Colorado

Named by the Spanish for its red-colored earth, Colorado is a state of diverse geography and complex climate, consisting of mountains, foothills, high plains, and desert. Originally a mining economy in the mid-19th century, the development of irrigation brought agriculture to the fore. The federal government is a major part of the state's economy, with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the United States Air Force (USAF) being just two of the federal agencies based in Colorado. This is partly due to the capital city, Denver, being equidistant both between Los Angeles and Chicago and between Seattle and New Orleans. As of 2009, 61.9 percent of the population live in the Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area.

The 16th Nationwide Survey of MSW Management in the United States found that in 2006, Colorado had an estimated 8,690,005 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation, placing it 16th in a survey of the 50 states and the capital district. Based on the 2006 population of 4,766,248, an estimated 1.82 tons of MSW were generated per person per year (ranking fifth) and 8,208,407 tons were landfilled (ranking 10th). Colorado did not report its number of waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities (presumably none) or any data regarding landfills. Colorado recycled 481,958 tons of MSW, placing the state 32nd in the ranking of recycled MSW tonnage.

In the early 21st century, Colorado faces several challenges relating to consumption and waste. Air pollution has been an issue in industrial Pueblo since the advent of the steel industry there in the 1880s. Air quality in the Denver metropolitan area is threatened by suburban sprawl, the high altitude, and the region's dependence upon automobile transportation. Water consumption in the state is divided between residential and agricultural uses; much state politics revolves around water rights. The city of Boulder, northwest of Denver, has adopted a policy of controlled growth expansion as well as initiatives to manage urban wildlife. Despite these efforts, sprawl in the region has been substantial since the 1980s, as communities such as Broomfield and Lafayette have become homes to commuters to Denver.