What makes an empty sellable
Four things: a straight cage, a bottle that is not cracked or chalky, a valve that opens and closes, and a whole base. Then a fifth, the question the buyer asks first: what did it last hold? A tote with a named, non-hazardous, documented last product sells to a same-product user easily. A tote with no history sells to nobody for reuse.
Empty also has a regulatory meaning. For a container over 119 gallons that held hazardous waste, empty means pumped out with no more than one inch, or 0.3 percent of capacity by weight, left. A tote that held acute hazardous waste needs a triple rinse. See when a tote counts as empty.
Empty is not clean
A heel is the product left in the bottom after draining. It is the quickest way to tell used from dirty, and it is the first thing the grader asks about inside the bottle.
| State | What it means | What a buyer does |
|---|---|---|
| Pumped out | Emptied by ordinary draining | Refill with the same product, or clean it |
| Rinsed | Flushed inside | Use for non-food jobs |
| Dirty | Heel or stain left | Wash it, or recycle |
Prepping empties for sale
- Close and cap the valve and the lid.
- Label the last contents on the tote if you know them.
- Keep the plate readable; do not paint over it.
- Stack empties only as the plate allows, and keep them out of the sun.
Emptying, without making a new problem
Empty is a state you have to confirm, not assume. Tilt the tote and listen. Look through the fill neck with a torch. Check under the cage for a drip line. A tote that sounds dry can still hold a pint at the bottom, and a pint of an unlabelled liquid is exactly what turns a simple clearance into a disposal.
Do not rinse a tote just to make it look empty. A rinse creates rinsate, and rinsate is a waste you now have to manage. If you do not know what the tote held, say so in your request and leave the cap on.
Labelling empties
Tag each empty tote with the date emptied and the last contents. Put the tag where it can be read from the aisle.
Keeping empties dry
A wet tote grows mould and attracts insects. Store empties upside down or with the caps off in a dry place, and cover them.
Questions people ask
Does an empty tote need to be cleaned?
Not to start. Say what it held and how it is. Some buyers want it unwashed.
Are empty totes worth anything?
The site does not state prices. The grade, the size and the count decide it, and the reply to your request is where that comes in.
Sources. Last reviewed 2026-11-11.