Spartan Waste

In late 2018, Mark Nelson and Mark Mullen purchased an existing trash collection business that collected trash from more than 1,000 residences in Spartanburg County. Not long after, the two began trash collection services throughout the upstate under the Spartan Waste moniker. From the beginning, their focus has been on one thing: customer service. And while many businesses tell you that, Spartan Waste is different. 

For starters, the owners are present. They work at Spartan Waste each and every day and, on quite a few occasions, can be found driving collection routes or delivering trash cans to new customers. In addition, they are accountable, which can be attributed, in part, to the fact that they both live in Spartanburg. That means they attend the same churches, they shop at the same stores and their kids go to the same schools as many of their customers. If something isn’t right, they’ll hear about it. 

More than that, though, Mark and Mark are driven to do what’s right. They are, simply put, good guys. They are honest. They are hardworking. And they have a history of serving the communities in which they live. On top of that, Spartan Waste donates a portion of their proceeds to local nonprofits that help make our community even better than it already is. In other words, they’re making the trash business a little more dependable and a little less dirty.

Mark Nelson

Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Mark Nelson’s job as the owner/principal of what grew to be the second largest glass recycling company in North America brought him to Spartanburg in 2005. While helping lead that business, which was recently sold to North America's largest glass recycling company, Mark oversaw the construction of 15 facilities within the United States and Canada. 

Throughout the company's existence, approximately 10 million tons of glass was processed, recycled and delivered for remanufacture within a variety of industrial industries. Playing an active role in business development and expansion within the post-consumer and post-industrial glass recycling industry, Mark had the opportunity to work closely with a multitude of state and local officials as new recycling programs were brought on line.

As demanding as that job was, Mark always found time to give back to his community. He has served as a coach for numerous church league basketball and Little League baseball teams. And he continues to be an active volunteer with the Episcopal Church of the Advent’s Troop 1 Boy Scouts.

Mark and his wife, Elizabeth, have a daughter at Spartanburg High School and a son at McCracken Middle School. The Ohio State University graduate spends most of his free time with his busy family and, when the opportunity arises, enjoys hiking, camping, playing tennis and searching for his errant drives. They both feel truly blessed to call Spartanburg home. 

Mark Mullen

A graduate of Presbyterian College, Mark Mullen began his career in the medical sales division of Johnson & Johnson more than 23 years ago years. Since that time, he has provided countless surgeons and other medical personnel in the region with insight into new devices and support for their applications — whether for a large corporation or, more recently, as an independent distributor.

From the beginning, Mark’s passions have extended beyond his occupation. He’s been heavily involved with Boy Scouts of America, serving as a Scout Leader for Troop 1, where his older son achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and his younger son is well on the way. He is also very involved with the Episcopal Church of the Advent.  While he has served in many capacities at the church, he finds himself most comfortable in the kitchen cooking for, in many cases, hundreds of people. 

Mark was born and raised in Spartanburg and currently lives in the city with his wife, Keenan, and two sons. Whether it’s the bustling shops and sidewalk-lined neighborhoods of the city or the rolling hills and backroads of the county, he loves everything about the place. Like Mark Nelson, he also appreciates what it’s given him, and he, too, is ready to give back. It’s one of the reasons Spartan Waste was founded. It’s also why the company is committed to donating a portion of its proceeds to local causes. Ultimately, Mark wants Spartan Waste to be a company people in this area can depend on and be proud of.

When not working, you’ll find Mark watching his sons’ lacrosse games and wrestling matches, cooking at the Advent, camping in a nearby national park with his family or bonding with his F3 friends.