Serene Green was born out of a moment of reflection on future uncertainties from the severely impacted unsustainable managed waste in Nigeria, with 90% of the waste mostly disposed in unregulated dumps or openly burned. With the seemingly subconscious ability to litter, there was inspiration to proffer solutions.

In understanding that we live on a planet of finite resources, Serene Green has made it its mission to change the narrative by helping consumers, businesses and the government in realizing that switching from a resource consumption model to a reuse and recover model is more sustainable.

Serene Green fulfills a vital role in the South Eastern part of Nigeria, with full operations especially in the Metropolitan cities of Enugu, Awka and Onitsha; waste is collected from a wide range of locations, including various shopping centers, hospitals, building sites, industrial sites and properties.

The priority in managing waste is demonstrated in the waste hierarchy; listed below is the waste hierarchy from the highest to the last resort

• Reduce amount produced;
• Reuse waste;
• Recover waste (composting and waste to energy);
• Send to Landfill.

The hierarchy focuses on the need to first reduce the amount of waste produced, then reuse waste, then recover waste through composting and waste to energy and finally the last resort to dispose of waste to landfill.

The most successful way of managing waste is not to produce it in the first place and this is the driving force behind the idea of waste minimization.

“A Cleaner City Initiative” reform tag was actualized in a bid to attain a cleaner environment and when this move is in full effect the mega status of the South East states where we operate, being one of the cleanest cities in Nigeria would be realized. The cleaner city initiative is concerned with addressing the existing challenges in solid waste management in the state. Asides the daily struggles with enormous disposal of waste; there is also a huge gap in collection of waste hindered by a vicious cycle between waste operators and clients leading to irregular and poor payment systems. Serene Green intends to bridge this gap by regulation the undue attention placed on just waste collection, through diversification of operations which would include: bin placement, transfer loading stations, waste dumpsites to be closed and replaced with engineered landfill sites, and new trucks. Waste management is a diverse and growing business with continued emphasis on safer operations.

The South East states have become increasingly dirty due to the high level of commercialization and this is evident on the roads as well as the existing waste dumping tactic. In order to redirect this trend, it is necessary for the state government to allow waste management experts intervene by using modern machinery to address the challenges caused by poor waste maintenance in the state.

Doing this would require the state government harmonizing environmental laws into a single law for a more uniform administration of the law and management of the environment; the state government should also provide an efficient platform for public and private sector advocacy, capacity building, re-orientation of the public on the importance of environment management and protection.

If this is done, it would save the state from being taken over by waste and save residents from health hazards.