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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FBD0SUW0ImMpzh6U4t1+3crCA08bVSM7OuwoRa12wViGzyeYfJccR/Qw8fQoFT5K
 Gt61S0p9rMHy/w5xNz5flQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-008019.txt : 20030929
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-008019.hdr.sgml : 20030929
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030929102308
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-008019
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030618
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030929

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEONARD CHARLES E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001225722

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23211
		FILM NUMBER:		03913823

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		25 GREENS HILL LANE
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 866
		CITY:			RUTLAND
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			06702
		BUSINESS PHONE:		802 775 0325

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000911177
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REFUSE SYSTEMS [4953]
		IRS NUMBER:				030338873
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		25 GREENS HILL LANE P O BOX 866
		CITY:			RUTLAND
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			05701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8027750325

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		25 GREENE HILL ROAD
		CITY:			RUTLAND
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			05702
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-06-18</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000911177</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CWST</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001225722</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEONARD CHARLES E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>25 GREENS HILL LANE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RUTLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>05701</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Sr. Vice President</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.12</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-06-18</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>20000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>9.12</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-06-17</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>20000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
<derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.12</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-06-18</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>9.12</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-06-17</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">This option is immediately exercisable with respect to 10,000 of the shares granted and shall become exercisable with respect to the remaining 10,000 shares on June 18, 2004.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">This option shall become fully exercisable on June 18, 2005.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Charles E. Leonard</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-09-29</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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