WhiteGloves Waste—A Rental Recycling Solution

By Michael Ratliff, Associate Editor

Princeton Junction, N.J.—While Earth Day has past, it is still Earth Month. And in this day in age, you should be constantly focused on increasing sustainable practices at each and every property in your portfolio year round. Many renters, especially younger ones like myself, view environmental initiatives at properties as a feel-good amenity. Living in New York, it is the law that apartments provide clearly labeled receptacles for recyclable materials. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that residents will choose to use them.

While I am not claiming to be the best recycler in the world, I have definitely had a fair share of neighbors who find joy in dropping beer bottles down trash chutes instead of taking the walk down six flights of stairs. But even if that building had the space for recycling/trash rooms on every floor, one inattentive tenant could render a whole bin of recyclables into trash by failing to read what is or isn’t suitable for reuse.

If your residents aren’t living up to their end of the recycling bargain, perhaps you should check out a waste concierge service. New Jersey-based WhiteGloves Waste LLC is one company that has taken the lead to provide a convenient, secure and reliable waste removal system with their door-to-dumpster waste management services. Though the 2011-founded company is only currently operating in New Jersey, WhiteGloves is looking to expand and offer their services across the apartment industry.

“Our vision is to reinvigorate the multifamily recycling industry by offering companies a more effective recycling program option,” says Timothy Upshur, chief executive officer of WhiteGloves Waste. “We are committed to strengthening communities through advancing education on recycling.”

WhiteGloves Waste provides each resident with a ‘Butler Bin’ that sits outside their door. It has a separate container for recyclables and rubbish. Each evening the bins are collected and the recycling is sorted by WhiteGloves—taking the guess work and hassle away from residents and maintenance staff. One of the value-adds of using WhiteGloves is that the company will maintain the trash compactor, making sure it is clean and ready for use.

“It is time saver for both residents and property management,” Upshur adds. “It helps everyone, and that was a major goal of the service. There is no trash around the apartments, we are getting the recycling done, and we are selling an amenity as a service, which the property can sell to new renters looking for a home.”