DOUGLAS - The math is simple.

Less trash into landfills means lower costs to manage that waste.

The equation works whether landfills regionalize or not, making recycling a major priority for groups involved in solid waste management.

"As much stuff as we can keep out of our landfills and recycle it, the better," said Bill Vance, recycling services coordinator for Ark Industries in Laramie. "It extends the life of landfills. And, you turn trash into cash. Trash is just recycling in the wrong place."

Landfills across Wyoming are evaluating regional facilities. One large landfill would support a region, with waste trucked in from other communities. But whether or not some landfills stop accepting waste in favor of transfer stations, recycling will mean savings. At facilities that opt to become transfer stations to regional facilities, more recycling means less garbage to haul in gas-guzzling trucks 50 or more miles down Wyoming's highways.

In landfills that continue accepting waste, more recycling means it should take longer to fill pits with trash, extending the life of expensive liners mandated by the state Department of Environmental Quality.

Traditionally, many smaller communities - and some larger ones - haven't been able to break even in recycling programs. Transportation costs can be significant to haul recyclables to processing facilities, and the public mindset hasn't always placed green behavior as a priority.

"People think we have all this space, so why do we need to divert trash," said Craig McOmie, DEQ recycling coordinator. "It hasn't ever really hit home that the space costs money."

Ark Industries is the linchpin that allows many communities throughout Wyoming to recycle, breaking down the traditional barriers of high transportation costs to get recyclables to markets. Ark also helps make recycling convenient, a key factor in high participation rates.

Semitrailers are left at facilities throughout the state, Vance said. People fill boxes the size of pallets with recyclables. Once the boxes fill up, Vance swaps out the loaded trailers for empties and hauls the loot back to Laramie.

There, a crew of eight to 10 physically or mentally disabled adults helps Vance process the commodities, which are trucked off to markets for reincarnation. On average, the Ark crew processes 4,000 tons of recyclables a year.

Trailers are set across the state, as far from Laramie as Lander, Kemmerer, Casper and Torrington. More could go soon to Newcastle and Alliance, Neb.