<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-08-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001282398</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WCA WASTE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WCAA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001475650</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Clark Daniel J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6140 PARKLAND BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MAYFIELD HEIGHTS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44124</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-08-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>360444</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>949271</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>777778</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Live Earth Funding, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were acquired by the reporting person pursuant to a pro rata distribution for no additional consideration by Live Earth LLC of shares of the issuer to its members without additional consideration. The reporting person is a non-managing member of Live Earth LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares represent earn-out rights delivered to Live Earth Funding, LLC pursuant to the Equity Interest and Asset Purchase Agreement, dated December 9, 2009, among WCA Waste Corporation, WCA of Massachusetts, LLC, WCA of Ohio, LLC, Live Earth LLC, Champion City Recovery, LLC, Boxer Realty Redevelopment, LLC, Sunny Farms Landfill, LLC and New Amsterdam &amp; Seneca Railroad Company, LLC in satisfaction of outstanding indebtedness of $6.8 million owed to Live Earth Funding, LLC by Live Earth LLC as of September 30, 2009. The earn-out shares will be distributed by WCA Waste Corporation if, on or before December 31, 2012, the business operated using the acquired subsidiaries of Live Earth LLC and certain transferred assets achieves $6.25 million EBITDA for any four consecutive fiscal quarters. The reporting person's indirect right to receive additional shares pursuant to this earn-out right became fixed and irrevocable on December 31, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reporting person holds aa 50% membership interest in Live Earth Funding, LLC.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Daniel J. Clark</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
