NCSWANA names Jeanette Johnson winner of first Garby Award

The North Carolina Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America (NCSWANA) recently presented Sustainability Coordinator Jeanette Johnson (photo attached) with the first-ever Garby Award as its Young Professional of the Year. Johnson received the honor on October 18 during NCSWANA’s 2023 Fall Conference at The Cherokee Convention Center in Cherokee, NC.

According to NCSWANA, the 1st Annual Garby Awards “honor individuals and organizations who have excelled and enhanced the field of Solid Waste Management in North Carolina.” In its narrative announcing Johnson as the Young Professional of the Year, NCSWANA wrote:

“Jeanette Johnson’s passion for the overall sustainability of the environment is what makes her a great candidate for the Young Professional of the Year. Though it is her job, she lives it every moment of her life. Jeanette is constantly looking for ways to reduce all streams of the waste cycle…Where Jeanette excels and deserves this recognition is through the way she shares her knowledge, her passion, and ideas in an upbeat, fresh, and vibrant manner in which most people look forward to learning from her. Jeanette is one of the biggest cheerleaders for mother earth. Both the State of North Carolina and the Town of Wake Forest are blessed to have experience, drive and ideas showcased daily.”

A native of Midlothian, VA, Johnson earned a Master of Science in Sustainable Food Systems from Green Mountain College and a Bachelor of Science from Johnson and Wales University. 

Since joining the Town in 2021, she has introduced several initiatives aimed at managing, preserving, and enhancing Wake Forest’s natural environment.

As the Town’s first Sustainability Coordinator, Johnson has established and managed the “Show Some Love, #KeepWFclean” litter reduction campaign, coordinated several paper shredding events, and introduced the Wake Forest Sustainability 101 education series. In addition, her efforts on behalf of the Town’s “#RecycleRightWF” campaign have resulted in a significant decrease in the contamination of Wake Forest’s recycling stream and the elimination of nearly two million plastic bags from yard waste collection each year.

Respected across our region and state for her work in Wake Forest, Jeanette currently serves on two steering committees for sustainability-focused organizations working to reduce pollution and protect the environment.

“Jeanette’s dedication to our community and passion for preserving and protecting our environment make her an especially deserving recipient of the Garby Award,” said Public Works Director Tim Bailey. “Thanks to her efforts, Wake Forest is proud to be recognized throughout North Carolina as a sustainability leader.”