Used vs new: the honest math
Used totes are cheaper. That is not the interesting part. The interesting part is cost per fill over the container's remaining life — where the ranking sometimes flips.
- Sheet
- 71
- Revision
- 2026-10
- Scale
- 1:1
- Drawn at
- Peoria IL
| Option | Price index | Remaining life | Cost per fill (20 fills/yr) | Embodied CO₂e |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade C used | 18 | 1–2 years | Lowest, if it survives | ≈ 0 lb (already made) |
| Grade B used | 32 | 3–5 years | Usually the winner | ≈ 0 lb |
| Grade A used | 48 | 4–6 years | Close second | ≈ 0 lb |
| Rebottled | 52 | 4–6 years | Comparable to Grade A | ≈ 50 lb |
| New / one-trip | 100 | 5–8 years | Highest, but predictable | ≈ 262 lb |
When new genuinely wins
- Direct food contact where your HACCP plan requires virgin material.
- Hydrogen peroxide and other oxidisers that need a passivated, never-used bottle.
- Any application where a failure costs more than the entire container fleet.
- Export loads where the destination requires a fresh test date on arrival.
When used wins by a mile
- Ag nutrient, water, glycol, soaps, de-icing brine — the vast middle of liquid handling.
- Anything that will be cut, drilled or modified. Never modify a new tote; you are destroying the premium you paid for.
- Seasonal capacity you will not use nine months a year.
- Upcycle and build projects where the container is raw material.
“The most expensive tote in any fleet is the one bought new and then cut in half with a jigsaw.”
— Fab bay, every spring
The carbon column deserves its own paragraph
A new composite IBC carries roughly 262 lb of CO₂e in its manufacture — resin production, steel tube, galvanising, moulding and freight. Buying a used tote carries essentially none of that, because the emissions already happened and the container already exists. Rebottling sits in the middle at about 50 lb, since you are replacing only the polyethylene. Across a 500-tote fleet decision, that is the difference between 131,000 lb of CO₂e and almost zero — which is a bigger number than most corporate sustainability initiatives move in a year.
Run it on your own numbers
The impact calculator takes your quantity and grade mix and gives you landfill, water, energy and CO₂e figures you can put in a report.
Five years, four options, one spreadsheet
| Line, per container over 5 years | Grade B used | Grade A used | Rebottled | New |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase | $45 | $66 | $72 | $138 |
| Expected replacements in 5 years | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0 |
| Replacement cost | $18 | $13 | $14 | $0 |
| Parts and gaskets | $22 | $18 | $12 | $14 |
| Washing, 4 cycles/yr | $160 | $160 | $160 | $160 |
| Freight, amortised | $14 | $14 | $14 | $14 |
| Five-year total | $259 | $271 | $272 | $326 |
| Cost per fill (20 fills/yr) | $2.59 | $2.71 | $2.72 | $3.26 |
| Embodied CO₂e | ≈ 0 lb | ≈ 0 lb | ≈ 50 lb | ≈ 262 lb |
- Washing is the largest line in every column. If you are optimising total cost, optimise cycles and dedication before you optimise purchase price.
- Grade B wins on cost per fill in most scenarios, and loses the moment documentation or food contact enters the specification.
- New only wins when a failure would cost more than the fleet, or when a standard on your side requires it.
- Never put new containers into a job that involves cutting them. That is a premium paid and then destroyed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a used IBC tote cheaper than a new one?
Yes. Against a new tote at index 100, the guide puts Grade B used at 32, Grade A used at 48 and rebottled at 52. Its five-year example shows Grade B at $259 against $326 for new, though prices vary.
When should I buy a new tote instead of used?
The guide lists direct food contact where your HACCP plan requires virgin material, oxidisers like hydrogen peroxide, applications where a failure costs more than the fleet, and export loads needing a fresh test date.
Which grade gives the lowest cost per fill?
In the guide's example, Grade B usually wins at $2.59 per fill at 20 fills a year. It loses that lead once documentation or food contact is part of the specification, and Grade C only wins if it survives.
Why does washing matter in the cost comparison?
Washing is the largest line in every column of the five-year table, at $160 for four cycles a year. The guide says to optimise cycles and dedication before purchase price if you want to cut total cost.
How much carbon does a used tote save?
A new composite IBC carries roughly 262 lb of CO2e from manufacture. A used one carries essentially none, and a rebottled one about 50 lb. The impact calculator on the site can run your own quantities.
Next in the loop
Published 2026-02-26. 9 min read. Written by the crew that does the work, not a content agency.