Uses for IBC Totes

Bulk up your property with these projects for reusing IBC totes.

By Ryan Crowell
Published on December 2, 2019
article image
by Getty Images/PhIlIP OPenshaw

You might not know what they’re called, but you’ve probably seen them being used in myriad ways around farms: Intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) are shipping containers used primarily to transport hazardous materials. They’ve found a second life as a versatile container in rural America. Several types of IBCs exist, but the most commonly used is a composite tote (also called a “caged tote”). This consists of a plastic receptacle made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) enclosed by a galvanized steel cage. Composite totes are usually equipped with a valve at the bottom of the receptacle and a fill port at the top. The most common composite IBC totes have a capacity of either 275 or 330 gallons. Since IBC totes are used on farms in many ways, there’s usually an abundance of them for sale. Keep an eye out for totes sitting unused on a neighboring property, or search online. You should be able to find a used tote in good condition for around $50, or, if you’re diligent, free of charge.

The primary concern with reusing IBC totes on a farm is ensuring the container is sterile. To decide whether a used container is safe to reuse, learn as much as you can about its initial use before buying it. Use food-grade totes for all projects where the container will be used for water, feed, or animals, and make sure the plastic is undamaged and the valve and port are functional. Totes can be cleaned with a pressure washer or by hand with dish soap. Any tote that’s not food-grade was used to transport chemicals. Use only the cage from these totes.

Uses for IBC Totes

Growing up, my family had an IBC tote we used for transporting water. When the creek was low in our pasture, we’d put the tote on the back of the four-wheeler, fill it with water from a hose, and ride out to the catch pen to fill a water tank for the cows. We were able to fill the tank from outside the fence by attaching a pipe to the valve that was long enough to rest on the panels and drain into the tank with only a few wasted drops.

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