Which damage matters
In the request form these all come in as "damaged". The reason, which the grader records, is what tells the reply which way to go.
| Damage | What is still good | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Cracked or punctured bottle | Cage, base, valve | Rebottling if the cage is straight |
| Chalky, sun-cooked bottle | Cage, base | Rebottling; the bottle is retired |
| Bent cage bars | Bottle, valve | Parts, or a replacement cage |
| Cracked welds | Bottle | Parts; the cage cannot carry a stack |
| Broken base | Cage, bottle | Replace the base, or parts |
| Broken or missing valve | Everything else | Valve swap; often still sellable |
Can I sell a tote with a broken valve or a bent cage?
A broken valve is a part swap, so the tote can still be worth reusing: a replacement valve is a small cost against a sound bottle and cage. A bent cage is a bigger problem. A cage that is bent or has cracked welds can no longer carry a stacked load, and reuse waits until it is straightened or replaced. Say which it is.
Photos of the damage help after you send the request. A shot of the plate, the bottom valve, the weld that cracked and the bottle wall tells the reader more than a paragraph.
What not to do with a damaged tote
- Do not try to move a tote with a cracked bottle that still holds product.
- Do not weld a bent cage; heat can wreck the galvanizing and the bottle.
- Do not stack a damaged tote under another.
- Do not assume damaged means worthless. Parts and steel have uses.
Sorting a damaged pile
A damaged pile is rarely uniformly bad. Lay the totes out and sort them into three groups: those with a straight cage and a bad bottle, those with a good bottle and a bent cage, and those with neither worth saving. The first group is a rebottling candidate, the second may be sold for its bottle, and the third goes to recycling.
Photograph each group and count them. A request that says twelve rebottling candidates, four bottle-only and nine scrap is far easier to answer than one that says a pile of damaged totes. The grader sorts the same way and produces the list.
Photographs that help
Take one photograph of each damaged area, a wide shot of the tote and a close-up of the plate if legible.
Keeping damaged totes upright
Store a damaged tote upright and capped, away from forklift routes, until it is moved.
Questions people ask
What if the damage is just a dripping valve?
That is a fix, not a grade. The grader notes it, and the tote may stay in the used or rinsed grade.
Can I send a cage with no bottle?
Yes. A cage with no bottle is what a rebottler starts from. Say so in the request.
Sources. Last reviewed 2026-11-11.