King County recognized by NACo for innovative county government project

King County was recently recognized by the National Association of Counties (NACo) for implementing innovative county government programs to better serve area residents. The 2011 NACo Achievement Awards winners were honored during the NACo’s 76th Annual Conference and Exposition in Multnomah County/Portland, Ore.

Kris Beatty, King County program manager,  accepts the NACo Achievement Award from Charles Thompson, Executive Director of the International Municipal Lawyers Association

King County won a NACo Achievement Award for its “Shingles in Paving” project, designated “Best in Category” for the Environmental Protection and Energy category.  The award is one of only 16 “Best of Category” awards conferred in the recognition program, which highlights the most outstanding county model programs submitted to the awards competition.

An estimated 40,000 tons of asphalt shingle waste generated in King County is disposed each year. While some shingles are being recycled, local end markets for the material are not well established. Asphalt shingles are processed into a ground product and successfully recycled in other states for road applications such as hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavement.

The LinkUp Shingles in Paving Project has engaged the local recycling, transportation, and paving community in an effort to establish a strong local HMA end market for recycled asphalt shingles that captures the resource value of tear-off asphalt shingles and diverts this valuable material resource from landfills.

The NACo Achievement Award program is a non-competitive program that recognizes counties for improving the management of and services provided by county government. Since the program’s inception in 1970, the NACo Achievement Award program has honored thousands of county government initiatives that have improved service delivery, achieved greater cost efficiency, provided finer customer service, and helped to develop a better-trained work force.

This year’s winners represent 29 states and 97 counties.

“On behalf of the nation’s counties, I commend King County and all counties that received NACo Achievement Awards this year,” said NACo Immediate Past President Glen Whitley.

Jacqueline Byers, NACo Director of Research, said this year’s judges noted on how county governments were finding innovative ways to meet the needs of their residents during these difficult economic times.

“I continue to be amazed and pleased at the great work that counties are doing despite revenue challenges and increasing demands for public services,” Byers said.

For more information on the NACo Achievement Awards, visit www.naco.org. To learn about King County’s Shingles in Paving Project, visit www.kingcounty.gov/linkup.

Related information

King County’s Shingles in Paving Project

King County Solid Waste Division