Ark Recycling Services began purchasing and processing used aluminum beverage containers in 1983 in order to offer a unique employment opportunity for people with disabilities. People assisted community members in unloading and sorting their recyclables, which provided an important community service.
In November of 1990, the former Hartman Oil Distributing lot located 222 Baker Street was purchased. The lot was to be the site of the Recycling Center. The purchase was made using proceeds from an Economic Development Loan in partnership with the City of Laramie. In 1991, Ark began the expansion of the Recycling Program by beginning construction of the Recycling Center. The expansion was funded in part by grants from the Union Pacific Foundation, Telephone Pioneers, Soroptimist Club, Civitan, and PARC, which were used to purchase a building and a high volume baler. The expansion was completed in 1992 and the grand opening was held on April 25, 1992. In March 1993, a city-wide recycling drop off program was initiated with 6 roll-off collection bins.
The Recycling Center, which is permitted by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, includes a 63,000 square foot lot with a 10,000 square foot building for processing materials. The equipment is designed with a maximum capacity of up to 15 tons/hour, and can process up to 100 tons of material per day.
Ark Recycling Services currently has 60 bins placed throughout the City of Laramie which collect magazines, newspaper, cardboard, aluminum cans, steel cans, #1 and #2 plastic bottles, and clear, brown and green glass. In Fiscal Year 2010 we processed 4,568 tons of recyclable materials, 1,580 ton of which came from the City of Laramie.
