IBC Containers and Tanks
IBC Container
An IBC tank or container is a common option for businesses to store high volumes of either hazardous or non-hazardous liquids and other similar materials. Often referred to as an IPV or an IVC, these containers cannot be used to store and transport solid hazardous and non-hazardous waste for disposal. However, some may accommodate sludge, slurry, and types of chemical waste.
As a business, it’s your responsibility to ensure appropriate storage of any commercial waste you produce to protect human health and the environment. This is especially important when dealing with hazardous waste, as you also need to comply with the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005. Using an IBC container can help ensure compliance and safe storage.
Even if you just have non-hazardous liquid to get rid of, IBC tanks provide a large, convenient, and secure option. At Business Waste, we can help arrange delivery and collection of these liquid containers to your business anywhere in the UK. Learn more about their uses and get a free quote for your commercial waste removal today.
One-off, daily, weekly, fortnightly, or ad hoc collection
600, 800, and 1,000 litres
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Hazardous Waste
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Liquid Waste
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Oil Waste
What does IBC
stand for?
IBC stands for intermediate bulk container. These are large, reusable, and cube-shaped containers. They were designed to store and transport high volumes of liquids, including chemicals, solvents, and food ingredients. An IBC container is normally attached to a steel or plastic pallet to keep it stable and make it stackable.
Due to their cubic shape, they can easily store more waste in the same area compared to cylindrical containers, such as waste drums and barrels. For this reason, they’re commonly used by businesses that generate lots of waste liquids, either hazardous or non-hazardous, regularly.
IBC container sizes
IBC containers are designed to store and transport bulk waste. They’re some of the largest storage options for liquid and other non-solid waste. Each one is cubic in shape, which enables greater storage in the same space than cylindrical containers such as large drums. However, IBC container dimensions do vary with a choice of sizes to suit your needs.
Find an IBC container size that meets your commercial waste needs from one of the following common options:
- 600-litre IBC container: these compact IBC tanks are ideal for slotting into small spaces on your premises for storage before collection.
- 800-litre IBC container: a medium-sized IBC container; many can be stacked if needed where space is tight, while still storing large amounts of waste.
- 1,000-litre IBC container: one of the largest IBC tanks, best for businesses producing regularly high volumes of liquid waste.
If your business produces a lower volume of liquid waste or requires more regular collection of smaller amounts, then consider using waste drums.
Why do I need an
IBC tank or container?
Any business that produces a high volume of liquid waste, or smaller amounts but on a regular basis, could benefit from using an IBC container or tank for storage and disposal. They offer a convenient, reliable, and safe way to store liquid, chemical, oil waste and more on your premises and remain compliant with relevant environmental guidelines.
As a business, it’s your responsibility to ensure storage, collection, and disposal of commercial waste you produce is done safely, legally, and in an environmentally friendly manner. IBC containers help as they’re durable, which reduces the chance of leaks to protect human and environmental health, and can be reused to benefit the planet.
Compared to cylindrical containers such as waste barrels and drums, they have a larger capacity and take up less space. They’re an effective storage solution as IBC tanks are stackable and easy to load onto pallets for added security.
Due to their large capacity, they can also be more cost-effective for your business, compared to using lots of smaller containers. You’re able to arrange collection of waste on a less frequent basis, reducing how much you pay for waste disposal and cutting the amount of fuel used and journeys made to transport it.
What can you
put in IBC tanks?
You can use an IBC tank to separately store both hazardous and non-hazardous waste types. They can only be used to keep liquid and viscous materials including sludge and slurry – not solid waste. Check the capacity, any weight limits, and whether the specific IBC tank you have can store hazardous materials first.
Generally, IBC tanks can hold:
- Liquid waste
- Hazardous waste (non-solid)
- Oil waste
- Chemical waste
- Liquid, granulated, and powdered food ingredients
- Sands and grains
Arrange delivery and
collection of IBC containers
Get IBC units delivered directly to your business anywhere in the UK for free, simply pay for collection. We can help you arrange IBC tank hire for your organisation.
It’s possible to schedule delivery of one or more IBC tanks, depending on the amount of waste you produce and whether it’s for the same or different types of waste. Fill each container with one waste type and within the capacity limits, then store in a safe and secure place. Ensure you have room for each IBC unit on your premises.
One of our licensed waste carriers will collect your full IBC units from an agreed pickup point and transport them to a nearby, relevant facility for safe, legal, and environmentally friendly disposal, depending on the waste type.
Get a free quote for IBC tank hire today. Complete the form below, contact us online or phone 0800 211 8390. One of our expert team can answer any questions you may have about using IBC containers and talk you through your quote.
Empty and used IBC collection
We can arrange the collection of empty and used IBCs from commercial and industrial sites. This includes containers that previously held oils, chemicals, food ingredients, cleaning products, liquid waste, or other materials.
Before collection, we’ll need to know what the IBC held, whether any residue remains, and the condition of the container. This helps confirm the safest route.
Depending on the IBC, it may be:
- Reused if it is in good condition and suitable for further use
- Cleaned or reconditioned through an approved specialist route
- Recycled by separating the plastic bottle, metal cage, pallet, and fittings
- Disposed of as hazardous waste if contaminated residues remain
Do not rinse out or reuse an empty IBC without checking the previous contents. Labels should remain in place, valves should be closed, and any damage, leaks, or remaining residue must be reported before collection.
Get a fast and free quote
Get a fast FREE quote for your liquid waste
- Free quote within 1 hour
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- We cover all of the UK
Find the right bin for
your business waste
- All waste types
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Cardboard Waste
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Clinical Waste
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Confidential Waste
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Dry Mixed Recycling (DMR)
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Food Waste
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Garden Waste
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General Waste
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Glass Waste
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Hazardous Waste
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Industrial Waste
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Liquid Waste
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Oil Waste
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Paper Waste
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Plastic Waste
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Sanitary Waste
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WEEE Waste
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1100 litre wheelie bins
The 1100 litre bin is the largest wheelie bin available to store up to 18 bags of waste.
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240 litre wheelie bins
The standard size wheelie bin you have at home that holds three to four bags of waste.
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360 litre wheelie bins
This is the largest two-wheel bin available to store five or six waste bags.
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660 litre wheelie bins
A four-wheel bin suitable for larger volumes of general waste and dry mixed recycling.
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Anatomical waste bags
Red clinical waste bags for organs, body parts, materials contaminated with bodily fluids.
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Balers
Static balers compress recyclable waste into solid bales to save space.
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Battery Bins
A battery bin helps improve recycling rates of used batteries and is a legal requirement for many businesses that sell or supply them.
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Cardboard Balers
If you produce large amounts of cardboard waste then consider a baler
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Clinical infectious waste bags
Orange clinical waste bags are for materials contaminated with infectious waste.
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Clinical waste bags
Clinical waste bags to store medical waste safely before collection and disposal.
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Clinical Waste Bins
Clinical waste bins are suitable containers to store all sorts of medical waste safely.
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Commercial Bin Sizes
Read our helpful guide to commercial bin sizes, dimensions, and measurements
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Commercial waste bags
Commercial waste bags are ideal for various waste types when you can’t use a bin.
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Compactors
Choose from mobile and static compactors for general waste or recyclable rubbish.
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Confidential Waste Bags and Bins
Confidential waste bags provide a secure and flexible way to store sensitive documents before disposal.
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Cytotoxic and cytostatic waste bags
Purple waste bags for waste contaminated with cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines.
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Dental (amalgam) waste bins
White clinical waste bins for dental waste including unwanted and excess amalgam.
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Front end loaders
Large static containers ideal for businesses generating high volumes of waste.
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Highly infectious clinical waste bags
Yellow clinical waste bags for waste contaminated with infectious bodily fluids.
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IBC containers
Store high volumes of liquid waste including chemicals, solvents, and hazardous waste.
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Industrial Waste Bins
Store industrial waste safely on your site before collection and disposal with secure bins and containers.
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Large Commercial Waste Bins
A large bin offers a cost-effective way to store and dispose of commercial waste.
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Metal Balers
Using a metal baler in your business condenses the volume of waste, saving space for efficient storage before it’s sent for recycling
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Non-infectious clinical waste bags
Yellow and black waste bags for non-infectious and non-hazardous waste.
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Office Bins
Different types of general waste and recycling bins for offices in various sizes.
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Paper Balers
Compact paper waste into bales to save space and make regular paper recycling collections easier.
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Plastic Balers
Compact plastic film, packaging, and other suitable plastics into bales for easier storage and recycling collections.
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Rear end loaders
A big commercial waste skip in sizes that can hold up to 160 bags of waste.
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Roll on roll offs
One of the largest containers for business waste that can store up to 440 bags of waste.
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Sanitary Waste Bins
Safely store feminine hygiene products and other sanitary waste with various bin sizes.
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Sharps bins
Use sharps bins with different coloured lids for needles, syringes, scalpels, and knives.
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Skip Hire
Hire a skip for small-scale commercial waste clearance, between 2-12 yard sizes available.
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Skip sizes
Sizes vary from 2 to 12-yard skips that can easily store various waste types and amounts.
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Small wheelie bins
Small two-wheel bins for businesses producing low volumes of waste or with limited space.
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Waste drums
Drums and barrels are ideal to safely store liquid, oil, and hazardous waste for collection.
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Wheelie Bins
Explore a range of two and four-wheel bins for many waste types.
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Wood Bins
A wood bin or skip helps your business segregate and store any type and amount of scrap wood safely.
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Published 16th June 2022 by Mitch Thorne. Last modified 21st July 2026