Casella Waste Systems
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Waste management |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Founder | Douglas Casella |
| Headquarters | Rutland , United States |
Area served | Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Pennsylvania |
| Products | Solid waste services including collection, disposal, transfer, recycling, organics management, commodity brokerage |
Number of employees | 4000 (2024) |
| Website | casella |
Casella Waste Systems, Inc. is a waste management enterprise based in Rutland, Vermont, USA. Established in 1975 by Douglas Casella with just one truck, the company functions as an integrated provider of solid waste services. It caters to residential, commercial, municipal, and industrial sectors throughout seven northeastern states: Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, and Pennsylvania.
Operations are divided into two main regional divisions—Eastern and Western—delivering a full spectrum of solid waste solutions including collection, disposal, transfer, recycling, organics management, and commodity brokerage. Casella also offers tailored services designed for large-scale accounts and industrial customers.
Employing around 4,000 staff members, Casella reported fiscal year 2024 revenues of $1.557 billion, representing a 23.1% increase compared to the previous year. The company’s market presence is highlighted by its operation of Massachusetts’ largest material recovery facility located in Charlestown near Boston, which processes approximately 750 tons of recyclables daily.
Casella’s growth approach emphasizes workforce enhancement through initiatives such as its Diesel Technician Training program in Williston and a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training academy in West Rutland, Vermont—both aimed at bolstering operational effectiveness and supporting expansion.
Expansion
Beginning in 2018, Casella intensified its expansion efforts via several acquisitions including six solid waste collection firms and one transfer operation within the Western region, alongside two collection and transfer businesses in the Eastern region.
As of January 31, 2019, Casella operated 37 solid waste collection centers, 49 transfer stations, 18 recycling plants, eight Subtitle D landfills, four landfill gas-to-energy facilities, and one landfill dedicated to construction and demolition debris.
On July 26, 2021, Casella completed the acquisition of Willimantic Waste Paper Co. Inc. in Connecticut—its fifth purchase that year.
In April 2023, Casella entered into an equity purchase agreement to acquire hauling, transfer, and recycling assets from GFL Environmental Inc. across Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland for $525 million. This transaction encompassed nine hauling operations, a transfer station, and a material recovery facility generating roughly $185 million in annual revenue.
By September 2023, Casella finalized a $219 million acquisition involving assets from Consolidated Waste Services LLC and Twin Bridges. This deal added a transfer station, two hauling operations, and a material recovery facility to its holdings.
Conflict and Controversy
Casella has encountered various legal disputes including violations related to leachate management in Bethlehem, NH and Southbridge, MA; multiple breaches of New York State Environmental Conservation Law between 2015 and 2022; wetland disturbances in Southbridge; anti-competitive contract practices; occupational health and safety infractions; as well as operating a landfill without proper permitting. These incidents have affected the company’s compliance record and public reputation.