<?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>0001823513</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>Sayward Shelley E.</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</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>1591</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>147819.91</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>63510000</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>02/27/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/26/2026</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>PSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>4598</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/27/2026</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <remarks>PSU Sell to Cover for Taxes</remarks>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>02/27/2026</noticeDate>
      <signature>Maressia Rooks-Bailey, as duly authorized representative of Raymond James &amp; Associates, Inc., as attorney-in-fact for Shelley S Sayward</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
