Colorado's recycling rates lag far behind the national average and even further behind states with a progressive environmental agenda, a report shows. "Colorado likes to say it's a green, environmentally conscious state, but it's pretty dirty when it comes to waste," said Laurie Johnson, executive director of the nonprofit Colorado Association for Recycling. Only 12 percent of waste produced in the state is recycled, compared with the national average of 34 percent, says the report by Eco-Cycle and the Colorado Public Interest Research Group.. Colorado Springs does not track recycling rates, but researchers estimated that El Paso and Teller counties had some of the worst rates at 12 percent. Read more on Colorado Springs Gazette