UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  JANUARY 21, 2003



                           CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its chapter)



       Delaware                        000-23211               03-0338873
- ----------------------------   -----------------------   ---------------------
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)     (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)                                    Identification No.)



  25 GREENS HILL LANE, RUTLAND, VERMONT                       05701
- --------------------------------------------            ----------------
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                 (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (802) 775-0325
                                                     --------------



            --------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)






Item 5. OTHER EVENTS AND REQUIRED FD DISCLOSURE.


     Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (the "Company") announced on January 21,
2003 the pricing of its 9.75% senior subordinated notes in the aggregate
principal amount of $150 million (the "Notes") to be issued in a previously
announced institutional private placement. The Notes will be due 2013 and
accrue interest payable semiannually. The Notes offering is expected to close
on January 24, 2003. Concurrent with, and as a condition to, the closing of
the Notes offering, the Company expects to obtain new senior secured credit
facilities. The Company anticipates that the new senior secured credit
facilities will provide for a $150 million term loan and a $175 million
revolving credit facility. A copy of the press release announcing the pricing
of the Notes is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1,
and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

        (c) Exhibits.

            See Exhibit Index attached hereto.





                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                  CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC.



                                  By: /s/ Richard Norris
                                     ---------------------------------------
                                     Name:  Richard Norris
                                     Title: Chief Financial Officer


Date:  January 21, 2003

EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number Description - -------------- ----------- 99.1 Press Release dated January 21, 2003.



                                                              EXHIBIT NO. 99.1


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. PRICES NOTE OFFERING

     RUTLAND, VERMONT (January 21, 2003)--Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:
CWST) announced today the pricing of its private placement of $150,000,000 of
9.75% senior subordinated notes due 2013. The notes will be issued at 100% of
the principal amount. The offering is expected to close on January 24, 2003.
Concurrent with, and as a condition to, the closing of the notes offering,
Casella Waste Systems expects to obtain new senior secured credit facilities. It
is anticipated that the new senior secured credit facilities will provide for a
$150,000,000 term loan and a $175,000,000 revolving credit facility.

     Net proceeds from the notes offering, together with initial borrowings from
the new senior secured credit facilities, will be used to repay all borrowings
outstanding under Casella Waste Systems' current senior secured credit facility,
to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes.

     The senior subordinated notes have not been registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or any applicable state laws and may not be offered or
sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from
registration requirements. Casella Waste Systems has agreed to file a
registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to
which it would exchange the privately placed notes for notes which are
registered. This notice does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale.

     Casella Waste Systems, headquartered in Rutland, Vermont, provides
collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services, primarily in the eastern
United States.

     This news release contains forward looking statements about Casella Waste
Systems, Inc. within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995, including statements regarding Casella Waste Systems' ability to
complete the sale of


the senior subordinated notes and to obtain the new senior secured credit facilities; repay all borrowings outstanding under the current senior secured credit facility; and diversify sources of credit. These forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted in any such forward-looking statements include market conditions for senior subordinated notes and senior secured credit facilities and changes in Casella's business which could affect the willingness of the respective lenders to extend credit. These and other risks are detailed from time to time in Casella Waste Systems' periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, its report on Form 10-Q for its fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2002. CONTACT: RICHARD NORRIS, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER; OR JOSEPH FUSCO, VICE PRESIDENT; (802) 775-0325.