RUTLAND, VT, Oct 23, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, announced today that operations at its Clinton County landfill gas-to-energy plant, producing clean energy from landfill methane gas, began ahead of schedule. This facility is the company's fifth landfill gas-to-energy project.

The new landfill gas-to-energy plant, located at the company's Clinton County landfill in Morrisonville, NY, is expected to produce 4.8 megawatts per hour of clean energy, or enough renewable electricity to power over 5,000 households.

Beyond producing clean energy, the facility, as part of the company's low-emission landfill model, will reduce carbon dioxide equivalents -- "greenhouse gases" -- by eliminating landfill methane emissions and displacing the use of fossil fuel with renewable energy. In total, the emissions savings are equivalent to taking approximately 40,000 cars off the roads each year. The Clinton County facility is expected to produce clean energy for well over 30 years.

"As with the Hyland facility two weeks ago, our team did an excellent job bringing the Clinton County facility on-line ahead of our fiscal year plan," John W. Casella, chairman and chief executive officer of Casella Waste Systems, said. "With our resource transformation business strategy, we are constantly seeking opportunities to leverage our existing assets as well as traditional waste streams to create incremental revenues. Creating clean energy from landfill methane gas builds additional economic value from the waste stream."

"Investments in resource transformation solutions, such as landfill gas-to-energy facilities, position the company to take advantage of significant economic, environmental policy and cultural shifts by pursuing opportunities that create both economic and environmental value from waste," said Casella.

Casella and its partners are now producing roughly 25 megawatts per hour of clean energy at five of the company's landfills. This clean energy is powering roughly 25,000 homes and the emissions savings are equivalent to taking over 205,000 cars off the roads each year.

The company recently began producing clean energy at its Hyland landfill gas-to-energy facility during the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 and at its Pine Tree landfill gas-to-energy facility during the first quarter of fiscal year 2009. The company expects operations to begin at its Southbridge landfill gas-to-energy facility during the first half of fiscal year 2010. When the Southbridge facility comes on-line, the company and its partners expect to produce approximately 28 megawatts per hour of clean electricity at six landfill gas-to-energy facilities.

About Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

Casella Waste Systems is an integrated solid waste and resource management company headquartered in Rutland, Vermont. In addition to providing traditional solid waste collection, transfer and disposal services, the company renews the life-cycle of materials at its 37 recycling facilities, and generates clean energy at its five landfill gas-to-energy facilities. It is the only solid waste services company participating in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Leaders program to reduce greenhouse gases. For further information, investors should contact Ned Coletta, director of investor relations at (802) 772-2239; media should contact Joseph Fusco, vice president at (802) 772-2247; or visit the company's website at http://www.casella.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain matters discussed in this press release are "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such by the context of the statements, including words such as the company "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "may," "will," "would," "intends," "estimates" and other similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate and management's beliefs and assumptions. We cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements made. Such forward-looking statements, and all phases of our operations, involve a number of risks and uncertainties, any one or more of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in our forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include or relate to, among other things: our landfill gas-to-energy facility might not perform as expected, including with respect to power generation or reduced emissions; we may be unable to reduce costs or increase revenues sufficiently to achieve estimated EBITDA and other targets; landfill operations and permit status may be affected by factors outside our control, continuing weakness in general economic conditions and poor weather conditions may affect our revenues; we may be required to incur capital expenditures in excess of our estimates; and fluctuations in the commodity pricing of our recyclables may make it more difficult for us to predict our results of operations or meet our estimates. There are a number of other important risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These additional risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those detailed in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in our Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2008. We do not necessarily intend to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Investors Contact:
Ned Coletta
Director of Investor Relations
(802) 772-2239

Media Contact:
Joseph Fusco
Vice President
(802) 772-2247

http://www.casella.com

SOURCE: Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

http://www.casella.com

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