Plastic bulk bins
Plastic bulk bins are pallet-size bins for plants, processors, packing sheds and recyclers, not the bins in a grocery aisle. They come solid or vented, fixed or folding, and the right one depends on what goes in and where the empties go.
Specifications
| Line | Imperial | Metric | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed-wall HDPE bin | 48 x 44 x 29 in, 700 lb | 1,219 mm x 1,118 mm x 737 mm, 318 kg | 1 |
| Folding field bin | 48 x 40 x 32 in, 1,200 lb, folds to 10 in | 544 kg, 254 mm folded | 2 |
| MACX-style macro bin | 48 x 40 x 31 in, 1,500 lb, nests | 680 kg | 3 |
| Collapsible container | 48 x 40 x 32 in, 1,500 lb, folds to 13.5 in | 680 kg, 343 mm folded | 4 |
Metric figures are converted from the maker's imperial figures (1 in = 25.4 mm, 1 lb = 0.4536 kg, 1 US gal = 3.785 L) and rounded. Sources last reviewed 14 November 2026.
Footprints it comes in
Options
- Solid or vented
- Solid walls for washdown, fines and anything that bruises; vents where product has to breathe.
- Lid
- For storage outdoors, dust, or stacking full.
- Drop door
- For hand picking from the bottom.
- Food contact
- If food touches the walls, ask us to confirm the resin in the quote.
Pick by job, not by name
"Bulk bin" covers all of the containers in the table, so we start from the job. In a recycling plant or machine shop where bins never leave, a fixed-wall bin with a door. In a food plant that washes daily, a solid-wall bin with a lid. In an orchard or packing shed, a macro bin that nests empty. On a supplier loop, a collapsible one.
The bins in the photograph
The vented bins holding apples above are harvest bins: open slots for airflow, a moulded base for forks, and walls that taper so empties nest. The same bin would be wrong for metal stampings, which want a solid wall and a higher load rating.
What we need to quote
What goes in, the heaviest fill, the footprint, whether it is washed, and whether empties travel. One line on each is enough.
Questions about plastic bulk bins
- Are these the same as the bins in a grocery store aisle?
- No. Those are small dispensers for loose food. These are pallet-size bins for plants and farms, moved by forklift.
- Can I buy one or two?
- Tell us how many you need. Quantities are usually quoted by the pallet or the truckload because freight is a big part of the price.
- Which bin is best for washing?
- A solid-wall fixed-wall bin with smooth insides and rounded corners: nothing to trap water or product.
- Solid or vented?
- Solid for wet product, powders and anything that leaks; vented where air must reach the contents, such as onions, potatoes or parts that need to dry after washing.
- Which colour?
- Grey and black are common for industry; white and blue are common in food plants because dirt shows. Colour is moulded in, so choose before ordering.
- Lidded?
- Lids are sold separately.