Industrial Container and Packaging Bulk Recovery Service

At WasteCare we are proud to offer a nationwide bulk recovery, reconditioning and recycle service for industrial containers, handling everything from large volumes of contaminated IBCs to smaller containers and general packaging, for businesses generating regular or high-volume packaging waste.

All industrial containers we recover and treat are processed through our Industrial packaging division’s bespoke chemical wash plant establishing a reliable and trusted partnership for any business operating in the industrial sector.

WasteCare’s bulk recovery service for industrial containers is a bespoke service designed to handle high volumes of industrial packaging regardless of container size, material or condition. The container types we most commonly collect, treat and recondition in bulk include:

• Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs)
• IBC cut-offs
• IBC outer cages
• Plastic drums – bung & clip top
• Plastic kegs
• Steel drums – bung & clip top

Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs)

Intermediate bulk containers are large containers , often used to store or transport chemicals, oils or industrial liquids, so they frequently retain hazardous residues once emptied. If these containers are left untreated, they become increasingly hazardous through contamination to soil and water. Re-conditioning IBCs to be re-used is a cost effective solution.

IBC Cut offs

IBC cut-offs are the base sections cut from IBCs that are too damaged to recondition as a whole unit. They typically still carry chemical residue from previous contents, so they require the same decontamination process as a full IBC before the plastic can be safely processed.

IBC Outer Cages

IBC outer cages are the steel frames that support the inner plastic bottle. Steel is one of the most efficiently recyclable materials available, with no loss of quality through smelting and reforming, so recovering these cages makes both environmental and financial sense.

Plastic Drums

Plastic drums (bung & clip top) are commonly used for chemicals, solvents and oils, meaning residual contents classify them as hazardous waste once emptied. This residue needs to be properly washed and treated before the drum can either be reconditioned for reuse or broken down for plastic recovery.

Plastic Kegs

Plastic kegs often carry food or beverage-grade contents rather than industrial chemicals, but they still require thorough cleaning to meet reuse standards and avoid cross-contamination.

Steel Drums

Steel drums (bung & clip top) contain hazardous residue, are heavy, durable, and often used for similar chemical or industrial contents as plastic drums. The high scrap value makes recovery particularly worthwhile.

Our facility for treating, recovering and recycling industrial containers and packaging can handle the demand of high volume containers and packaging at scale, ensuring maximum reuse value and minimising industrial waste. For an estimated cost on your bulk industrial packaging recovery collection, visit our quote calculator.

Industrial packaging is treated and recycled at one of our two specialist facilities here in the UK.

Empty containers are received by our own in-house transportation. Companies are also welcome to use their own transportation for deliveries / collections, to and from our site in Leeds.

The empty plastic drums and IBCs are then cleaned with high pressure hot water with a mild surfactant. To maximise recovery rates during the wash process, the water is reused to the greatest extent possible to minimise wastewater generation.

Drums and IBC’s are then leak tested in accordance to UN standards to assess reuse possibility. Any plastic material that does not meet the reuse criteria will be chemically cleaned, crushed, and shredded. Any plastic is then granulated for re-extruding, and the steel smelted for reforming.

Our other specialist recycling facilities include:

• Industrial liquid waste treatment
• Portable battery recycling
• WEEE reuse and recovery
• High-temperature incineration