IBC Recycling

An all-inclusive Service

Sabine Mühlenkamp, Karlsruhe

In many sectors IBCs have long since established themselves as an universally acceptable packing method. As well as their robustness, their re-usability is also valued by delivery firms and customers.

Not without reason, because the system has, in the meanwhile, been perfected for reconditioning including collection.

It has any number of plus points: IBCs (Intermediate Bulk Containers) have for nearly 30 years closed the gap between the barrel and the tank. Their advantages can be summed up quickly: they can hold dry and liquid goods, but do not shy away from dangerous goods, and are also suited for foodstuffs. They are stacked on pallets and a wire-net framework protects freight from knocks. Different methods exist for earthing static electricity – so the IBC can be used in explosion protected zones. Depending on how they have been built, IBCs can also be stacked.

Customer-friendly: the particular advantage of the IBC however is its re-usability. Unlike conventional stainless steel containers, which need to be cleaned out after every use, the inner polythene lining of an IBC is simply replaced. Reconditioning within the IBC system has in the meantime also been further perfected. Nearly all the manufacturers now offer collection and reconditioning. As far as the users are concerned, this is a relatively easy affair – all they have to do is send a fax. Emptied IBCs are collected within 30 days. The manufacturer first cleans out the PE inner container and restores the external parts and pallets to their original state. After that, the connections and screw-caps are replaced with new parts. All that remains is the logo label. Of decisive importance apart from that is the IBC's new dangerous goods permit so that it can go back on the road without problem. This procedure however only applies to the firm's own containers – the products of other manufacturers are not accepted for reconditioning.

Well prepared: the customer cannot, however, expect manufacturers to dispose unwanted residues at the same time as reconditioning takes place. Because of this the IBC must be completely empty when collected. In addition surface notice labels and content stickers as well as dangerous goods notifications have to be legible. Where this is the case, then uncleaned, empty packages are to be given the same inscriptions (UN number and dangerous goods description) and danger label as filled packages. It goes without saying that accompanying transport documentation also has to be according to the regulations.

Throughout Germany or worldwide: differences in reconditioning services depend mainly on how international the service is. Fass-Braun for example offers a collection guarantee package that covers collection from customers throughout Germany along with correct and expert waste disposal and reconditioning of IBCs. Where international business is involved however, more than one site is required, since otherwise the transport costs would soon make the system economically unviable. For this reason the firm of Schütz in Selters maintains sites in 30 countries where used IBCs are reconditioned. The French company Sotralentz is also active internationally while the firm of Roth in Rilchingen-Hanweiler has, as a first step, expanded its network throughout Europe.
www.schuetz.de
www.sotralentz.com
www.ibc.roth-industries.de

Cheap and law-abiding: in principle all those who offer this service do so at no cost, with one exception. If the IBC is to be completely withdrawn from operation then the customer must pay the cost of that. There are a lot of advantages to doing things in this way. The manufacturers fulfil their obligation to collect IBCs and the customers do not have to concern themselves with the problem of waste disposal. At the same time the environment remains intact and the lawmakers are also happy that the rules and regulations concerning recycling and packaging have been adhered to. The system has definitely caught on. Officials at Schütz estimate that about 25 percent of all IBCs are now reconditioned and that the percentage is rising. For years the company has boasted annual increases in customers utilising its services. However the customer is not always convinced that re-use, which of course demands its price, is in fact the best option. Last year the Mauser Group, and its competitors, brought a new, cheap, non-returnable IBC variation onto the market.
www.mauser-werke.de

(Der Gefahrgut-BEAUFTRAGTE 03/2003, originally published in German)

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