IBC Recycling
Zero Waste Is the Only Option
When an IBC tote reaches end-of-life, we don't send it to a landfill. We disassemble it into individual material streams and recycle every component — HDPE, steel, wood, and hardware.
Schedule IBC Recycling
Have IBCs that can't be reused? We'll pick them up and recycle them responsibly.
The Process
10-Step Recycling Process
Our recycling operation is methodical, documented, and designed to maximize material recovery at every stage. Here is the complete process from IBC intake to recycling certificate.
Intake & Documentation
Every IBC entering our recycling stream is logged with a unique tracking number. We record the source, previous contents (if known), visual condition, and any hazmat classifications. This documentation follows the container through every subsequent step and forms the basis of the recycling certificate issued to the customer.
Hazard Assessment
A trained technician inspects each IBC for residual hazardous materials. Containers are checked for flammable vapors, corrosive residue, reactive chemicals, and toxic contamination. IBCs that held listed hazardous substances are segregated into our hazmat handling area for specialized treatment before disassembly.
Residual Content Removal
Any remaining product is drained from the IBC. Non-hazardous residues are collected and processed through our wastewater treatment system. Hazardous residues are containerized and transferred to a licensed hazardous waste treatment facility. We never discharge untreated IBC residues into municipal sewers.
Disassembly
The IBC is methodically broken down into its four primary components. The HDPE bottle is separated from the steel cage. The cage is detached from the wood pallet. Valves, gaskets, caps, and hardware are removed and sorted by material type. This manual disassembly ensures clean material separation with no cross-contamination between streams.
HDPE Bottle Processing
Bottles are fed into an industrial shredder that reduces them to flakes approximately 10-15mm in size. The flakes pass through a float-sink wash system that removes labels, adhesive, dirt, and any remaining residue. Clean flakes are dried and then processed through an extruder-pelletizer that melts the HDPE and forms uniform pellets ready for sale to downstream manufacturers.
Steel Cage Processing
Cage frames are cut into sections using hydraulic shears. The sections are stacked, baled, and weighed for transport to metal recycling facilities. We separate any non-ferrous components (aluminum rivets, brass fittings) to maintain stream purity. Galvanized steel is processed separately from bare steel when volumes allow.
Wood Pallet Sorting
Pallets are inspected individually. Units with sound runners, deck boards, and no contamination are set aside for repair and reuse. Damaged pallets are fed through a wood chipper. The resulting chips are screened for size consistency and sorted by cleanliness — clean chips go to mulch and bedding markets, contaminated chips go to waste-to-energy.
Hardware & Small Parts Sorting
Valves, gaskets, caps, breather vents, and lid assemblies are sorted by material and condition. Functional components are cleaned and added to our replacement-parts inventory. Non-functional items are segregated by polymer type (polypropylene, HDPE, rubber, silicone) and sent to the appropriate recycling channel.
Quality Control & Weighing
Each material stream is weighed before and after processing to calculate recovery rates. A QC check verifies that streams meet the purity specifications required by our downstream partners. Any off-spec material is re-processed or reclassified. This step ensures our 97.3% material recovery rate is measured, not estimated.
Certification & Reporting
The customer receives a Recycling Certificate documenting the number of IBCs processed, the weight of each material recovered, the disposal method for any non-recoverable fraction, and the downstream destinations of recycled materials. For businesses with ESG or sustainability reporting requirements, we provide data in formats compatible with common reporting frameworks.
Material Streams
What Happens to Each Component
A standard composite IBC consists of four primary material components. We separate and process each one through dedicated recycling channels to maximize material recovery and minimize waste.
HDPE Bottle
~130 lbs per unitRecovery rate: 99.2%The high-density polyethylene inner bottle is shredded, washed, and pelletized. These pellets re-enter the plastics supply chain as post-consumer recycled resin used in drainage pipes, plastic lumber, automotive parts, and new industrial containers.
Downstream partners: Our HDPE pellets are sold to three certified downstream processors in California who manufacture corrugated drainage pipe, composite decking, and industrial-grade storage bins. Each partner holds ISO 14001 environmental management certification.
Steel Cage
~70 lbs per unitRecovery rate: 99.8%Galvanized steel tube frames are disassembled and sent to local metal recyclers. The steel is melted and reformed into rebar, structural beams, and sheet metal — infinitely recyclable with no loss of quality.
Downstream partners: Steel goes to Bay Area scrap metal processors who feed regional mini-mills. The galvanized coating is recovered during the smelting process. Steel is one of the most recycled materials on Earth, with a global recycling rate exceeding 85%.
Wood Pallet
~45 lbs per unitRecovery rate: 94.5%Pallets in good condition are repaired and reused. Damaged wood is chipped for mulch, animal bedding, or biomass fuel. Treated or contaminated wood goes to certified waste-to-energy facilities.
Downstream partners: Repairable pallets go to our pallet refurbishment partner who services the logistics industry. Wood chips are sold to landscaping suppliers and equestrian facilities. Contaminated wood is processed at a permitted waste-to-energy plant in the Central Valley.
Valves & Gaskets
~3 lbs per unitRecovery rate: 91.0%Polypropylene valves and rubber gaskets are sorted by polymer type. PP is recycled with rigid plastics. Rubber is processed into crumb rubber for playground surfacing and rubberized asphalt.
Downstream partners: Functional valves are cleaned and resold as replacement parts. Non-functional polypropylene goes to a plastics recycler specializing in post-industrial PP. Rubber gaskets are granulated and sold to crumb rubber manufacturers.
Impact
Environmental Impact Per Recycled IBC
HDPE diverted from landfill per container — enough plastic to make 1,300 feet of drainage pipe
Steel returned to the supply chain — equivalent to 35 pounds of rebar for construction
CO2 emissions avoided compared to manufacturing a new IBC from virgin materials
Water saved compared to the water consumed in new IBC production from raw materials
Hazmat Handling
Hazardous Material Procedures
A significant percentage of IBCs we receive for recycling have held regulated or hazardous substances — flammable solvents, corrosive acids, toxic chemicals, and environmentally hazardous materials. We maintain strict protocols for handling these containers safely.
- Pre-screening — all incoming IBCs are checked for hazmat placards, UN markings, and residual vapor readings before being moved into the facility.
- Segregated storage — hazmat IBCs are stored in a dedicated containment area with secondary spill containment, fire suppression, and ventilation systems.
- Neutralization — residual chemicals are drained, neutralized where applicable, and containerized for transport to licensed treatment facilities.
- Triple-rinse decontamination — after residue removal, the HDPE bottle is triple-rinsed with appropriate solvents or detergents to remove all traces of the original contents.
- Rinseate management — all wash water from hazmat decontamination is captured, tested, and treated or disposed of in accordance with EPA and state regulations.
Contamination
Contamination Handling Process
Not all contamination is hazardous. Many IBCs arrive with non-hazardous but difficult residues — dried adhesives, cured resins, thick sludges, or heavily stained bottles. Here's how we handle these challenging containers:
- Mechanical cleaning — high-pressure water jets at 3,000+ PSI remove cured and dried residues from the bottle interior. Effective for adhesives, paints, and dried food products.
- Chemical dissolution — for residues resistant to mechanical cleaning, we apply compatible solvents or caustic solutions to break down the material before rinsing.
- Stain assessment — some HDPE staining is purely cosmetic and does not affect the recycled material quality. Our lab tests determine whether stained bottles can still produce acceptable recycled resin.
- Segregation — heavily contaminated bottles that cannot be cleaned to spec are processed separately and the resulting lower-grade recycled resin is directed to less-demanding applications like landscape timbers and parking stops.
Compliance
EPA & State Regulatory Compliance
Our recycling operations comply fully with federal EPA regulations and California state environmental laws. We hold all required permits and submit to regular inspections.
- EPA RCRA Compliance — we follow Resource Conservation and Recovery Act requirements for the handling, storage, and processing of containers that held hazardous wastes.
- DTSC Oversight — as a California facility, we operate under the oversight of the Department of Toxic Substances Control for any hazardous waste processing.
- Stormwater Permit — our facility maintains a SWPPP (Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan) to prevent contaminated runoff from reaching waterways.
- Air Quality — we comply with Bay Area Air Quality Management District regulations for volatile organic compound emissions from our shredding and washing operations.
- Wastewater Discharge — all process water is treated on-site through settling, filtration, and chemical neutralization before discharge under our industrial wastewater permit.
Documentation
Recycling Certificate Details
Every customer who sends IBCs to us for recycling receives a formal Recycling Certificate. This document serves as proof of responsible disposal and supports your environmental compliance and sustainability reporting.
The certificate includes:
- Total number of IBCs recycled and their tracking numbers
- Weight of each material stream recovered (HDPE, steel, wood, hardware)
- Overall material recovery rate achieved
- Downstream destination of each recycled material
- Disposal method for any non-recoverable fraction
- Estimated CO2 savings compared to landfill disposal
- Date of processing and facility identification
Certificates are issued within 5 business days of processing completion and delivered electronically. Hard copies are available upon request.
Impact
By the Numbers
Commitment
Our Zero-Waste Target
Our current material recovery rate stands at 97.3%, meaning less than 3% of the total weight of processed IBCs ends up as non-recoverable waste. That residual fraction consists primarily of heavily contaminated labels, adhesive residue, and worn rubber seals.
We are actively investing in advanced sorting and chemical recycling partnerships to push recovery to 99% by the end of next year. Every percentage point matters — it represents thousands of pounds of material staying in the circular economy instead of entering a landfill.
San Francisco's ambitious zero-waste ordinance aligns perfectly with our mission. We proudly exceed the city's diversion requirements and participate in local sustainability reporting programs.
For businesses with corporate sustainability goals, our recycling program provides documented, measurable waste diversion that supports ESG reporting, B-Corp certification, and green supply chain initiatives.
Have IBCs to sell or recycle? →Recycle Responsibly
Don't send IBCs to the landfill. Whether you have 5 or 500, we'll ensure every material component is recovered and returned to productive use.