Used IBC uses: what can you use a used IBC for?

A used 1000 litre container has a plastic inner tank, a steel cage, a pallet base, a valve and a cap. Check them all. A good cage does not mean a good tank, and a good tank does not mean a good valve.

Look at each unit, not just one from the batch. Check the base, valve, cap and any surfaces you can see.

Our used units may have minor residue and have had old labels removed.

Common IBC tank uses include rainwater storage, irrigation and site water for non-hazardous jobs. These are examples, not a promise that any used container suits them.

Write down what it will hold, where it will stand and how it will be filled and emptied. Think about who could come into contact with the contents.

If the job falls outside the limits, buy a container made for that job. Do not rely on an old label or how the tank looks.

Crex's used IBCs are not for food or drinking water. A clean inside, no smell, or a rinse does not change that.

Uses involving animals or food crops need their own careful decision. The same goes for storing water that will be treated later. The buyer is responsible for checking the use against the container.

Our used IBCs are not for chemicals or dangerous goods. Looking industrial does not make a container right for storing or moving regulated material. Use equipment made for the job.

Never mix unknown residues or add another substance to see what happens. Get proper advice and use a purpose-made container.

Containers with unknown contents must be checked before any collection is agreed.

Look over the cage, base, tank, valve and cap. Ask about any missing parts or damage before collection or delivery.

Plan how you will move it and where it will stand. A full IBC weighs about a tonne, so it needs a solid, level base made for the weight. Do not improvise a raised platform.

Make sure the valve is easy to reach and the tank can be inspected. This guide does not cover modifications.

The buyer must clean the container, but cleaning alone does not decide what it can be used for. Use a method that suits what it held before. Never wash unknown residue into a drain.

Do not pick a cleaning chemical from a random online tip. If you do not know what it held, find out before you use it.

At a workplace, label the container with its approved use so nobody reuses it for something else.

Before you order, check that a used, as-is container suits your job. If not, a supplier of new containers is a better choice.

Pickup from Braeside is by arrangement, and delivery is priced by suburb. The used IBC product page has current details and how to enquire.

For containers already on your site, ask the original supplier whether they take them back. Do not assume your council takes industrial IBCs.