Login +49 (0) 7062 95700
Home | Shredding IBC containers | Shredder for IBC recycling

Shredding IBC containers | Shredder for IBC recycling

Information on shredding, processing and disposing of intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), plastic canisters and blue plastic drums

Wherever liquid and free-flowing substances need to be transported and stored, you will find them: IBCs, plastic drums and canisters. This is because they are extremely flexible in use and are standard equipment in any business that deals with logistics, transportation and storage. IBCs were originally designed as disposable packaging, but it soon became clear that this packaging is ideally suited as reusable transport packaging as well as for reprocessing. On this page, we show you how the professional disposal of used IBCs and production waste works in terms of the circular economy.

Customer applications: IBC container and plastic drum shredding with WEIMA

Practical examples of successful shredding with WEIMA shredders.
A man and a woman wearing yellow high-visibility vests stand in front of a blue and white shredder that shreds IBCs.
IBC shredding
Efficient IBC shredding and recycling at Dansk Emballage in Denmark
Our customer Dansk Emballage in Denmark uses a WEIMA W5.18 single-shaft shredder for shredding IBC containers.
Visit YouTube
IBC shredding
Shredding of IBCs and plastic drums
A WEIMA W5.18 shredder shreds IBCs and blue plastic drums.
Visit YouTube
IBC shredding
Shredding of IBCs and metal drums
A WEIMA WLK 25 J shreds blue metal drums and IBC containers.
Visit YouTube
0 / 0
WEIMA CSO Kay trained in front of a glazed office
Want to tackle your waste problem?

Request a customized shredding solution now.

Request an individual offer

WEIMA portfolio for shredding IBC container tanks, plastic drums and canisters

The right machine for any material
WEIMA WLK 1500 yksiakselinen murskain
Single-shaft shredder
WLK series
Machines in the WLK series are ideally equipped for a wide range of plastics tasks. The machine design is characterized in particular by its durability and robustness. Thanks to the conveyor belt cut-out, all machines can be seamlessly integrated into any production line. They also offer a wide range of options in terms of drive and cutting geometry.
To the machine
Single-shaft shredder
W5 series
With rotor lengths of 1,400 to 2,200 mm, the shredders in the W5 series shred large-volume plastic tanks and plastic garbage cans with ease. The hydraulically upward pivoting screen basket and the inspection flap allow foreign objects to be removed quickly and facilitate maintenance. Large quantities of plastic flakes can be transported via the wide conveyor belt cut-out.
To the machine
Single-shaft shredder
PowerLine series
The machines in the PowerLine series can be used universally. Variable equipment and sizes enable precise adaptation to your specific requirements. The counter knives are user-friendly and can be adjusted from the outside and are protected by an additional cover plate.
To the machine
Four-shaft shredder
ZM series
Voluminous plastic parts, such as IBCs and canisters, are particularly suitable for shredding with four-shaft shredders from the ZM series. The plastic containers are shredded between the two cutting discs and pressed through the cutting gaps between the cutting discs by the two clearing discs. The screen placed underneath defines the grain size of the shredded material.
To the machine
0 / 0

Efficient wear protection for shredding of contaminated IBCs

When recycling IBCs that have been in contact with aggressive chemicals such as alkalis or acids, protecting the shredding technology is crucial. WEIMA offers particularly robust solutions with targeted wear protection to minimize downtime and maintenance costs.

Schon gewusst?
Did you know?
It is regulated by law that combination IBCs may be used for a maximum of five years for use with dangerous goods.

Source: Rekubik

Recycling of IBCs and drums

The most important facts at a glance
a Dansk Emballage employee pushes an IBC container onto a conveyor belt
Several IBC containers are transported into the WEIMA shredder, in the background of the hall a granulator and a friction washing system
How are IBCs properly disposed of and recycled?
Shredding is the first step in recycling IBCs. These can be fed into the WEIMA shredder's hopper without manual preparation or in bale form by conveyor belt, crane, wheel loader or forklift. The hydraulic pusher presses the plastic against the rotor, which shreds it evenly to a homogeneous particle size of 60-80 mm - ideal for further processing. The material is removed by conveyor belt.
For large hollow bodies such as tanks, models with a pressing device are available to ensure efficient shredding.
Efficient IBC recycling: shredding plastic and metal in one step
It is also possible to recycle IBCs without first separating the plastic tank from the cage. With the robust shredders from WEIMA, both plastic and metals such as steel can be shredded without any problems. The metal residues are then separated from the plastic flakes using appropriate separation technology such as metal separators or metal detectors. Both material streams can then be recycled separately.
Shredded IBC containers on a conveyor belt
a person in a black and yellow jacket holds IBC recyclate in his hand after the recycling process
What happens to the shredded tons and containers?
After shredding, the plastic flakes are washed and dried in a washing plant. These can then be recycled into regranulate in a recycling extruder. The pelletized plastic waste can then be reused in production, for example for pallets or corner protectors. This not only represents a major cost-saving potential, but is also sustainable in terms of the circular economy.
A horizontal IBC container
Inhouse-Recycling
The production of IBCs using the extrusion blow molding process often leads to production waste and rejects, for example in the form of squeeze-off edges, punching residues or deformed containers. These can be shredded and ground directly on site. The resulting plastic granulate can then be fed back into the production cycle.
WEIMA also offers shredders for processing plastic chunks and sprues that are produced during the manufacture of plastic parts using the injection molding process.
a person in a black and yellow jacket holds IBC recyclate in his hand after the recycling process
Closed loop: Closing the packaging loop with recyclates
Manufacturers of IBC containers have also recognized the trend towards sustainability: In the multi-layer extrusion process, for example, an inner bubble can be made entirely from recycled HDPE, which is then surrounded by layers of virgin material. The filling product therefore only comes into contact with virgin material. This increases the proportion of recycled material to up to 40% and more than 8 kg of CO2 can be saved per IBC. The result: a maximum recycling rate for the plastic content and a high level of food safety for the containers is ensured.
0 / 0

Interesting facts about IBCs

What is an IBC container?

Intermediate bulk containers (IBC) are reusable transport packaging that can be used in many areas. The containers are an extremely stable construction that offers a high degree of safety during transportation and storage. They are easy to transport, can be stored and offer a practical alternative to drums and tankers. The tanks simplify the transportation and handling of liquid and free-flowing substances enormously.

What are IBC containers made of?

The most common form of IBC is the so-called combination IBC, also known as a composite IBC or K-IBC. It consists of a cuboid plastic bladder, a metal cage and a pallet. The extrusion blow-molded plastic tank is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The tubular frame surrounding it is made of steel. The pallet bolted underneath is made of steel, wood, plastic or a mixture of wood and plastic. In addition, IBCs are often fitted with outlet taps to drain off residues at the bottom of the container.

What IBC sizes are available?

IBCs are available in a wide variety of designs and dimensions to cover almost any application. In the standard version, an IBC container holds around 1,060 liters and has a base area of approximately one square meter, which is the size of a Euro pallet. There are also containers that hold between 500 and 3,000 liters.

What types of IBC containers are there?

Combination IBC: Plastic container + metal cage + pallet
Plastic IBC: Plastic inner container without a metal frame
Flexible IBC: Large sack made of PP
Metal IBC: Fully made of stainless steel
Collapsible IBC: Foldable plastic container
Heatable IBC: Metal IBC with a tank heating system

Where are IBC containers used?

Petrochemical Industry (Oil, gas, solvents, cleaning agents, adhesives, acids, alkalis)
Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics Industry (Pharmaceuticals, tablets, solvents)
Food Industry (Liquid, granulated, or powdered ingredients such as fruit concentrates, dairy products, syrup)
Beverage Industry (Winemaking and fermentation, spirits production)
Agriculture (Sand, grain, pesticides, insecticides)
Automotive Industry (Flammable paints, coatings, AdBlue, gasoline)


This list is a selection of application areas for IBCs and does not constitute a recommendation. Additionally, there are many other industries where these transport containers are used.

IBC or barrel?

There are many reasons why IBCs have prevailed over cylindrical drums as bulk packaging. Compared to round drums and other tanks, they offer maximum functionality. On the one hand, the containers use the storage space much more efficiently, for example, only four drums can be stored or transported on a pallet, which hold a total of 800 liters - an IBC of this size holds 1,000 liters. In addition, only one operation is required to fill and empty the tanks, which makes work much easier. Thanks to the integrated pallet, IBCs can be transported with a forklift or pallet truck and can be stacked perfectly.

Request a customized IBC shredder now Request quote

Did you know?
There are more than 200 million IBCs in circulation worldwide, with around 10 to 20 million being added every year - and the trend is rising.

Source: Packwise

Efficient shredding of plastic drums and canisters

In addition to IBCs, WEIMA also reliably shreds similar plastic containers such as drums, canisters and containers. Whether thick-walled industrial canisters or large-volume plastic drums – our shredders efficiently process them into homogeneous granulates that are ideal for recycling. This means that production waste and used packaging can be recycled in a resource-saving manner.

Blue drums

trial at WUS

Blue white plastic flakes

trial at WUS

Crushed drums

trial at WUS

Crushed drums

Free material tests in the WEIMA technical center
Convince yourself

Shred your material on our machines now.

Arrange a free material test

Success stories

IBC recycling with WEIMA
A WEIMA Shredder W5.18 in a hall on the Dansk Emballage company premises
November 20, 2024

Large Containers, Small Footprint: IBC Container Recycling at Dansk Emballage in Denmark

The Danish company Dansk Emballage, Vamdrup, specializes in the collection and reprocessing of Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC). The containers are sorted, washed, and recycled on-site. A significant role in this process is played by a W5.18 single-shaft shredder.

Read more
November 28, 2017

IBC container shredding in Manchester

Industrial Bulk Containers (IBCs) are used mainly in the chemical, food and pharmaceutics industries. Recon Packaging with over 35 years...

Read more

Praxisbeispiele und Referenzen: IBC Zerkleinerung

Mauser, Produktionsabfälle
Janus Vaten, Post-Consumer und Post-Industrial Recycling
Viridor, Post-Consumer und Post-Industrial Recycling
Time-Technoplast, Post-Consumer und Post-Industrial Recycling

Visit YouTube