Used again
A container that is still sound can be sold on and used again by another person or business.
Scrap, damaged and disused containers
Scrap Shipping Containers and Container Recycling
Rusted, dented or simply unwanted, old shipping containers still need lifting and taking away properly. We collect them on our own HIAB lorries, and where a container can be used again, it is.
Inside a well used container
Scrap containers
What counts as a scrap shipping container?
Shipping containers are built to take years of hard use, but eventually some reach the point where they are no longer worth keeping. Common signs include:
- Rust holes in the roof, walls or floor
- Doors that are seized, bent or no longer seal
- A damaged or rotten floor
- Dents and damage to the frame or corners
- A container that has simply sat unused for years
None of these stop us collecting a container. They do affect what happens next, and whether the removal costs you money, is free, or earns you money.
After collection
What happens to your old container
Once a shipping container leaves your site, it goes one of three ways depending on its condition. Reuse comes first, and shipping container recycling is the last step for steel that cannot be used again.
Refurbished
Some containers are worth repairing and repainting so they can go back into use.
Scrapped and recycled
Containers beyond reuse are scrapped, and the steel they are made from can be recycled.
What it costs
Scrap container removal: you pay, it is free, or we buy it
Every container and cabin is different. Once we have seen photos and know where it is, we will tell you which of these applies.
You pay for disposal
For units in poor condition, where the cost of lifting, transporting and disposing of them is more than they are worth. We quote a price before anything is booked.
Free removal
Where a container or cabin still has enough value to cover the cost of collecting it, we can take it away free of charge.
We buy it
Where the unit is in good enough condition, we may make you an offer and pay you for it, as well as collecting it.
Which one applies depends on condition, with size and location also playing a part. Send us photos and we will tell you.
Getting an answer
The photos that help us price a scrap container
Condition decides the outcome, so good photos save time for both of us. Try to include:
- The outside of the container from each side
- The doors, open if they will open
- The inside, including the floor
- Close-ups of any holes, rust or damage
- The route from the road to the container
Scrap shipping container questions
Do you collect scrap shipping containers?
Yes. We collect scrap, damaged and disused shipping containers as well as ones that can still be used. Send photos and we will tell you whether you pay for disposal, removal is free or we can buy the container.
Is a scrap container worth anything?
Sometimes. It depends on the condition of the steel, doors and floor, the size of the container and where it is. A container that looks tired can still be worth reusing, while one with serious damage may only be fit for scrap.
What happens to an old container after you collect it?
Containers that can be used again are sold on or refurbished for another owner. Containers that are beyond reuse are scrapped so the steel can be recycled.
Do you offer shipping container recycling?
Yes. Containers that cannot be used again are scrapped so the steel can be recycled. Containers that are still sound are sold on or refurbished instead, so as many as possible go back into use.
Can I get rid of a container with holes or seized doors?
Yes. Mention the damage when you ask for a quote and include photos of it. Damage affects the outcome, but it does not stop us collecting the container.
Do you remove disused storage containers as well as shipping containers?
Yes. We collect smaller steel storage containers too, along with portable cabins and anti-vandal units.
Got an old container to get rid of?
Send us a few photos, the postcode and a rough idea of access. We will tell you whether you pay for disposal, whether removal is free or whether we can buy it.