Notes from the dock
85 articles, newest first. Page 1 of 5.
What to Do With IBC Totes You No Longer Need
Five options for a surplus IBC tote, from selling and reconditioning to recycling and disposal. Only one of them costs you money, and it should be the last resort.
Used vs. New Boxes: The Real Math Is Price Per Use
New box prices absorbed three rounds of 2026 containerboard increases, including a $140-per-ton hike effective September 1. Our marketplace data shows where used boxes actually list — and the price-per-use math that decides when switching pays.
What You Can and Can't Store in an IBC Tote
Diesel usually yes, gasoline never. Flash point decides what a plastic IBC may hold, and this guide covers fuels, water, food products, chemicals, and the rules behind each.
IBC Tote Valves and Fittings: Sizes, Adapters and Replacement
There is no universal IBC outlet thread, which is why so many adapters do not fit. How to identify the valve you have, pick the right adapter, and replace a worn one.
IBC Tote Stacking: Load Limits, Safety and Best Practice
IBC totes stack, but how high depends on the data plate, the cage condition, whether they are full, and how long they sit. The load limits and the safe way to stack them.
How Long Do IBC Totes Last? Lifespan by Use Case
An IBC tote's bottle, cage, and valve wear at different rates, and a five-year transport limit sits on top of all three. What shortens each clock and how to tell when a tank is done.
Bulk Bag Dimensions & Sizes: FIBC Super Sack Capacity Chart
A standard bulk bag is 35" × 35" × 40" and holds 28 cubic feet at a 2,200 lb safe working load. Full FIBC size chart with capacities, weights, pallet fit, and how to size a bag from your material density.
Types of Gaylord Boxes: Wall Count, Materials & Shapes Explained
The main types of Gaylord boxes explained - wall counts (2 to 5-wall), materials (cardboard, plastic, metal), and shapes like octagonal octabins.
How to Fold, Stack & Store Gaylord Boxes
A practical guide to handling Gaylord boxes - how to assemble and fold them flat, secure them on a pallet, stack them safely, and store used boxes.
How to Recycle Gaylord Boxes: Prep, Rules & What's Not Accepted
Learn how to recycle Gaylord boxes the right way - how to prep and bale them, what can't be recycled, and when to reuse or resell instead.
Gaylord Box Sizes & Dimensions: Standard Sizes, Weight & Capacity
How big is a Gaylord box? The most common size is 48" x 40" x 36". See standard Gaylord box dimensions, weight capacities, and how much they weigh.
: What Is a Gaylord Box? Definition, Sizes & Name Origin
A Gaylord box is a large, pallet-sized corrugated bulk container used to ship and store goods. Learn what it is, why it's called that, and how it's used
UN / DOT Markings on IBC Totes Explained
Decode the UN marking stamped on an IBC tote — the UN symbol, the IBC code (like 31HA1), packing group, gross mass, test pressure, year, and retest dates — and learn when it actually matters.
ISPM-15: Heat-Treated Pallets for Export Explained
ISPM-15 governs the wood pallets and crates used in international trade. Here's what the standard requires, how to read the IPPC mark, and when a domestic shipment is exempt.
Food-Grade Packaging: What It Means for Used Containers
Food-grade describes materials safe for direct food contact. For used totes, drums, and boxes, that status depends entirely on documented prior contents, proper reconditioning, and paperwork — never on appearance.
Wood vs. Plastic Pallets: Recycling & End-of-Life Compared
Wood and plastic pallets follow completely different recycling paths. Here is how each is repaired, reused, and recovered at end of life — and which to choose if closed-loop recyclability is your priority.
What Determines the Value of Your Surplus Packaging
Volume, condition, standard sizing, contamination, and freight decide what a buyer will pay for your surplus pallets, gaylords, totes, drums, and bulk bags — and whether reuse beats scrap.
Packaging Recycling Audit Checklist
A step-by-step audit to inventory every packaging stream leaving your dock, price its current disposition, and surface the reusable pallets and totes you're paying to throw away.
IBC Tote Reconditioning vs. Recycling: End-of-Life Decision Guide
How to decide whether a used IBC tote should be reconditioned, rebottled, or recycled — the inspection criteria for the bottle, cage, and valve, and when prior contents force the recycling path.
IBC Tote Cleaning & Inspection Checklist
Before you reuse a used IBC tote, identify the prior contents, clean it to the right level, and inspect the bottle, cage, pallet, and valve. A practical, safety-first checklist for operators.