<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001055352</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000911177</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>000-23211</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>25 GREENS HILL ROAD</com:street1>
        <com:city>RUTLAND</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>VT</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>05701</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>8027750325</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>CASELLA JOHN W</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Raymond James &amp; Associates</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>880 Carillon Parkway</com:street1>
          <com:city>St. Petersburg</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>33716</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>18093</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>2177854.41</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>63460000</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>05/08/2025</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/12/2025</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>822</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/12/2025</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/11/2025</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>718</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/11/2025</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/10/2025</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1024</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/10/2025</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/27/2025</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>15529</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/27/2025</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>John W Casella</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>67 Ives Ave</com:street1>
          <com:city>Rutland</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>VT</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>05701</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>03/03/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>13577</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>1545758.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>John W Casella</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>67 Ives Ave</com:street1>
          <com:city>Rutland</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>VT</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>05701</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>03/12/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>1076</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>116101.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>John W Casella</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>67 Ives Ave</com:street1>
          <com:city>Rutland</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>VT</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>05701</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>03/12/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>752</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>79976.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>John W Casella</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>67 Ives Ave</com:street1>
          <com:city>Rutland </com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>VT</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>05701</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>03/12/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>865</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>90110.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>05/08/2025</noticeDate>
      <signature>Maressia Rooks-Bailey, as duly authorized representative of Raymond James &amp; Associates, Inc., as attorney-in-fact for John W Casella</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
