Some inventions are borne of necessity, others from the desire to avoid work. Hamilton native Timothy Upshur’s company is one of the latter.
When Upshur was a junior at Purdue University, he moved to an off-campus apartment. Having a third floor apartment was great, until he realized he still had to take his trash down to the ground floor and outside during the chill of the Indiana winter. He began to brainstorm ways to avoid the unpleasant task, and although it was still a decade away, Upshur’s company, WhiteGloves Waste, LLC, was born during this thought session.
The folks at WhiteGloves refer to the business as a waste concierge service for residential complexes like apartment buildings, townhomes and senior citizen developments. Essentially, each unit receives a “Bulter Bin,” a 3-and-a-half-foot long rectangular container that has compartments for trash and recyclables.
The bins are picked up five nights a week by WhiteGloves staff, and the trash from the Butler Bins is taken to a community receptacle, where it’s then picked up by the government entity or contractor that handles trash for that community. The recyclables are, likewise, placed at the community receptacle for recycling.
Bulter Bins are meant to eliminate the need for multiple trips to the dumpster, an activity familiar to anyone who has lived in an apartment complex.
Had WhiteGloves existed those years ago at Purdue, young Upshur would have needed only to chuck his trash in the Butler Bin just outside of his door instead of lugging it all the way down to his dumpster, a task that was annoying for a fit athlete, but which could be daunting for an elderly person.
“Our vision is to reinvigorate the multi-family recycling industry by offering communities a more effective recycling program,” Upshur said.
Born in Hamilton, the 33-year-old Upshur graduated from Hamilton High School West in 1997, where he was lauded for his athletic skills. In 2011, he was inducted into Hamilton West’s Athletic Hall of Fame for his feats in track and field and football for the Hornets.
After Hamilton West, Upshur attended Purdue, where he played on the football team. The Boilermakers won several major titles during Upshur’s years at Purdue, including a victory in the Rose Bowl.
After college, he chose to return to Hamilton, due to his strong family ties. It was there that his brainchild, WhiteGloves, was officially conceived.
“It started two years ago at a family dinner,” Upshur said. “I wanted to capitalize on a market that wasn’t very big in New Jersey at the time.”
As the idea simmered between family members, it eventually transformed into the business it is now. Upshur’s induction into Hamilton’s Athletic Hall of Fame made him realize he wanted to give back to the community. But WhiteGloves isn’t just Upshur’s venture. It also employs Upshur’s father, mother and cousin. Upshur said it’s a “logical step” to work with those that he knew and trusted.
Upshur, who currently lives in Georgia, said WhiteGloves doesn’t necessarily deal with just multifamily dwellings, but it does primarily. It also deals with houses within communities where older residents (65+) live who may not necessarily be able to take out the trash too regularly. The business started in November 2011, and currently boasts the Mews in Princeton as its largest client.
“Starting your own business is not easy to do,” Upshur notes. “You have a concept in your head that you have to convey to others and get them on board.”
For more information, email info@whitegloveswaste.com or call (609) 310-1714.
Upshur
