UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13G
                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                Amendment No. 3



                           Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)



                      Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                    147448104
                  --------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)





                                December 31, 2002
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)


Check the  appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:

[X] Rule 13d-1(b)

[_] Rule 13d-1(c)

[_] Rule 13d-1(d)



                                Page 1 of 4 pages

- ----------------------- CUSIP No. 147448104 13G - ----------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Name of Reporting Person I.R.S. Identification No. of above Person Goldman Sachs Asset Management, a separate business unit of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (a) [_] (b) [_] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. SEC Use Only - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization New York - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Sole Voting Power Number of 735,093 Shares ---------------------------------------------------------- 6. Shared Voting Power Beneficially 0 Owned by ---------------------------------------------------------- Each 7. Sole Dispositive Power Reporting 770,561 Person ---------------------------------------------------------- 8. Shared Dispositive Power With: 0 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 770,561 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares [_] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 3.4% - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12. Type of Reporting Person IA - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Page 2 of 4 pages

Item 4. Ownership.* (a). Amount beneficially owned: See the response(s) to Item 9 on the attached cover page(s). (b). Percent of Class: See the response(s) to Item 11 on the attached cover page(s). (c). Number of shares as to which such person has: (i). Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: See the response(s) to Item 5 on the attached cover page(s). (ii). Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: See the response(s) to Item 6 on the attached cover page(s). (iii). Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: See the response(s) to Item 7 on the attached cover page(s). (iv). Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: See the response(s) to Item 8 on the attached cover page(s). Item 10. Certification. By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. - -------------------------- * In accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") Release No. 34-39538 (January 12, 1998), this filing reflects the securities beneficially owned by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, a separate business unit of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. ("GSAM"). GSAM, an investment advisor, disclaims beneficial ownership of any securities managed, on GSAM's behalf, by third parties. This filing does not reflect securities, if any, beneficially owned by any other business unit of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and GSAM hereby disclaims beneficial ownership of any such securities. Page 3 of 4 pages

SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: February 12, 2003 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. on behalf of Goldman Sachs Asset Management By: /s/ Roger S. Begelman -------------------------------------- Name: Roger S. Begelman Title: Attorney-in-fact Page 4 of 4 pages