The California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health honored El Dorado County with its 2012 Excellence in Environmental Health award.

The award recognized the county’s outstanding achievements in solid waste planning.

“It is easy to take garbage for granted because it’s out of sight, out of mind,” Gerri Silva, county Environmental Management director, said in a press release. “But maintaining a successful countywide solid waste system takes careful planning and collaboration between government, industry, and the public.”

The Board of Supervisors adopted the County’s Solid Waste Management Plan in January. The plan was the culmination of nearly three years of work from county staff, consultants, local agencies, franchise waste haulers, and public volunteers. The overall goal of the plan was to bridge the current waste management program with a system that meets the future needs of the urban and rural populations of the county. The plan will also be instrumental in attaining increased mandates, such as a 75 percent landfill diversion goal, in the most cost-effective and strategic manner.

Criteria for the Excellence in Environmental Health award included innovative problem solving, productivity improvements, cost savings, and successful collaboration between interested parties.