I think the recent fix for the bundles may have created the same issue for containers.

Place a container on the ground, place all of the other containers (bins, pouches, packs etc) you are carrying someplace safe (cart/building).

Now try and pick up the container you placed on the ground, you will get the message "you dont have room for that" and the container wont be picked up.

Basically you need to have a container on you at all times, otherwise you wont be able to pick up any others.