Sell used steel drums from your business

Used steel drums go back into service through drum reconditioners, so what matters is whether a drum can be reconditioned: empty, not crushed at the chime, not rusted through, and with a known previous content. Tight-head drums have bungs in a fixed lid; open-head drums need their lids and closing rings to be complete.

Add steel drums to a lot Run the value check

What resells

Empty drums with known, non-hazardous previous contents
Open-head drums with matching lids, gaskets and rings
Tight-head drums with bungs in place
Drums without holes, deep dents or crushed chimes

What lowers the value

Surface rust and paint wear (fine for reconditioning; lower for direct reuse)
Mixed sizes and open- and tight-head drums in one lot (quote groups them)

What we can’t take

Drums that are not empty under the federal empty-container rule
Drums that held materials listed as acutely hazardous, unless triple rinsed and documented
Rusted-through or leaking drums (these go to scrap metal)

How do you prepare a lot of steel drums?

Empty each drum with normal methods: pour, pump, drain.
Close bungs, or put lids and rings back on open-head drums.
Group by previous contents and keep any labels on.

Which questions decide the grade?

The value check asks these for steel drums:

Are the drums empty?
What did they hold?
What is the body condition?

Answer them for your steel drums to see whether the line is likely resale, possible, or disposal.

How much truck space do steel drums take?

For planning, the truckload calculator counts about 8 units per 48 x 40 floor position: four per pallet, two tiers high. A 53 ft dry van holds about 26 positions loaded straight. Change the figure in the calculator to match how yours are packed.

What size should you write on the lot?

A short description is enough, for example 55 gal open-head. If you have several sizes, use one line per size.

Questions about selling steel drums

What counts as an "empty" drum?

Under 40 CFR 261.7, a container is empty when everything that can be removed by normal means (pouring, pumping, aspirating) is out and no more than 1 inch of residue remains, or no more than 3 percent by weight for containers of 119 gallons or less. Acutely hazardous residues need triple rinsing.

Is there a minimum for steel drums?

Yes, commercial quantities. The minimum depends on the lot and the pickup location, and the quote states it. Mixing steel drums with other lines in one lot is the easiest way past it.