The Society was registered in 1999 by a group of concerned Private Refuse and Sewage Service Providers in Rivers States under the leadership of Arc. R. M. Ossai as SOLID WASTE ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (SWAN). The focus was to propagate good practice in municipal waste collection and Sewage disposal all over Nigeria and above all to affiliate to ISWA.

Attempts were made to sell this idea to the Nigerian public and Government. In line with this drive, SWAN visited National and State Assemblies, and made presentation to various House Committees on Environment. From the engagement of the Nigerian public, it was resolved to increase the coverage of the Society. Following the need to cover all categories of waste and aspects of waste management, the Association was re-registered in April 2005 (CAC/IT/NO18515) as WASTES MANAGEMENT SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (WAMASON).

WAMASON is incorporated in Nigeria as a non-profit, non-government professional organization with a clear conviction to transform waste and resource management culture in the country