Gasket and seal compliance for food contact | Food users |
| 21 CFR 110 / 117 | Good manufacturing practice | Handling, storage, sanitation programmes | Food users |
| NSF/ANSI 61 | Drinking water system components | Potable-contact material evaluation | Water utilities |
| 29 CFR 1910.1200 | Hazard communication | Workplace labelling and safety data sheets | Everyone |
| 29 CFR 1910.146 | Permit-required confined spaces | Entry into tanks and vessels | Anyone cleaning containers |
| 29 CFR 1910.178 | Powered industrial trucks | Forklift operation and certification | Yards and docks |
| ANSI/ITSDF B56.1 | Low-lift and high-lift trucks | Capacity ratings and load centres | Yards and docks |
| ANSI MH16.1 | Steel storage racking | Beam capacity, deflection, inspection | Warehouses |
| PA Title 25 Ch. 95 | Wastewater treatment requirements | Industrial discharge standards in Pennsylvania | Wash lines |
| ISPM-15 | Wood packaging in international trade | Heat treatment and marking of timber pallets | Exporters |
Documents issued on a cleanout
| Document | What it contains | When you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Written quotation | Unit price by grade, freight as its own line, validity, and the conditions that would change it | Before you order |
| Grade certificate | Assigned grade against our published definitions, per unit serial | With the order |
| Leak & pressure test record | Test pressure, hold time, outcome, per serial | With the order |
| Hydrostatic test certificate | 100% of food-line units, recorded against serial | Food-grade orders |
| Prior-contents declaration | Named last product, generating site, signature | Anything we collected |
| Wash programme record | Bay, programme, temperature, chemistry, cycle time | Reconditioned & contract work |
| Rinse verification | Final-rinse pH and conductivity | Reconditioned & contract work |
| Component specification | Valve, gasket, lid materials with compliance references | Food-grade orders |
| Photograph set | The actual units on the rack before loading | Every order |
| Weight ticket | Certified-scale gross weight and count | Collections and cleanouts |
| Diversion certificate | Unit counts, weights by stream, destination routes, dates | End-of-life batches |
| Certificate of insurance | GL, auto, cargo, workers' comp; additional insured | Before a crew arrives |
| Reconditioner marking detail | Code, date, design type | Re-marked units |
| Lease schedule | Count, grade, dates, weekly rate, return condition, replacement charge | Leases |
Five things that change a cleanout quote on site
Undisclosed liquid still in containers
They must be empty to drain. Several gallons in a bottle is a weight, disposal and classification problem arriving together.
Unmentioned acutely hazardous residues
RCRA P-listed material belongs with a licensed treatment facility. Say so in the enquiry and we will refer you rather than mobilise.
Access described optimistically
Width, surface, gradient and turning circle. “Fine for a truck” is not a measurement.
Non-container material in the pile
We take totes, cages, pallets, drums on pallets and loose bulk packaging. Not building debris, electronics, tyres or unknown drummed liquids.
Lots that sat open through winters
Missing lids mean standing water, and in Pennsylvania that means freeze damage. It moves units from the reusable third to the cage-value third.
Yards like this are where we are usually the fourth call
A reseller looks at a lot like this and sees mostly problems: no declarations, mixed families, timber bases rotted into the ground, cages racked by years of double-stacking on soft ground.
Because we own a wash line, a rebottling cell and a recycling route, the same lot decomposes into work rather than waste. The sound third gets washed and graded, the cage-value third feeds rebottling, the scrap third separates into four material streams, and you get a written grade report telling you what was actually out there.