UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark One)	 	
 	 	
x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934	
 	 	
For the quarterly period ended October 31, 2008	
 	 	
OR	
 	 	
o	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934	
 	 	
For the transition period from to	
 	 	
Commission file number 000-23211	
 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware	 	03-0338873	
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)	 	(I.R.S. Employer 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
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x  No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One):
 
Large accelerated filero	Accelerated filerx	
Non-accelerated filero	Smaller reporting companyo	
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	 	
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).Yeso Nox
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of November 28, 2008:
 
Class A Common Stock	 	24,628,702	 	
Class B Common Stock	 	988,200	 	

 

 
PART I.      FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
 	 	April 30,	 	October 31,	 	
 	 	2008	 	2008	 	
ASSETS	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
CURRENT ASSETS:	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	 	$	2,814	 	$	3,110	 	
Restricted cash	 	95	 	96	 	
Accounts receivable - trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,752 and $1,263	 	62,233	 	66,222	 	
Notes receivable - officer/employees	 	132	 	134	 	
Refundable income taxes	 	2,020	 	885	 	
Prepaid expenses	 	6,930	 	6,048	 	
Inventory	 	3,876	 	4,582	 	
Deferred income taxes	 	15,433	 	12,368	 	
Other current assets	 	1,692	 	8,189	 	
Current assets of discontinued operations	 	260	 	—	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total current assets	 	95,485	 	101,634	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $484,620 and $519,206	 	488,028	 	501,263	 	
Goodwill	 	179,716	 	179,930	 	
Intangible assets, net	 	2,608	 	2,680	 	
Restricted assets	 	13,563	 	13,602	 	
Notes receivable - officer/employees	 	1,101	 	1,117	 	
Investments in unconsolidated entities	 	44,617	 	41,832	 	
Other non-current assets	 	10,487	 	14,398	 	
Non-current assets of discontinued operations	 	482	 	—	 	
 	 	740,602	 	754,822	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	$	836,087	 	$	856,456	 	
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
2

 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except for share and per share data)
 
 	 	April 30,	 	October 31,	 	
 	 	2008	 	2008	 	
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
CURRENT LIABILITIES:	 	 	 	 	 	
Current maturities of long-term debt	 	$	2,758	 	$	1,736	 	
Current maturities of financing lease obligations	 	—	 	266	 	
Accounts payable	 	51,731	 	47,340	 	
Accrued payroll and related expenses	 	11,251	 	7,176	 	
Accrued interest	 	8,668	 	8,005	 	
Current accrued capping, closure and post-closure costs	 	9,265	 	5,507	 	
Other accrued liabilities	 	28,202	 	26,824	 	
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	 	949	 	—	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total current liabilities	 	112,824	 	96,854	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Long-term debt, less current maturities	 	559,227	 	562,280	 	
Financing lease obligations, less current maturities	 	—	 	11,674	 	
Accrued capping, closure and post-closure costs, less current portion	 	32,864	 	36,219	 	
Deferred income taxes	 	313	 	5,043	 	
Other long-term liabilities	 	6,007	 	7,144	 	
Non-current liabilities of discontinued operations	 	170	 	—	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:	 	 	 	 	 	
Class A common stock -	 	 	 	 	 	
Authorized - 100,000,000 shares, $0.01 par value; issued and outstanding - 24,466,000 and 24,601,000 shares as of April 30, 2008 and October 31, 2008, respectively	 	245	 	246	 	
Class B common stock -	 	 	 	 	 	
Authorized - 1,000,000 shares, $0.01 par value, 10 votes per share, issued and outstanding - 988,000 shares	 	10	 	10	 	
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	 	(2,568	)	3,395	 	
Additional paid-in capital	 	276,189	 	278,543	 	
Accumulated deficit	 	(149,194	)	(144,952	)	
Total stockholders’ equity	 	124,682	 	137,242	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	$	836,087	 	$	856,456	 	
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
3

 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
 	 	Three Months Ended
October 31,	 	Six Months Ended
October 31,	 	
 	 	2007	 	2008	 	2007	 	2008	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues	 	$	150,483	 	$	157,538	 	$	299,009	 	$	315,442	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating expenses:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cost of operations	 	95,621	 	103,728	 	192,525	 	208,170	 	
General and administration	 	18,898	 	18,299	 	36,766	 	36,739	 	
Depreciation and amortization	 	20,136	 	19,505	 	40,044	 	38,975	 	
 	 	134,655	 	141,532	 	269,335	 	283,884	 	
Operating income	 	15,828	 	16,006	 	29,674	 	31,558	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Other expense/(income), net:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Interest income	 	(246	)	(85	)	(674	)	(267	)	
Interest expense	 	11,031	 	10,338	 	22,073	 	20,494	 	
Loss from equity method investments	 	1,487	 	1,045	 	3,638	 	2,173	 	
Other (income)/expense	 	35	 	(64	)	(2,360	)	(152	)	
Other expense, net	 	12,307	 	11,234	 	22,677	 	22,248	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and discontinued operations	 	3,521	 	4,772	 	6,997	 	9,310	 	
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	 	(416	)	2,706	 	714	 	5,023	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income from continuing operations before discontinued operations	 	3,937	 	2,066	 	6,283	 	4,287	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Discontinued Operations:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Loss from discontinued operations (net of income tax benefit of $384, $0, $734 and $8)	 	(670	)	—	 	(1,274	)	(11	)	
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations (net of income tax benefit (provision) of $122, $0, $122 and ($262))	 	(437	)	—	 	(437	)	(34	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income available to common stockholders	 	$	2,830	 	$	2,066	 	$	4,572	 	$	4,242	 	
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
4

 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except for per share data)
 
 	 	Three Months Ended
October 31,	 	Six Months Ended
October 31,	 	
 	 	2007	 	2008	 	2007	 	2008	 	
Earnings Per Share:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income from continuing operations before discontinued operations available to common stockholders	 	$	0.16	 	$	0.08	 	$	0.25	 	$	0.17	 	
Loss from discontinued operations, net	 	(0.03	)	—	 	(0.05	)	—	 	
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net	 	(0.02	)	—	 	(0.02	)	—	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income per common share available to common stockholders	 	$	0.11	 	$	0.08	 	$	0.18	 	$	0.17	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding	 	25,343	 	25,561	 	25,335	 	25,517	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Diluted:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income from continuing operations before discontinued operations available to common stockholders	 	$	0.16	 	$	0.08	 	$	0.25	 	$	0.17	 	
Loss from discontinued operations, net	 	(0.03	)	—	 	(0.05	)	—	 	
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net	 	(0.02	)	—	 	(0.02	)	—	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income per common share available to common stockholders	 	$	0.11	 	$	0.08	 	$	0.18	 	$	0.17	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	 	25,652	 	25,745	 	25,592	 	25,720	 	
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
5

 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
 	 	Six Months Ended
October 31,	 	
 	 	2007	 	2008	 	
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income	 	$	4,572	 	$	4,242	 	
Loss from discontinued operations, net	 	1,274	 	11	 	
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net	 	437	 	34	 	
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities -	 	 	 	 	 	
Gain on sale of equipment	 	(418	)	(577	)	
Depreciation and amortization	 	40,045	 	38,975	 	
Depletion of landfill operating lease obligations	 	3,348	 	3,520	 	
Income from assets under contractual obligation	 	(1,367	)	(114	)	
Preferred stock dividend (included in interest expense)	 	1,038	 	—	 	
Amortization of premium on senior notes	 	(307	)	(331	)	
Maine Energy settlement	 	(2,142	)	—	 	
Loss from equity method investments	 	3,638	 	2,173	 	
Stock-based compensation	 	505	 	954	 	
Excess tax benefit on the exercise of stock options	 	(16	)	(157	)	
Deferred income taxes	 	691	 	4,647	 	
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures -	 	 	 	 	 	
Accounts receivable	 	(4,620	)	(3,978	)	
Accounts payable	 	(4,247	)	(4,400	)	
Other assets and liabilities	 	(7,121	)	(5,782	)	
 	 	29,027	 	34,930	 	
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	 	35,310	 	39,217	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	 	 	 	 	 	
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	 	(93	)	(458	)	
Additions to property, plant and equipment - growth	 	(7,965	)	(8,232	)	
                                                                          - maintenance	 	(35,025	)	(29,964	)	
Payments on landfill operating lease contracts	 	(2,413	)	(1,825	)	
Proceeds from divestitures	 	—	 	670	 	
Proceeds from sale of equipment	 	1,217	 	895	 	
Investment in unconsolidated entities	 	(85	)	(2,510	)	
Proceeds from assets under contractual obligation	 	1,422	 	114	 	
Net Cash Used In Investing Activities	 	(42,942	)	(41,310	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	 	 	 	 	 	
Proceeds from long-term borrowings	 	221,605	 	60,000	 	
Principal payments on long-term debt	 	(149,468	)	(59,104	)	
Redemption of Series A redeemable, convertible preferred stock	 	(75,056	)	—	 	
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	 	286	 	1,289	 	
Excess tax benefit on the exercise of stock options	 	16	 	157	 	
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	 	(2,617	)	2,342	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Discontinued Operations:	 	 	 	 	 	
Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	 	(211	)	47	 	
Provided by Investing Activities	 	262	 	—	 	
Cash Provided by Discontinued Operations	 	51	 	47	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	 	(10,198	)	296	 	
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	 	12,366	 	2,814	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	 	$	2,168	 	$	3,110	 	
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
6

 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
 	 	Six Months Ended
October 31,	 	
 	 	2007	 	2008	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash paid during the period for -	 	 	 	 	 	
Interest	 	$	19,154	 	$	20,463	 	
Income taxes, net of refunds	 	$	1,770	 	$	258	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Supplemental Disclosures of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:	 	 	 	 	 	
Summary of entities acquired in purchase business combinations -	 	 	 	 	 	
Fair value of assets acquired	 	$	93	 	$	458	 	
Cash paid, net	 	(93	)	(458	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Notes payable, liabilities assumed and holdbacks to sellers	 	$	—	 	$	—	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Note receivable recorded upon divestiture	 	$	4,836	 	$	—	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Property, plant and equipment acquired through financing arrangement	 	$	—	 	$	11,940	 	
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
7

 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except for per share data)
 
1.             ORGANIZATION
 
The consolidated balance sheet of Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (the “Parent”) and Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) as of October 31, 2008, the consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008 and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008 are unaudited.  In the opinion of management, such financial statements together with the consolidated balance sheet as of April 30, 2008 include all adjustments (which include normal recurring and nonrecurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented.  The consolidated financial statements presented herein should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the twelve months ended April 30, 2008  included as part of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2008 (the “Annual Report”).  The results for the three and six month periods ended October 31, 2008 may not be indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2009.
 
2.             BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
 
During the six months ended October 31, 2008, the Company acquired two solid waste hauling operations.  The transactions were in exchange for total consideration of $458 in cash.  During the six months ended October 31, 2007, the Company acquired three solid waste hauling operations.  These transactions were in exchange for total consideration of $93 in cash.  The operating results of these businesses are included in the consolidated statements of operations from the dates of acquisition.  The purchase prices have been allocated to the net assets acquired based on their fair values at the dates of acquisition, including the value of non-compete agreements and client lists, with the residual amounts allocated to goodwill.  The pro forma effect, as if each of the acquisitions had been made on May 1, 2007, do not vary materially from actual reported results for the three and six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008.
 
3.             GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
The following table shows the activity and balances related to goodwill from April 30, 2008 through October 31, 2008:
 
 	 	North
Eastern
Region	 	South
Eastern
Region	 	Central
Region	 	Western
Region	 	FCR
Recycling	 	Total	 	
Balance, April 30, 2008	 	$	23,655	 	$	31,645	 	$	31,960	 	$	54,804	 	$	37,652	 	$	179,716	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Acquisitions	 	—	 	18	 	—	 	196	 	—	 	214	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance, October 31, 2008	 	$	23,655	 	$	31,663	 	$	31,960	 	$	55,000	 	$	37,652	 	$	179,930	 	
 
Intangible assets at April 30, 2008 and October 31, 2008 consist of the following:
 
8

 
 	 	Covenants
not to
compete	 	Client Lists	 	Licensing
Agreements	 	Contract
Acquisition
Costs	 	Total	 	
Balance, April 30, 2008	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Intangible assets	 	$	15,125	 	$	1,597	 	$	920	 	$	58	 	$	17,700	 	
Less accumulated amortization	 	(14,189	)	(726	)	(167	)	(10	)	(15,092	)	
 	 	$	936	 	$	871	 	$	753	 	$	48	 	$	2,608	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance, October 31, 2008	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Intangible assets	 	$	13,870	 	$	1,597	 	$	920	 	$	389	 	$	16,776	 	
Less accumulated amortization	 	(13,097	)	(772	)	(201	)	(26	)	(14,096	)	
 	 	$	773	 	$	825	 	$	719	 	$	363	 	$	2,680	 	
 
Intangible amortization expense for the three and six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008 was $151, $154, $301 and $301, respectively.  The intangible amortization expense estimated as of October 31, 2008 for the five fiscal years following fiscal year 2008 is as follows:
 
2009	 	2010	 	2011	 	2012	 	2013	 	Thereafter	 	
$	588	 	$	444	 	$	347	 	$	268	 	$	211	 	$	822	 	

4.             NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
 
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No.159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 155  (“SFAS No. 159”). SFAS No. 159 provides companies with an option to report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value. A company shall report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date.  Upfront costs and fees related to items for which the fair value option is elected are recognized in earnings as incurred and not deferred.  SFAS No. 159 is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007.  The Company adopted this statement on May 1, 2008, but it did not have any impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations as the Company did not make any fair value elections under this standard.
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), Business Combinations (revised - 2007) (“SFAS No. 141(R)”). SFAS No. 141(R) is a revision to previously existing guidance on accounting for business combinations. The statement retains the fundamental concept of the purchase method of accounting, and introduces new requirements for the recognition and measurement of assets acquired, liabilities assumed and noncontrolling interests. SFAS No. 141(R) also requires acquisition-related transaction and restructuring costs to be expensed rather than treated as part of the cost of the acquisition.  SFAS No. 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008.  The impact of adoption of this statement on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements is dependent on the nature and volume of future acquisitions, and, therefore, cannot be determined at this time.
 
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (“SFAS No. 161”).  SFAS No. 161 amends and expands the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 133,  Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities , and requires entities to provide enhanced qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair values and amounts of gains and losses on derivative contracts, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements.  This statement applies to all entities and all derivative instruments.  SFAS No. 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008.  As SFAS No. 161 relates specifically to
 
9

 
disclosures, the adoption will have no impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. 142-3, Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets (“FSP FAS No. 142-3”).  FSP FAS No. 142-3 amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under FASB Statement No. 142,  Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets  (“SFAS No. 142”). FSP FAS No. 142-3 is intended to improve the consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS No. 142 and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset under SFAS No. 141(R) and other U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. FSP FAS No. 142-3 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company does not expect the adoption of FSP FAS No. 142-3 to have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.
 
5.             LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
On September 12, 2001, the Company’s subsidiary, North Country Environmental Services, Inc. (“NCES”), petitioned the New Hampshire Superior Court (“Superior Court”) for a declaratory judgment concerning the extent to which the Town of Bethlehem, New Hampshire (“Town”) could lawfully prohibit NCES’s expansion of its landfill in Bethlehem.  The Town filed counterclaims seeking contrary declarations and other relief.  The parties appealed the Superior Court’s decision to the New Hampshire Supreme Court (“Supreme Court”).  On March 1, 2004, the Supreme Court ruled that NCES had all necessary local approvals to landfill within a 51-acre portion of its 105-acre parcel and the Town could not prevent expansion in that area.  A significant portion of NCES’s Stage IV expansion as originally designed and approved by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (“NHDES”), however, was to lie outside the 51 acres.  With respect to expansion outside the 51 acres, the Supreme Court remanded four issues to the Superior Court for further proceedings.  On April 25, 2005, the Superior Court rendered summary judgment in NCES’s favor on two of the four issues, leaving the other two issues for trial.  The two issues that were decided on summary judgment remain subject to appeal by the Town.  In March of 2005, the Town adopted a new zoning ordinance that prohibited landfilling outside of a new “District V,” which corresponded to the 51 acres.  The Town then amended its pleadings to seek a declaration that the new ordinance was valid.  The parties each filed motions for partial summary judgment.  Following the court’s decisions on those motions, the validity of the new ordinance remained subject to trial based on two defenses raised by NCES.  On March 30, 2007, NCES applied to the NHDES for a permit modification under which all Stage IV capacity (denominated “Stage IV, Phase II”) would be relocated within the 51 acres.  That application was superseded by a new application, filed on November 30, 2007, that would bring all berms along the perimeter of the landfill’s footprint within the 51 acres as well.  NCES sought a stay of the litigation on the ground that, if NHDES were to grant the permit modification, there would be no need for NCES to expand beyond the 51 acres for eight or more years, and the case could be dismissed as moot or unripe.  The Superior Court granted the stay pending a decision by NHDES.  The permit modification application currently remains pending before NHDES. The NHDES conducted public hearings in July and September 2008.  The NHDES decision to grant the permit modification is expected to be made during the fourth quarter of calendar year 2008.
 
The Company, on behalf of itself, its subsidiary FCR, LLC (“FCR”), and as a Majority Managing Member of Green Mountain Glass, LLC (“GMG”), initiated a declaratory judgment action against GR Technologies, Inc. (“GRT”), Anthony C. Lane and Robert Cameron Billmyer (“the Defendants”) on June 8, 2007, to resolve issues raised by GRT as the minority shareholder of GMG.  The issues addressed in the action included exercise of management discretion, right to intellectual property, and other related disputes.  The Defendants counterclaimed in May 2008 seeking unspecified damages on a variety of bases including, among others, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, tortious interference with business relations, induced infringement and other matters.  Management intends to vigorously contest
 
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those allegations, and it believes that the claims have no merit substantively or as a matter of law.  Additionally, the Defendants filed a Derivative Action in Rutland Superior Court as a Managing Member of GMG on July 2, 2008 against several employees of the Company and its subsidiary FCR, LLC, making similar allegations.  On September 16, 2008, the Company filed a Motion for Summary Judgment, and a Proposed Order Decreeing Dissolution and Appointing a Special Master, alleging that the relationship of GRT and FCR in GMG is irretrievably broken.  All litigation is in its early stages and, accordingly, it is not possible at this time to evaluate the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or provide meaningful estimates as to amount or range of potential loss, but management currently believes that the litigation, regardless of its outcome, will not have a material adverse affect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
 
The Company offers no prediction of the outcome of any of the proceedings or negotiations described above. The Company is vigorously defending each of these lawsuits and claims. However, there can be no guarantee the Company will prevail or that any judgments against the Company, if sustained on appeal, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations or cash flows.
 
The Company is a defendant in certain other lawsuits alleging various claims incurred in the ordinary course of business, none of which, either individually or in the aggregate, the Company believes are material to its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
 
6.                                      ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES
 
The Company is subject to liability for environmental damage, including personal injury and property damage, that its solid waste, recycling and power generation facilities may cause to neighboring property owners, particularly as a result of the contamination of drinking water sources or soil, possibly including damage resulting from conditions existing before the Company acquired the facilities. The Company may also be subject to liability for similar claims arising from off-site environmental contamination caused by pollutants or hazardous substances if the Company or its predecessors arrange or arranged to transport, treat or dispose of those materials.
 
On December 20, 2000, the State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation (“DEC”) issued an Order on Consent (“Order”) which named Waste Stream, Inc. (“WSI”), a Casella subsidiary, General Motors Corporation (“GM”) and Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (“NiMo”) as Respondents.  The Order required that the Respondents undertake certain work on a 25-acre scrap yard and solid waste transfer station owned by WSI, including a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (“the Study”), and permitted the Respondents to propose and implement, if approved by DEC, interim remedial measures for the site.  It is anticipated that the Study will be submitted to the DEC in the next ninety days.  It is presently impossible to meaningfully determine a range of the dollar cost of our potential participation in the remediation, principally because (i) there is a wide range of remediation options under consideration, and (ii) other Respondents will be required to contribute to the remediation.
 
Any substantial liability incurred by the Company arising from environmental damage could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.  The Company is not presently aware of any situations that it expects would have a material adverse impact on its business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
 
7.                                      STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 
On July 28, 2008, the Company granted restricted stock units under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”) in the form of performance shares to certain employees.  Receipt of these shares is contingent upon the Company’s attainment of certain performance metrics on an average basis over a
 
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three fiscal year period.  At the one hundred percent level of attainment the grantee pool would be entitled to a total of 212 shares of Class A Common Stock.  These units were granted at a value of $12.14 per share and are unvested and unissued at October 31, 2008.
 
On October 14, 2008, the Company granted 27 restricted stock units under the 2006 plan to non-employee directors of the Company.  These shares will vest in equal amounts over a three year period starting on the first anniversary of the grant date.
 
Stock options granted generally vest over a one to four year period from the date of grant and are granted at prices at least equal to the prevailing fair market value at the issue date. In general, options are issued with a life not to exceed ten years. Shares issued by the Company upon exercise of stock options are issued from the pool of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock.
 
A summary of stock option activity for the six months ended October 31, 2008 is as follows:
 
 	 	Total
Shares	 	Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price	 	
Outstanding, April 30, 2008	 	3,782	 	$	12.82	 	
Granted	 	5	 	12.62	 	
Exercised	 	(111	)	9.98	 	
Forfeited	 	(279	)	21.27	 	
Outstanding, October 31, 2008	 	3,397	 	12.22	 	
Exercisable, October 31, 2008	 	2,961	 	$	12.21	 	
 
The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted was $5.09 and $5.49 per option for the six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008, respectively.  There are 1,841 Class A Common Stock equivalents available for future grant under the 2006 plan.
 
The Company recorded $259, $536, $452 and $899 of stock based compensation expense related to stock options and restricted stock units during the three and six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008, respectively.  The Company also recorded $29, $28, $53 and $55 of stock based expense for the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan during the three and six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008, respectively.
 
The Company’s calculations of stock-based compensation expense for the three and six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008 were made using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The fair value of the Company’s stock option grants was estimated assuming no expected dividend yield and the following weighted average assumptions were used for the three and six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008:
 
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 	 	Three Months Ended
October 31,	 	Six Months Ended
October 31,	 	
 	 	2007	 	2008	 	2007	 	2008	 	
Stock Options:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Expected life	 	6 years	 	—	 	6 years	 	6 years	 	
Risk-free interest rate	 	4.71%	 	—	 	4.82%	 	3.73%	 	
Expected volatility	 	37.83%	 	—	 	37.83%	 	36.80%	 	
Stock Purchase Plan:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Expected life	 	0.5 years	 	—	 	0.5 years	 	0.5 years	 	
Risk-free interest rate	 	5.02%	 	—	 	5.07%	 	2.49%	 	
Expected volatility	 	37.22%	 	—	 	35.10%	 	36.44%	 	
 
Expected life is calculated based on the weighted average historical life of the vested stock options, giving consideration to vesting schedules and historical exercise patterns. Risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. treasury yield curve for the period of the expected life of the stock option. For stock options granted during the three and six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008, expected volatility is calculated using the average of weekly historical volatility of the Company’s Class A Common Stock over the last six years.
 
The Black-Scholes valuation model requires extensive use of accounting judgment and financial estimation, including estimates of the expected term option holders will retain their vested stock options before exercising them, the estimated volatility of the Company’s Class A Common Stock price over the expected term, and the number of options that will be forfeited prior to the completion of their vesting requirements. Application of alternative assumptions could produce significantly different estimates of the fair value of stock-based compensation and consequently, the related amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
 
8.                                      EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
The following table sets forth the numerator and denominator used in the computation of earnings per share:
 
 	 	Three Months Ended
October 31,	 	Six Months Ended
October 31,	 	
 	 	2007	 	2008	 	2007	 	2008	 	
Numerator:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income available to common stockholders	 	$	2,830	 	$	2,066	 	$	4,572	 	$	4,242	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Denominator:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Number of shares outstanding, end of period:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Class A common stock	 	24,363	 	24,601	 	24,363	 	24,601	 	
Class B common stock	 	988	 	988	 	988	 	988	 	
Effect of weighted average shares outstanding during period	 	(8	)	(28	)	(16	)	(72	)	
Weighted average number of common shares used in basic EPS	 	25,343	 	25,561	 	25,335	 	25,517	 	
Impact of potentially dilutive securities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Dilutive effect of options and restricted stock	 	309	 	184	 	257	 	203	 	
Weighted average number of common shares used in diluted EPS	 	25,652	 	25,745	 	25,592	 	25,720	 	

For the three and six months ended October 31, 2007, 2,373 and 2,933 common stock equivalents related to options and warrants were excluded from the calculation of dilutive shares since the inclusion of such shares would be anti-dilutive.
 
For the three and six months ended October 31, 2008, 2,715 and 2,713 common stock equivalents related to options, warrants and restricted stock units were excluded from the calculation of dilutive shares since
 
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the inclusion of such shares would be anti-dilutive.
 
9.                                      COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
Comprehensive income is defined as the change in net assets of a business enterprise during a period from transactions generated from non-owner sources. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) included in the accompanying balance sheets consists of changes in the fair value of the Company’s interest rate derivatives and commodity hedge agreements.  Also included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is the change in fair value of certain securities classified as available for sale as well as the Company’s portion of the change in the fair value of commodity hedge agreements of the Company’s equity method investment, US GreenFiber, LLC (“GreenFiber”) .
 
Comprehensive income for the three and six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008 is as follows:
 
 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Six Months Ended	 	
 	 	October 31,	 	October 31,	 	
 	 	2007	 	2008	 	2007	 	2008	 	
Net income	 	$	2,830	 	$	2,066	 	$	4,572	 	$	4,242	 	
Other comprehensive income (loss)	 	(101	)	4,805	 	(285	)	5,963	 	
Comprehensive income	 	$	2,729	 	$	6,871	 	$	4,287	 	$	10,205	 	
 
The components of other comprehensive income (loss) for the three and six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008 are shown as follows:
 
 	 	Three Months Ended October 31,	 	
 	 	2007	 	2008	 	
 	 	Gross	 	Tax
effect	 	Net of Tax	 	Gross	 	Tax
effect	 	Net of Tax	 	
Changes in fair value of marketable securities during the period	 	$	91	 	$	32	 	$	59	 	$	(89	)	$	(32	)	$	(57	)	
Change in fair value of interest rate derivatives and commodity hedges during period	 	(840	)	(340	)	(500	)	6,525	 	2,627	 	3,898	 	
Reclassification to earnings for interest rate derivatives and commodity hedge contracts	 	571	 	231	 	340	 	1,614	 	650	 	964	 	
 	 	$	(178	)	$	(77	)	$	(101	)	$	8,050	 	$	3,245	 	$	4,805	 	
 
 	 	Six Months Ended October 31,	 	
 	 	2007	 	2008	 	
 	 	Gross	 	Tax
effect	 	Net of Tax	 	Gross	 	Tax
effect	 	Net of Tax	 	
Changes in fair value of marketable securities during the period	 	$	60	 	$	21	 	$	39	 	$	(186	)	$	(65	)	$	(121	)	
Change in fair value of interest rate derivatives and commodity hedges during period	 	(1,539	)	(612	)	(927	)	7,118	 	2,865	 	4,253	 	
Reclassification to earnings for interest rate derivatives and commodity hedge contracts	 	999	 	396	 	603	 	3,081	 	1,250	 	1,831	 	
 	 	$	(480	)	$	(195	)	$	(285	)	$	10,013	 	$	4,050	 	$	5,963	 	
 
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10.                               FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
Effective May 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS No. 157”) as it relates to financial assets and liabilities that are being measured and reported at fair value on a recurring basis.
 
SFAS No. 157 provides a framework for measuring fair value and establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value, giving the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 inputs) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs).
 
The Company’s financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis include derivative instruments as well as certain investments included in restricted assets.  The Company’s restricted assets measured at fair value include investments in fixed-maturity securities which serve as collateral for the Company’s self-insurance claims liability, self insurance reserves and landfill post closure obligations.
 
The Company’s derivative instruments include interest rate swaps and collars along with commodity hedges.  The Company uses interest rate derivatives to hedge the risk of adverse movements in interest rates.  The fair value of these cash flow hedges are based primarily on the LIBOR index.  The Company uses commodity hedges to hedge the risk of adverse movements in commodity pricing.  The fair value of these hedges is based on futures pricing in the underlying commodities.
 
The Company uses valuation techniques that maximize the use of market prices and observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. In measuring the fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities, the Company relies on market data or assumptions that the Company believes market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.  As of October 31, 2008, our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis include the following:
 
 	 	Fair Value Measurement at October 31, 2008 Using:	 	
 	 	Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)	 	Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)	 	Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)	 	
Assets:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Restricted assets - available for sale securities	 	$	13,602	 	$	—	 	$	—	 	
Commodity derivatives	 	—	 	 	9,414	 	—	 	
Total	 	$	13,602	 	$	9,414	 	$	—	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Liabilities	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Interest rate derivatives	 	$	—	 	$	1,390	 	$	—	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total	 	$	—	 	$	1,390	 	$	—	 	

11.                               DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
 
The Company’s strategy to hedge against fluctuations in the commodity prices of recycled paper is to enter into hedges to mitigate the variability in cash flows generated from the sales of recycled paper at floating prices, resulting in a fixed price being received from these sales.  The Company was party to thirty-three commodity hedge contracts as of October 31, 2008.  These contracts expire between
 
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December 2008 and December 2011.  The Company has evaluated these hedges and believes that these instruments qualify for hedge accounting pursuant to SFAS No. 133,  Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended (“SFAS No. 133”).  As of October 31, 2008 the fair value of these hedges was an asset of $9,414, with the net amount (net of taxes of $3,791) recorded as an unrealized gain in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
 
The Company is party to three separate interest rate swap agreements with three banks for a notional amount of $105,000.  One agreement for a notional amount of $30,000 effectively fixes the interest rate index at 4.74% from November 4, 2007 through May 7, 2009.  Two agreements, for a notional amount of $75,000, effectively fix the interest index rate on the entire notional amount at approximately 4.68% from May 6, 2008 through May 6, 2009.  These agreements are specifically designated to interest payments under the Company’s term B loan and are accounted for as effective cash flow hedges pursuant to SFAS No. 133.  As of October 31, 2008, the fair value of the Company’s interest rate swaps was an obligation of $1,090, with the net amount (net of taxes of $440) recorded as an unrealized loss in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
 
The Company is party to two separate interest rate zero-cost collars with two banks for a notional amount of $60,000.  The collars have an interest index rate cap of 6.00% and an interest index rate floor of approximately 4.48% and are effective from November 6, 2006 through May 5, 2009.  These agreements are specifically designated to interest payments under the revolving credit facility and are accounted for as effective cash flow hedges pursuant to SFAS No. 133.  As of October 31, 2008, the fair value of these collars was an obligation of $300, with the net amount (net of taxes of $119) recorded as an unrealized loss in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
 
12.                               DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
 
During the second quarter of fiscal year 2008, the Company completed the sale of the Company’s Buffalo, N.Y. transfer station, hauling operation and related equipment in the Western region for proceeds of $4,873 including a note receivable for $2,500 and net cash proceeds of $2,373.  The company recorded a loss on disposal of discontinued operations (net of tax) of $437.
 
During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008, the Company terminated its operation of MTS Environmental, a soils processing operation in the North Eastern region.
 
The Company completed the divestiture of its FCR Greenville operation in the quarter ended July 31, 2008 for cash proceeds of $670.  The company recorded a loss on disposal of discontinued operations (net of tax) of $34.
 
The operating results of these operations for the three and six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008 have been reclassified from continuing to discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
 
Revenues and loss before income taxes attributable to discontinued operations for the three and six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008 were as follows:
 
 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Six Months Ended	 	
 	 	October 31,	 	October 31,	 	
 	 	2007	 	2008	 	2007	 	2008	 	
Revenues	 	$	3,368	 	$	—	 	$	7,275	 	$	282	 	
Loss before income taxes	 	$	(1,054	)	$	—	 	$	(2,008	)	$	(19	)	
 
The Company has recorded contingent liabilities associated with these divestitures amounting to
 
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approximately $1,396 at October 31, 2008.
 
In accordance with EITF Issue No. 87-24, Allocation of Interest to Discontinued Operations, the Company allocates interest to discontinued operations. The Company has also eliminated certain immaterial inter-company activity associated with discontinued operations.
 
13.                               SEGMENT REPORTING
 
SFAS No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information (“SFAS No. 131”), establishes standards for reporting information about operating segments in financial statements.  In general, SFAS No. 131 requires that business entities report selected information about operating segments in a manner consistent with that used for internal management reporting.
 
The Company classifies its operations into North Eastern, South Eastern, Central, Western, FCR Recycling and Other.  The Company’s revenues in the North Eastern, South Eastern, Central and Western segments are derived mainly from one industry segment, which includes the collection, transfer, recycling and disposal of non-hazardous solid waste.  The North Eastern region also includes Maine Energy, which generates electricity from non-hazardous solid waste. The Company’s revenues in the FCR Recycling segment are derived from integrated waste handling services, including processing and recycling of paper, metals, aluminum, plastics and glass.  Ancillary operations, major customer accounts, discontinued operations and earnings from equity method investees are included in Other.
 
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 	 	North Eastern	 	South Eastern	 	Central	 	Western	 	FCR	 	
 	 	Region	 	Region	 	Region	 	Region	 	Recycling	 	
Three Months Ended October 31, 2007	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Outside revenues	 	$	30,637	 	$	17,830	 	$	34,834	 	$	28,126	 	$	31,471	 	
Depreciation and amortization	 	6,095	 	2,586	 	5,133	 	4,213	 	1,643	 	
Operating income	 	1,699	 	(987	)	5,646	 	4,118	 	5,163	 	
Total assets	 	$	175,691	 	$	128,754	 	$	154,093	 	$	179,205	 	$	97,045	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Other	 	Total	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Three Months Ended October 31, 2007	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Outside revenues	 	$	7,585	 	$	150,483	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Depreciation and amortization	 	466	 	20,136	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating income	 	189	 	15,828	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total assets	 	$	97,258	 	$	832,046	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	North Eastern	 	South Eastern	 	Central	 	Western	 	FCR	 	
 	 	Region	 	Region	 	Region	 	Region	 	Recycling	 	
Three Months Ended October 31, 2008	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Outside revenues	 	$	33,143	 	$	17,465	 	$	32,447	 	$	29,723	 	$	35,953	 	
Depreciation and amortization	 	6,499	 	3,021	 	4,083	 	3,924	 	1,599	 	
Operating income	 	1,553	 	(502	)	4,809	 	5,713	 	4,786	 	
Total assets	 	$	174,521	 	$	123,559	 	$	159,327	 	$	181,603	 	$	119,322	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Other	 	Total	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Three Months Ended October 31, 2008	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Outside revenues	 	$	8,807	 	$	157,538	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Depreciation and amortization	 	379	 	19,505	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating income	 	(353	)	16,006	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total assets	 	$	98,124	 	$	856,456	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 
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 	 	North Eastern	 	South Eastern	 	Central	 	Western	 	FCR	 	
 	 	Region	 	Region	 	Region	 	Region	 	Recycling	 	
Six Months Ended October 31, 2007	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Outside revenues	 	$	61,652	 	$	34,975	 	$	69,748	 	$	56,480	 	$	60,742	 	
Depreciation and amortization	 	12,086	 	4,731	 	10,321	 	8,577	 	3,348	 	
Operating income	 	2,299	 	(2,137	)	11,219	 	8,441	 	9,325	 	
Total assets	 	$	175,691	 	$	128,754	 	$	154,093	 	$	179,205	 	$	97,045	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Other	 	Total	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Six Months Ended October 31, 2007	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Outside revenues	 	$	15,412	 	$	299,009	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Depreciation and amortization	 	981	 	40,044	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating income	 	527	 	29,674	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total assets	 	$	97,258	 	$	832,046	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	North Eastern	 	South Eastern	 	Central	 	Western	 	FCR	 	
 	 	Region	 	Region	 	Region	 	Region	 	Recycling	 	
Six Months Ended October 31, 2008	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Outside revenues	 	$	65,478	 	$	34,836	 	$	66,727	 	$	59,610	 	$	71,172	 	
Depreciation and amortization	 	12,678	 	5,658	 	8,620	 	8,005	 	3,211	 	
Operating income	 	2,074	 	(652	)	9,624	 	11,524	 	9,822	 	
Total assets	 	$	174,521	 	$	123,559	 	$	159,327	 	$	181,603	 	$	119,322	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Other	 	Total	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Six Months Ended October 31, 2008	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Outside revenues	 	$	17,619	 	$	315,442	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Depreciation and amortization	 	803	 	38,975	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating income	 	(834	)	31,558	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total assets	 	$	98,124	 	$	856,456	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 
Amounts of the Company’s total revenue attributable to services provided are as follows:
 
 	 	Three Months Ended
October 31,	 	Six Months Ended
October 31,	 	
 	 	2007	 	2008	 	2007	 	2008	 	
Collection	 	$	69,178	 	$	70,094	 	$	138,331	 	$	141,422	 	
Landfill / disposal facilities	 	28,966	 	30,866	 	58,169	 	59,909	 	
Transfer	 	7,691	 	8,717	 	15,038	 	17,920	 	
Recycling	 	44,648	 	47,861	 	87,471	 	96,191	 	
Total revenues	 	$	150,483	 	$	157,538	 	$	299,009	 	$	315,442	 	
 
14.                               INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED ENTITIES
 
The Company entered into an agreement in July 2000 with Louisiana-Pacific Corporation to combine their respective cellulose insulation businesses into a single operating entity, GreenFiber, under a joint venture agreement effective August 1, 2000. The Company’s investment in GreenFiber amounted to $29,571 and $26,776 at April 30, 2008 and October 31, 2008, respectively.
 
19

 
On August 15, 2008, the Company made a $2,500 equity contribution to GreenFiber to support a refinancing of GreenFiber’s existing revolving credit facility.  In addition, the other member of GreenFiber, Louisiana-Pacific (“LP”), made the same equity contribution resulting in no change to the Company’s ownership in GreenFiber.  The Company will continue to account for its 50% ownership in GreenFiber using the equity method of accounting.
 
In addition, the Company and LP issued a joint and several guarantee of up to $2,000 to support the refinancing of a GreenFiber term loan.  The guarantee can be drawn only upon a default (as defined) by GreenFiber under this term loan.  As of October 31, 2008, the Company has recorded $75 as the carrying amount of the guarantee.
 
Summarized financial information for GreenFiber is as follows:
 
 	 	April 30,
2008	 	October 31,
2008	 	 	 	 	 	
Current assets	 	$	23,095	 	$	26,741	 	 	 	 	 	
Noncurrent assets	 	69,681	 	67,344	 	 	 	 	 	
Current liabilities	 	16,229	 	17,274	 	 	 	 	 	
Noncurrent liabilities	 	$	17,365	 	$	23,231	 	 	 	 	 	
 
 	 	Three Months Ended
October 31,	 	Six Months Ended
October 31,	 	
 	 	2007	 	2008	 	2007	 	2008	 	
Revenue	 	$	41,995	 	$	35,496	 	$	75,494	 	$	65,729	 	
Gross profit	 	7,002	 	4,628	 	12,433	 	9,074	 	
Net loss	 	$	(1,816	)	$	(2,090	)	$	(5,409	)	$	(4,347	)	
 
15.          NET ASSETS UNDER CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION
 
Effective June 30, 2003, the Company transferred its domestic brokerage operations, as well as a commercial recycling business to former employees who had been responsible for managing those businesses.  Consideration for the transaction was in the form of two notes receivable amounting up to $6,925.  These notes are payable within twelve years of the anniversary date of the transaction, to the extent of free cash flow generated from the operations.
 
Effective August 1, 2005, the Company transferred a certain Canadian recycling operation to a former employee who had been responsible for managing that business.  Consideration for this transaction was in the form of a note receivable amounting up to $1,313, which is payable within six years of the anniversary date of the transaction to the extent of free cash flow generated from the operations.
 
The Company has not accounted for these transactions as sales based on an assessment that the risks and other incidents of ownership have not sufficiently transferred to the buyers. The net assets of the operations were disclosed in the balance sheet as “net assets under contractual obligation”, and were being reduced as payments are made.  During the three and six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008, the Company recognized income on the transactions in the amount of $629, $25, $1,367 and $114, respectively, as payments received on the notes receivable exceeded the balance of the net assets under contractual obligation.  Minimum amounts owed to the Company under these notes amounted to $2,076 and $1,932 at April 30, 2008 and October 31, 2008, respectively.
 
20

 
16.          CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
The Company’s senior subordinated notes due 2013 are guaranteed jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally, by the Company’s significant wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Parent is the issuer and non-guarantor of the senior subordinated notes. The information which follows presents the condensed consolidating financial position as of April 30, 2007 and October 31, 2008, and the condensed consolidating results of operations for the three and six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008 and the condensed consolidating statements of cash flows for the six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008 of (a) the Parent company only, (b) the combined guarantors (“the Guarantors”), each of which is 100% wholly-owned by the Parent, (c) the combined non-guarantors (“the Non-Guarantors”), (d) eliminating entries and (e) the Company on a consolidated basis.
 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
AS OF APRIL 30, 2008
(in thousands, except for share and per share data)
 
 	 	Parent	 	Guarantors	 	Non-Guarantors	 	Elimination	 	Consolidated	 	
ASSETS	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
CURRENT ASSETS:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	 	$	1,260	 	$	1,306	 	$	248	 	$	—	 	$	2,814	 	
Restricted cash	 	—	 	95	 	—	 	—	 	95	 	
Accounts receivable - trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	 	80	 	61,969	 	184	 	—	 	62,233	 	
Notes receivable - officers/employees	 	132	 	—	 	—	 	—	 	132	 	
Refundable income taxes	 	2,020	 	—	 	—	 	—	 	2,020	 	
Prepaid expenses	 	2,541	 	4,389	 	—	 	—	 	6,930	 	
Deferred taxes	 	14,639	 	—	 	794	 	—	 	15,433	 	
Other current assets	 	501	 	5,327	 	—	 	—	 	5,828	 	
Total current assets	 	21,173	 	73,086	 	1,226	 	—	 	95,485	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization	 	2,557	 	485,471	 	—	 	—	 	488,028	 	
Goodwill	 	—	 	179,716	 	—	 	—	 	179,716	 	
Investment in subsidiaries	 	2,898	 	—	 	—	 	(2,898	)	—	 	
Other non-current assets	 	26,370	 	37,254	 	13,613	 	(4,379	)	72,858	 	
 	 	31,825	 	702,441	 	13,613	 	(7,277	)	740,602	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Intercompany receivable	 	652,849	 	(649,823	)	(7,405	)	4,379	 	—	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	$	705,847	 	$	125,704	 	$	7,434	 	$	(2,898	)	$	836,087	 	
 
 	 	Parent	 	Guarantors	 	Non - Guarantors	 	Elimination	 	Consolidated	 	
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
CURRENT LIABILITIES:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current maturities of long term debt	 	$	1,858	 	$	900	 	$	—	 	$	—	 	$	2,758	 	
Accounts payable	 	4,084	 	47,503	 	144	 	—	 	51,731	 	
Accrued payroll and related expenses	 	2,834	 	8,417	 	—	 	—	 	11,251	 	
Other current liabilities	 	20,754	 	20,079	 	6,251	 	—	 	47,084	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total current liabilities	 	29,530	 	76,899	 	6,395	 	—	 	112,824	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Long-term debt, less current maturities	 	550,078	 	9,149	 	—	 	—	 	559,227	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Other long-term liabilities	 	1,557	 	35,881	 	1,916	 	—	 	39,354	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Class A common stock -
Authorized - 100,000,000 shares, $0.01 par value; issued and outstanding - 24,466,000 shares	 	245	 	100	 	100	 	(200	)	245	 	
Class B common stock -
Authorized - 1,000,000 shares, $0.01 par value, 10 votes per share, issued and outstanding - 988,000 shares	 	10	 	—	 	—	 	—	 	10	 	
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	 	(2,568	)	502	 	143	 	(645	)	(2,568	)	
Additional paid-in capital	 	276,189	 	46,430	 	3,988	 	(50,418	)	276,189	 	
Accumulated deficit	 	(149,194	)	(43,257	)	(5,108	)	48,365	 	(149,194	)	
Total stockholders’ equity	 	124,682	 	3,775	 	(877	)	(2,898	)	124,682	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	$	705,847	 	$	125,704	 	$	7,434	 	$	(2,898	)	$	836,087	 	
 
21

 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
AS OF OCTOBER 31, 2008
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except for share and per share data)
 
 	 	Parent	 	Guarantors	 	Non-Guarantors	 	Elimination	 	Consolidated	 	
ASSETS	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
CURRENT ASSETS:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	 	$	1,266	 	$	1,503	 	$	341	 	$	—	 	$	3,110	 	
Accounts receivable - trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	 	—	 	66,043	 	179	 	—	 	66,222	 	
Refundable income taxes	 	885	 	—	 	—	 	—	 	885	 	
Other current assets	 	19,771	 	10,846	 	800	 	—	 	31,417	 	
Total current assets	 	21,922	 	78,392	 	1,320	 	—	 	101,634	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization	 	2,917	 	498,346	 	—	 	—	 	501,263	 	
Goodwill	 	—	 	179,930	 	—	 	—	 	179,930	 	
Investment in subsidiaries	 	20,541	 	—	 	—	 	(20,541	)	—	 	
Other non-current assets	 	30,790	 	33,629	 	13,589	 	(4,379	)	73,629	 	
 	 	54,248	 	711,905	 	13,589	 	(24,920	)	754,200	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Intercompany receivable	 	652,988	 	(649,637	)	(7,730	)	4,379	 	—	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	$	729,158	 	$	140,660	 	$	7,179	 	$	(20,541	)	$	856,456	 	
 
 	 	Parent	 	Guarantors	 	Non - Guarantors	 	Elimination	 	Consolidated	 	
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
CURRENT LIABILITIES:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current maturities of long term debt	 	$	1,009	 	$	727	 	$	—	 	$	—	 	$	1,736	 	
Accounts payable	 	3,452	 	43,740	 	148	 	—	 	47,340	 	
Accrued payroll and related expenses	 	1,613	 	5,563	 	—	 	—	 	7,176	 	
Accrued closure and post-closure costs, current portion	 	—	 	5,503	 	4	 	—	 	5,507	 	
Other current liabilities	 	17,334	 	11,461	 	6,300	 	—	 	35,095	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total current liabilities	 	23,408	 	66,994	 	6,452	 	—	 	96,854	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Long-term debt, less current maturities	 	560,942	 	1,338	 	—	 	—	 	562,280	 	
Financing lease obligations, less current maturities	 	—	 	11,674	 	—	 	—	 	11,674	 	
Deferred income taxes	 	5,043	 	—	 	—	 	—	 	5,043	 	
Other long-term liabilities	 	2,523	 	38,904	 	1,936	 	—	 	43,363	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Class A common stock -
Authorized - 100,000,000 shares, $0.01 par value; issued and outstanding - 24,601,000 shares	 	246	 	100	 	100	 	(200	)	246	 	
Class B common stock -
Authorized - 1,000,000 shares, $0.01 par value, 10 votes per share, issued and outstanding - 988,000 shares	 	10	 	—	 	—	 	—	 	10	 	
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	 	3,395	 	(1,423	)	27	 	1,396	 	3,395	 	
Additional paid-in capital	 	278,543	 	46,430	 	3,988	 	(50,418	)	278,543	 	
Accumulated deficit	 	(144,952	)	(23,357	)	(5,324	)	28,681	 	(144,952	)	
Total stockholders’ equity	 	137,242	 	21,750	 	(1,209	)	(20,541	)	137,242	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	$	729,158	 	$	140,660	 	$	7,179	 	$	(20,541	)	$	856,456	 	
 
22

 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
THREE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2007
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
 	 	Parent	 	Guarantors	 	Non - Guarantors	 	Elimination	 	Consolidated	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues	 	$	—	 	$	150,483	 	$	1,702	 	$	(1,702	)	$	150,483	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating expenses:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cost of operations	 	—	 	95,538	 	1,785	 	(1,702	)	95,621	 	
General and administration	 	463	 	18,199	 	236	 	—	 	18,898	 	
Depreciation and amortization	 	403	 	19,733	 	—	 	—	 	20,136	 	
 	 	866	 	133,470	 	2,021	 	(1,702	)	134,655	 	
Operating income (loss)	 	(866	)	17,013	 	(319	)	—	 	15,828	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Other expense/(income), net:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Interest income	 	(8,244	)	(167	)	(150	)	8,315	 	(246	)	
Interest expense	 	11,744	 	7,602	 	—	 	(8,315	)	11,031	 	
Loss (income) from equity method investments	 	(6,856	)	1,487	 	—	 	6,856	 	1,487	 	
Other expense (income)	 	87	 	(52	)	—	 	—	 	35	 	
Other expense/(income), net	 	(3,269	)	8,870	 	(150	)	6,856	 	12,307	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and discontinued operations	 	2,403	 	8,143	 	(169	)	(6,856	)	3,521	 	
(Benefit) provision for income taxes	 	(427	)	—	 	11	 	—	 	(416	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income (loss) from continuing operations before discontinued operations	 	2,830	 	8,143	 	(180	)	(6,856	)	3,937	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Discontinued operations:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Loss from discontinued operations, net	 	—	 	(670	)	—	 	—	 	(670	)	
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net	 	—	 	(437	)	—	 	—	 	(437	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	 	$	2,830	 	$	7,036	 	$	(180	)	$	(6,856	)	$	2,830	 	
 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
THREE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2008
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
 	 	Parent	 	Guarantors	 	Non - Guarantors	 	Elimination	 	Consolidated	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues	 	$	—	 	$	157,538	 	$	1,694	 	$	(1,694	)	$	157,538	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating expenses:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cost of operations	 	—	 	103,556	 	1,866	 	(1,694	)	103,728	 	
General and administration	 	(7	)	18,264	 	42	 	—	 	18,299	 	
Depreciation and amortization	 	310	 	19,195	 	—	 	—	 	19,505	 	
 	 	303	 	141,015	 	1,908	 	(1,694	)	141,532	 	
Operating income (loss)	 	(303	)	16,523	 	(214	)	—	 	16,006	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Other expense/(income), net:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Interest income	 	(7,708	)	(43	)	(24	)	7,690	 	(85	)	
Interest expense	 	10,384	 	7,644	 	—	 	(7,690	)	10,338	 	
Loss (income) from equity method investments	 	(7,788	)	1,045	 	—	 	7,788	 	1,045	 	
Other income	 	(7	)	(57	)	—	 	—	 	(64	)	
Other expense/(income), net	 	(5,119	)	8,589	 	(24	)	7,788	 	11,234	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and discontinued operations	 	4,816	 	7,934	 	(190	)	(7,788	)	4,772	 	
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	 	2,750	 	—	 	(44	)	—	 	2,706	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders	 	$	2,066	 	$	7,934	 	$	(146	)	$	(7,788	)	$	2,066	 	
 
23

 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
SIX MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2007
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
 	 	Parent	 	Guarantors	 	Non - Guarantors	 	Elimination	 	Consolidated	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues	 	$	—	 	$	299,009	 	$	3,404	 	$	(3,404	)	$	299,009	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating expenses:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cost of operations	 	2	 	192,041	 	3,886	 	(3,404	)	192,525	 	
General and administration	 	428	 	36,261	 	77	 	—	 	36,766	 	
Depreciation and amortization	 	853	 	39,191	 	—	 	—	 	40,044	 	
 	 	1,283	 	267,493	 	3,963	 	(3,404	)	269,335	 	
Operating income (loss)	 	(1,283	)	31,516	 	(559	)	—	 	29,674	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Other expense/(income), net:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Interest income	 	(17,222	)	(120	)	(310	)	16,978	 	(674	)	
Interest expense	 	23,657	 	15,394	 	—	 	(16,978	)	22,073	 	
Loss (income) from equity method investments	 	(12,858	)	3,638	 	—	 	12,858	 	3,638	 	
Other income	 	(120	)	(2,240	)	—	 	—	 	(2,360	)	
Other expense/(income), net	 	(6,543	)	16,672	 	(310	)	12,858	 	22,677	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and discontinued operations	 	5,260	 	14,844	 	(249	)	(12,858	)	6,997	 	
Provision for income taxes	 	688	 	—	 	26	 	—	 	714	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income (loss) from continuing operations before discontinued operations	 	4,572	 	14,844	 	(275	)	(12,858	)	6,283	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Discontinued operations:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Loss from discontinued operations, net	 	—	 	(1,274	)	—	 	—	 	(1,274	)	
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net	 	—	 	(437	)	—	 	—	 	(437	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	 	$	4,572	 	$	13,133	 	$	(275	)	$	(12,858	)	$	4,572	 	
 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
SIX MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2008
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
 	 	Parent	 	Guarantors	 	Non - Guarantors	 	Elimination	 	Consolidated	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues	 	$	—	 	$	315,442	 	$	3,387	 	$	(3,387	)	$	315,442	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating expenses:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cost of operations	 	245	 	207,681	 	3,631	 	(3,387	)	208,170	 	
General and administration	 	(133	)	36,762	 	110	 	—	 	36,739	 	
Depreciation and amortization	 	650	 	38,325	 	—	 	—	 	38,975	 	
 	 	762	 	282,768	 	3,741	 	(3,387	)	283,884	 	
Operating income (loss)	 	(762	)	32,674	 	(354	)	—	 	31,558	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Other expense/(income), net:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Interest income	 	(15,461	)	(67	)	(163	)	15,424	 	(267	)	
Interest expense	 	20,622	 	15,296	 	—	 	(15,424	)	20,494	 	
Loss (income) from equity method investments	 	(15,121	)	2,173	 	—	 	15,121	 	2,173	 	
Other income	 	(42	)	(110	)	—	 	—	 	(152	)	
Other expense/(income), net	 	(10,002	)	17,292	 	(163	)	15,121	 	22,248	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and discontinued operations	 	9,240	 	15,382	 	(191	)	(15,121	)	9,310	 	
Provision for income taxes	 	4,998	 	—	 	25	 	—	 	5,023	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income (loss) from continuing operations before discontinued operations	 	4,242	 	15,382	 	(216	)	(15,121	)	4,287	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Discontinued operations:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Loss from discontinued operations, net	 	—	 	(11	)	—	 	—	 	(11	)	
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net	 	—	 	(34	)	—	 	—	 	(34	)	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders	 	$	4,242	 	$	15,337	 	$	(216	)	$	(15,121	)	$	4,242	 	
 
24

 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
SIX MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2007
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
 	 	Parent	 	Guarantors	 	Non-Guarantors	 	Elimination	 	Consolidated	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	 	$	(3,434	)	$	39,576	 	$	(832	)	$	—	 	$	35,310	 	
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	 	—	 	(93	)	—	 	—	 	(93	)	
Additions to property, plant and equipment - growth	 	—	 	(7,965	)	—	 	—	 	(7,965	)	
                          - maintenance	 	(583	)	(34,442	)	—	 	—	 	(35,025	)	
Payments on landfill operating lease contracts	 	—	 	(2,413	)	—	 	—	 	(2,413	)	
Investment in unconsolidated entities	 	(85	)	—	 	—	 	—	 	(85	)	
Other	 	—	 	2,639	 	—	 	—	 	2,639	 	
Net Cash Used In Investing Activities	 	(668	)	(42,274	)	—	 	—	 	(42,942	)	
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Proceeds from long-term borrowings	 	221,605	 	—	 	—	 	—	 	221,605	 	
Principal payments on long-term debt	 	(149,176	)	(292	)	—	 	—	 	(149,468	)	
Redemption of Series A redeemable, convertible preferred stock	 	(75,057	)	1	 	—	 	—	 	(75,056	)	
Other	 	302	 	—	 	—	 	—	 	302	 	
Intercompany borrowings	 	8,785	 	(8,656	)	(129	)	—	 	—	 	
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities	 	6,459	 	(8,947	)	(129	)	—	 	(2,617	)	
Cash Provided by Discontinued Operations	 	—	 	51	 	—	 	—	 	51	 	
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	 	2,357	 	(11,594	)	(961	)	—	 	(10,198	)	
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	 	(1,967	)	13,015	 	1,318	 	—	 	12,366	 	
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	 	$	390	 	$	1,421	 	$	357	 	$	—	 	$	2,168	 	
 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
SIX MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2008
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
 	 	Parent	 	Guarantors	 	Non-Guarantors	 	Elimination	 	Consolidated	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	 	$	(10,466	)	$	49,915	 	$	(232	)	$	—	 	$	39,217	 	
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	 	—	 	(458	)	—	 	—	 	(458	)	
Additions to property, plant and equipment - growth	 	—	 	(8,232	)	—	 	—	 	(8,232	)	
                          - maintenance	 	(1,034	)	(28,930	)	—	 	—	 	(29,964	)	
Payments on landfill operating lease contracts	 	—	 	(1,825	)	—	 	—	 	(1,825	)	
Proceeds from divestitures	 	—	 	670	 	—	 	—	 	670	 	
Other	 	(2,396	)	895	 	—	 	—	 	(1,501	)	
Net Cash Used In Investing Activities	 	(3,430	)	(37,880	)	—	 	—	 	(41,310	)	
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Proceeds from long-term borrowings	 	60,000	 	—	 	—	 	—	 	60,000	 	
Principal payments on long-term debt	 	(58,660	)	(444	)	—	 	—	 	(59,104	)	
Other	 	1,446	 	—	 	—	 	—	 	1,446	 	
Intercompany borrowings	 	11,116	 	(11,441	)	325	 	—	 	—	 	
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	 	13,902	 	(11,885	)	325	 	—	 	2,342	 	
Cash Provided by Discontinued Operations	 	—	 	47	 	—	 	—	 	47	 	
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	 	6	 	197	 	93	 	—	 	296	 	
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	 	1,260	 	1,306	 	248	 	—	 	2,814	 	
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	 	$	1,266	 	$	1,503	 	$	341	 	$	—	 	$	3,110	 	
 
25

 
ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included under Item 1. In addition, reference should be made to the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto and related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2008.
 
Forward Looking Statements
 
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and, in particular, this management discussion and analysis contain or incorporate a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including statements regarding:
 
·                  expected future revenues, operations, expenditures and cash needs;
·                  fluctuations in the commodity pricing of the Company’s recyclables, increases in landfill tipping fees and fuel costs, and general economic and weather conditions;
·                  projected future obligations related to capping, closure and post-closure costs of the Company’s existing landfills and any disposal facilities which the Company may own or operate in the future;
·                  the projected development of additional disposal capacity;
·                  estimates of the potential markets for the Company’s products and services, including the anticipated drivers for future growth;
·                  sales and marketing plans;
·                  potential business combinations; and
·                  projected improvements to the Company’s infrastructure and impact of such improvements on the Company’s business and operations.
 
In addition, any statements contained in or incorporated by reference into this report that are not statements of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements.  You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of the words “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 the Company operates as well as management’s beliefs and assumptions, and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements included in this report.  The Company cannot guarantee that the Company actually will achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements made.  There are a number of important risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements.  These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those detailed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2008.  The Company does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.
 
Company Overview
 
Casella Waste Systems, Inc. is a vertically-integrated regional solid waste services company that provides collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services to residential, industrial and commercial customers, primarily in the eastern United States. Our Company was founded in 1975 as a single truck operation in Rutland, Vermont and the business now operates in fifteen states. We operate vertically integrated solid
 
26

 
waste operations in Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, and Maine; and stand alone materials processing facilities in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
 
As of November 28, 2008, the Company owned and/or operated 32 solid waste collection operations, 31 transfer stations, 37 recycling facilities, eight Subtitle D landfills, two landfills permitted to accept construction and demolition materials, and one waste-to-energy facility, as well as a 50% interest in a joint venture that manufactures, markets and sells cellulose insulation made from recycled fiber and a 16.2% interest in a company that markets an incentive based recycling service.
 
Operating Results
 
For the three months ended October 31, 2008, the Company reported revenues of $157.5 million, an increase of $7.0 million, or 4.7%, from $150.5 million in the quarter ended October 31, 2007.  Solid waste revenues, including the Company’s major accounts program, increased 2.2%, with 3.3% coming from higher prices, primarily from our collection operations, 1.0% from the rollover effect of a major accounts tuck-in acquisition and the balance from higher landfill volumes, all partially offset by lower collection volumes.  FCR recycling revenues increased 14.2%, with 13.0% coming from commodity price increases and 1.2% from higher volumes in the quarter .   Operating income for the three months ended October 31, 2008 increased to $16.0 million from $15.8 million for the quarter ended October 31, 2007.  Operating income was favorably impacted by higher revenue levels and lower general and administration and depreciation and amortization expenses, which were largely offset by higher cost of operations.
 
FCR recycling revenues reflect higher commodity prices in the current quarter compared to a year ago.  However, beginning in the month of October 2008, average commodity prices began to decline which decreased FCR recycling operating income for the current quarter by approximately $0.4 million.  In November 2008, commodity prices declined sharply driven by a severe drop in demand as a result of global economic conditions.
 
During the second quarter of fiscal year 2008, the Company completed the sale of the Company’s Buffalo, N.Y. transfer station, hauling operation and related equipment in the Western region for proceeds of $4.9 million including a note receivable for $2.5 million and net cash proceeds of $2.4 million.The company recorded a loss on disposal of discontinued operations (net of tax) of $0.4 million.
 
During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008, the Company terminated its operation of MTS Environmental, a soils processing operation in the North Eastern region.
 
The Company completed its divestiture of its FCR Greenville operation in the quarter ended July 31, 2008 for cash proceeds of $0.7 million.  For the six months ended October 31, 2008, the company recorded a loss on disposal of discontinued operations (net of tax) of $0.03 million.
 
The operating results of these operations for the three and six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2008 have been reclassified from continuing to discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
 
General
 
Revenues
 
The Company’s revenues in our North Eastern, South Eastern, Central and Western regions are attributable primarily to fees charged to customers for solid waste disposal and collection, landfill, waste-to-energy, transfer and recycling services.  The Company derives a substantial portion of its collection revenues from commercial, industrial and municipal services that are generally performed under service agreements or pursuant to contracts with municipalities.  The majority of the Company’s residential
 
27

 
collection services are performed on a subscription basis with individual households.  Landfill, waste-to-energy facility and transfer customers are charged a tipping fee on a per ton basis for disposing of their solid waste at the Company’s disposal facilities and transfer stations.  The majority of the Company’s disposal and transfer customers are under one to ten year disposal contracts, with most having clauses for annual cost of living increases.  Recycling revenues, which are included in FCR recycling and the Central and Western regions, consist of revenues from the sale of recyclable commodities and operations and maintenance contracts of recycling facilities for municipal customers.
 
The Company’s cellulose insulation business is conducted through a 50/50 joint venture with Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (“GreenFiber”), and accordingly, the Company recognizes half of the joint venture’s net income on the equity method in our results of operations.  The Company also has a cost method investment in the common stock of RecycleRewards, Inc. (“RecycleRewards”), a company that markets an incentive based recycling service.  In April 2008, the Company’s voting interest was reduced to 16.2%.  Effective April 2008, the Company accounts for its investment in RecycleRewards under the cost method of accounting.  Prior to April 2008 the Company accounted for this investment under the equity method of accounting.  Also, in the “Other” segment, we have ancillary revenues including major customer accounts.
 
The Company’s revenues are shown net of inter-company eliminations.  The Company typically establishes its inter-company transfer pricing based upon prevailing market rates. The table below shows, for the periods indicated, the percentages and dollars of revenue attributable to services provided.
 
 	 	Three Months Ended October 31,	 	Six Months Ended October 31,	 	
 	 	2007	 	2008	 	2007	 	2008	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Collection	 	$	69.2	 	46.0	%	$	70.0	 	44.5	%	$	138.3	 	46.3	%	$	141.4	 	44.8	%	
Landfill / disposal facilities	 	$	29.0	 	19.2	%	$	30.9	 	19.6	%	$	58.2	 	19.5	%	$	59.9	 	19.0	%	
Transfer	 	$	7.7	 	5.1	%	$	8.7	 	5.5	%	$	15.0	 	5.0	%	$	17.9	 	5.7	%	
Recycling	 	$	44.6	 	29.7	%	$	47.9	 	30.4	%	$	87.5	 	29.2	%	$	96.2	 	30.5	%	
Total revenues	 	$	150.5	 	100.0	%	$	157.5	 	100.0	%	$	299.0	 	100.0	%	$	315.4	 	100.0	%	
 
Collection revenues decreased as a percentage of total revenues in the three and six months ended October 31, 2008 compared to the prior year primarily due to lower volumes, partially offset by price increases and the effect of a major accounts tuck-in acquisition.  Landfill/disposal facilities revenues increased as a percentage of total revenues in the quarter ended October 31, 2008 primarily due to volume growth.  Landfill/disposal revenues increased in the six months ended October 31, 2008 due to higher volumes and decreased as a percentage of total revenue mainly because of the increase in recycling revenues.  Transfer revenues increased as a percentage of total revenues in the three and six months ended October 31, 2008 due to volume growth.  Recycling revenues are primarily from recycling facilities in the FCR region.  The increase in recycling revenue dollars for the three and six months ended October 31, 2008 is primarily attributable to higher commodity prices and to a lesser extent an increase in commodity volumes.  As noted above, beginning in the month of October 2008, FCR recycling revenues were impacted due to lower average commodity prices.
 
Operating Expenses
 
Cost of operations includes labor, tipping fees paid to third-party disposal facilities, fuel, maintenance and repair of vehicles and equipment, worker’s compensation and vehicle insurance, the cost of purchasing materials to be recycled, third party transportation expense, district and state taxes, host community fees and royalties.  Cost of operations also includes accretion expense related to landfill capping, closure and post closure, leachate treatment and disposal costs and depletion of landfill operating lease obligations.
 
28

 
General and administration expenses include management, clerical and administrative compensation and overhead, professional services and costs associated with marketing, sales force and community relations efforts.
 
Depreciation and amortization expense includes depreciation of fixed assets over the estimated useful life of the assets using the straight-line method, amortization of landfill airspace assets under the units-of-consumption method, and the amortization of intangible assets (other than goodwill) using the straight-line method.  In accordance with SFAS No. 143,  Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,  except for accretion expense, the Company amortizes landfill retirement assets through a charge to cost of operations using a straight-line rate per ton as landfill airspace is utilized.  The amount of landfill amortization expense related to airspace consumption can vary materially from landfill to landfill depending upon the purchase price and landfill site and cell development costs.  The Company depreciates all fixed and intangible assets, other than goodwill, to a zero net book value, and does not apply a salvage value to any fixed assets.
 
The Company capitalizes certain direct landfill development costs, such as engineering, permitting, legal, construction and other costs associated directly with the expansion of existing landfills.  Additionally, the Company also capitalizes certain third party expenditures related to pending acquisitions, such as legal and engineering costs.  The Company routinely evaluates all such capitalized costs, and expenses those costs related to projects not likely to be successful.  Internal and indirect landfill development and acquisition costs, such as executive and corporate overhead, public relations and other corporate services, are expensed as incurred.
 
The Company will have material financial obligations relating to capping, closure and post-closure costs of its existing landfills and any disposal facilities which it may own or operate in the future.  The Company has provided, and will in the future provide, accruals for these future financial obligations based on engineering estimates of consumption of permitted landfill airspace over the useful life of any such landfill.  There can be no assurance that the Company’s financial obligations for capping, closure or post-closure costs will not exceed the amount accrued and reserved or amounts otherwise receivable pursuant to trust funds.
 
Results of Operations
 
The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the percentage relationship that certain items from the Company’s consolidated financial statements bear in relation to revenues.
 
 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Six Months Ended	 	
 	 	October 31,	 	October 31,	 	
 	 	2007	 	2008	 	2007	 	2008	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revenues	 	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	
Cost of operations	 	63.5	%	65.8	%	64.4	%	66.0	%	
General and administration	 	12.6	%	11.6	%	12.3	%	11.6	%	
Depreciation and amortization	 	13.4	%	12.4	%	13.4	%	12.4	%	
Operating income	 	10.5	%	10.2	%	9.9	%	10.0	%	
Interest expense, net	 	7.2	%	6.5	%	7.2	%	6.4	%	
Loss from equity method investments	 	1.0	%	0.7	%	1.2	%	0.7	%	
Other income, net	 	0.0	%	0.0	%	-0.8	%	0.0	%	
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	 	-0.3	%	1.7	%	0.2	%	1.6	%	
Income before discontinued operations	 	2.6	%	1.3	%	2.1	%	1.3	%	
 
29

 
Three months ended October 31, 2008 versus October 31, 2007
 
Revenues - Revenues increased $7.0 million, or 4.7%, to $157.5 million in the quarter ended October 31, 2008 from $150.5 million in the quarter ended October 31, 2007.  Solid waste revenues, including the Company’s major accounts program, increased $2.6 million, with $3.5 million coming from price increases in our collection operations.  Revenues from the rollover effect of acquisitions, primarily from a major accounts tuck-in acquisition, accounted for $1.2 million of the increase.  Although landfill volumes increased year over year, these increases were more than offset by lower collection volumes, which negatively impacted revenue by $2.1 million.  FCR recycling revenues increased $4.4 million mainly due to higher commodity prices and volumes.
 
Cost of operations - Cost of operations increased $8.1 million, or 8.5%, to $103.7 million in the quarter ended October 31, 2008 from $95.6 million in the quarter ended October 31, 2007.  Cost of operations as a percentage of revenues increased to 65.8% in the quarter ended October 31, 2008 compared to 63.5% in the quarter ended October 31, 2007.  The cost of operations increase is due to an increase in the cost of purchased materials associated with higher FCR recycling revenues, higher fuel costs and property tax expense, due to a property tax refund recognized in the prior year quarter, partially offset by lower direct labor and third party disposal costs.  Also included in prior year results was a reduction in cost of operations in the amount of $0.6 million from transactions involving the domestic brokerage and Canadian recycling operations as payments received on the notes receivable in the three months ended October 31, 2007 exceeded the balance of the net assets under contractual obligation.
 
General and administration - General and administration expenses decreased $0.6 million, or 3.2%, to $18.3 million in the quarter ended October 31, 2008 from $18.9 million in the quarter ended October 31, 2007.  General and administration expenses as a percentage of revenues decreased to 11.6% in the quarter ended October 31, 2008 from 12.6% in the quarter ended October 31, 2007.  The dollar decrease in general administration expenses year over year is primarily due to lower bad debt expense, due to a recovery in the quarter.
 
Depreciation and amortization - Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $0.6 million, or 3.0%, to $19.5 million in the quarter ended October 31, 2008 from $20.1 million in the quarter ended October, 31, 2007.  Landfill amortization expense decreased by $0.8 million primarily due to lower amortization volumes and rates at our Colebrook closure facility, which closed in the quarter ended October 31, 2008, partially offset by an increase in amortization at our Worcester closure facility due to increased volumes.  Depreciation expense increased between periods by $0.2 million.  Depreciation and amortization expense as a percentage of revenue decreased to 12.4% for the three months ended October 31, 2008 from 13.4% for the three months ended October 31, 2007.
 
Operating income - Operating income was $16.0 million for the quarter ended October 31, 2008 compared to $15.8 million for the quarter ended October 31, 2007.  As a percentage of revenue, operating income decreased to 10.2% in the quarter ended October 31, 2008 compared to 10.5% for the quarter ended October 31, 2007.  Total operating income was favorably impacted by higher revenue levels and lower general and administration and depreciation and amortization expenses, which were largely offset by higher cost of operations as discussed above.  Western region operating income increased year over year due to higher landfill volumes, increased collection prices, and lower operating costs.  Central region operating income declined year over year due to lower revenues primarily from lower landfill volumes, including the impact of the closure of Colebrook.  FCR’s recycling operating income decreased year over year as increased revenues from higher commodity prices and volumes were more than offset by an increase in the costs of purchased materials, direct labor and operating costs.  Also, included in operating income for the three months ended October 31, 2007 was $0.6 million of income from the transactions involving the domestic brokerage and Canadian recycling operations as discussed above.
 
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Interest expense, net - Net interest expense decreased $0.5 million, or 4.6%, to $10.3 million in the quarter ended October 31, 2008 from $10.8 million in the quarter ended October 31, 2007.  This decrease is attributable to lower interest rates on the Company’s senior credit facility partially offset by higher net debt levels.  Net interest expense, as a percentage of revenues, decreased to 6.5% in the quarter ended October 31, 2008 from 7.2% in the quarter ended October 31, 2007.
 
Loss from equity method investments - The loss from equity method investments in the quarter ended October 31, 2008 relates to the Company’s 50% joint venture interest in GreenFiber, and for the quarter ended October 31, 2007 also included losses from the Company’s interest in RecycleRewards.  GreenFiber reported a loss for the quarter ended October 31, 2008 of which the Company’s share was $1.0 million, compared to a loss of $0.9 million in the quarter ended October 31, 2007.  GreenFiber continues to be negatively impacted by the overall slowdown in the housing market.  The Company also has an investment in the common stock of RecycleRewards, a company that markets an incentive based recycling service.  In April 2008, the Company’s voting interest was reduced to 16.2% from 20.5%.  Effective April 2008, the Company accounts for its investment in RecycleRewards under the cost method of accounting.  Prior to April 2008 the Company accounted for this investment under the equity method of accounting.  RecycleRewards reported a loss for the quarter ended October 31, 2007, of which the Company’s share was $0.6 million.
 
Provision (benefit) for income taxes – Provision (benefit) for income taxes increased $3.1 million to $2.7 million for the quarter ended October 31, 2008 from ($0.4) million for the quarter ended October 31, 2007.  The effective tax rate increased to 56.7% in the quarter ended October 31, 2008 from (11.8)% in the quarter ended October 31, 2007.  The rate variance between the periods is due mainly to the book loss projected for the prior year and the add back of non-deductible items.  The high rate for the current quarter results from lower pre-tax income projected for the year and the add back of non-deductible items.
 
Six Months Ended October 31, 2008 versus October 31, 2007
 
Revenues - Revenues increased $16.4 million, or 5.5% to $315.4 million in the six months ended October 31, 2008 from $299.0 million in the six months ended October 31, 2007.  Solid waste revenues, including the Company’s major accounts program, increased $6.0 million, with $6.8 million coming from price increases in our collection operations.  Revenues from the rollover effect of acquisitions, primarily from a major accounts tuck-in acquisition, accounted for $2.3 million of the increase.  Although landfill volumes increased year over year, these increases were more than offset by lower collection volumes, which negatively impacted revenue by $3.1 million.  FCR recycling revenues increased $10.4 million mainly due to higher commodity prices and volumes.
 
Cost of operations - Cost of operations increased $15.7 million, or 8.2% to $208.2 million in the six months ended October 31, 2008 from $192.5 million in the six months ended October 31, 2007.  Cost of operations as a percentage of revenues increased to 66.0% in the six months ended October 31, 2008 from 64.4% in the prior year.  Despite lower third party disposal, direct operating and direct labor costs year over year, the cost of operations was up due to an increase in the cost of purchased materials associated with higher FCR recycling revenues, higher fuel costs and property tax expense, due to a property tax refund recognized in the prior year period.  Also, included in the prior year was as a reduction in the amount of $1.4 million from transactions involving the domestic brokerage and Canadian recycling operations as payments received on the notes receivable in the six months ended October 31, 2007 exceeded the balance of the net assets under contractual obligation.
 
General and administration - General and administration expenses were $36.7 million in the six months ended October 31, 2008 compared to $36.8 million in the six months ended October 31, 2007, and decreased as a percentage of revenues to 11.6% in the six months ended October 31, 2008 from 12.3% in
 
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the six months ended October 31, 2007.  Higher compensation costs in the six months ended October 31, 2008 were more than offset by lower costs in most other general and administration categories.
 
Depreciation and amortization - Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $1.0 million, or 2.5%, to $39.0 million in the six months ended October 31, 2008 from $40.0 million in the six months ended October 31, 2007.  Landfill amortization expense decreased by $1.0 million primarily due to lower amortization volumes and rates at our Colebrook closure facility, which closed in the quarter ended October 31, 2008, partially offset by an increase in amortization at our Worcester closure facility due to increased volumes.  Depreciation expense was relatively consistent between periods.  Depreciation and amortization expense as a percentage of revenue decreased to 12.4% for the six months ended October 31, 2008 from 13.4% for the six months ended October 31, 2007.
 
Operating income - Operating income increased $1.9 million, or 6.4%, to $31.6 million in the six months ended October 31, 2008 from $29.7 million in the six months ended October 31, 2007 and increased slightly as a percentage of revenues to 10.0% in the six months ended October 31, 2008 from 9.9% in the six months ended October 31, 2007.  Operating income increased year over year due to higher revenue levels and lower general and administration expenses as a percentage of revenues and lower depreciation and amortization expenses as discussed above.  Operating income for the South Eastern region was favorably impacted by $0.8 million from the benefit of a reimbursement from the Town of Southbridge for previously paid and expensed closure and post closure costs at the Southbridge landfill site.  Western region operating income increased year over year due to higher landfill volumes, increases in collection revenues, primarily from increased prices, and lower operating costs.  Central region operating income declined year over year due to lower revenues primarily due to lower landfill volumes, including the impact of the closure of Colebrook.  FCR recycling operating income decreased year over year as increased revenues from higher commodity prices and volumes were more than offset by an increase in the costs of purchased materials, direct labor and operational costs.  Also, included in prior year operating income was $1.4 million of income from transactions involving the domestic brokerage and Canadian recycling operations as discussed above.
 
Interest expense, net - Net interest expense decreased $1.2 million, or 5.6% to $20.2 million in the six months ended October 31, 2008 from $21.4 million in the six months ended October 31, 2007.  This decrease is attributable to lower interest rates on the Company’s senior credit facility partially offset by higher net debt levels.  Net interest expense, as a percentage of revenues, decreased to 6.4% in the six months ended October 31, 2008 from 7.2% in the six months ended October 31, 2007.
 
Loss from equity method investments - The loss from equity method investments in the six months ended October 31, 2008 relates to the Company’s 50% joint venture interest in GreenFiber and for the six months ended October 31, 2007 also included losses from Company’s interest in RecycleRewards.  GreenFiber reported a loss for the six months ended October 31, 2008 of which the Company’s share was $2.2 million compared to a loss of $2.7 million in the six months ended October 31, 2007.  GreenFiber continues to be negatively impacted by the overall slowdown in the housing market.  As discussed above, effective April 2008, the Company had a voting interest of 16.2% from its common stock investment in RecycleRewards and accordingly accounts for this investment under the cost method of accounting.  Prior to April 2008 the Company accounted for this investment under the equity method of accounting.  RecycleRewards reported a loss for the six months ended October 31, 2007, of which the Company’s share was $0.9 million.
 
Other (income)/expense - Other income for the six months ended October 31, 2008 amounted to $0.2 million compared to $2.4 million in the six months ended October 31, 2007.  Other income in the six months ended October 31, 2007 included $2.1 million related to the reversal of residual accruals originally established in connection with waste handling agreement disputes between the Company’s Maine Energy subsidiary and fifteen municipalities which were party to the agreements.  On June 18,
 
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2007, the Company settled the last of these disputes with the City of Saco and the city agreed to release the Company from any further residual cancellation payment obligations
 
Provision for income taxes – Provision for income taxes increased $4.3 million in the six months ended October 31, 2008 to $5.0 million from $0.7 million in the six months ended October 31, 2007.  The effective tax rate increased to 54.0% in the six months ended October 31, 2008 from 10.2% in the six months ended October 31, 2007.  The rate variance between the periods is due mainly to the book loss projected for the prior year and the add back of non-deductible items.  The high rate for the current quarter results from lower pre-tax income projected for the year and the add back of non-deductible items.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
The Company’s business is capital intensive.  The Company’s capital requirements include acquisitions, fixed asset purchases and capital expenditures for landfill development and cell construction, as well as site and cell closure.  The Company’s capital expenditures are broadly defined as pertaining to either growth or maintenance activities.  Growth capital expenditures are defined as costs related to development of new airspace, permit expansions, new recycling contracts along with incremental costs of equipment and infrastructure added to further such activities.  Growth capital expenditures include the cost of equipment added directly as a result of new business, as well as expenditures associated with increasing infrastructure to increase throughput at transfer stations and recycling facilities.  Growth capital expenditures also include those outlays associated with acquiring landfill operating leases, which do not meet the operating lease payment definition, but which were included as a commitment in the successful bid.  Maintenance capital expenditures are defined as landfill cell construction costs not related to expansion airspace, costs for normal permit renewals and replacement costs for equipment due to age or obsolescence.
 
The Company had net working capital of $1.7 million at October 31, 2008 compared to a deficit of $20.2 million at April 30, 2008.  Net working capital comprises current assets, excluding cash and cash equivalents, minus current liabilities.  The increase in net working capital at October 31, 2008 was primarily due to higher trade receivables associated with higher revenues, higher other current assets associated with commodity hedge contract valuations along with lower trade payables, and lower payroll accruals.
 
On April 28, 2005, the Company entered into a senior credit facility with a group of banks for which Bank of America is acting as agent. The facility originally consisted of a senior secured revolving credit facility in the amount of $350.0 million. On July 25, 2006, the Company amended the facility to increase the amount of the facility per the original agreement to $450.0 million, and on May 9, 2007, the Company further amended the facility to increase the amount to $525.0 million, including a $175.0 million term B loan and a revolver of $350.0 million.  This credit facility is secured by all of the Company’s assets, including the Company’s interest in the equity securities of our subsidiaries.
 
The credit facility matures on April 28, 2010. There are required annual principal payments on the term B loan of $0.9 million for three years, which began July 25, 2007, with the remaining principal due at maturity.  The Company was in compliance with all covenants at October 31, 2008.  The Company expects to seek to refinance the facility in the first or second quarter of calendar year 2009.
 
Further advances were available under the revolver in the amount of $146.5 million and $156.0 million as of October 31, 2008 and April 30, 2008, respectively.  These available amounts are net of outstanding irrevocable letters of credit totaling $38.7 million and $40.4 million as of October 31, 2008 and April 30, 2008, respectively, at which dates no amounts had been drawn.
 
The Company is party to three separate interest rate swap agreements with three banks for a notional amount of $105.0 million.  One agreement for a notional amount of $30.0 million effectively fixes the
 
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interest rate index at 4.47% from November 4, 2007 through May 7, 2009.  Two agreements, for a notional amount of $75.0 million, effectively fix the interest index rate on the entire notional amount at approximately 4.68% from May 6, 2008 through May 6, 2009.  These agreements are specifically designated to interest payments under the Company’s term B loan and are accounted for as effective cash flow hedges pursuant to SFAS No. 133.
 
The Company is party to two separate interest rate zero-cost collars (“Collars”) for a notional amount of $60.0 million.  The Collars have an interest index rate cap of 6.00% and an interest index rate floor of approximately 4.48% and are effective from November 6, 2006 through May 5, 2009.  These agreements are specifically designated to interest payments under the revolving credit facility and are accounted for as effective cash flow hedges pursuant to SFAS No. 133.
 
As of October 31, 2008, the Company had outstanding $195.0 million of Senior Notes which mature in January 2013.  The Senior Notes contain covenants that restrict dividends, stock repurchases and other payments, and limit the incurrence of debt and issuance of preferred stock.  The Senior Notes are guaranteed jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally by the Company’s significant wholly-owned subsidiaries.
 
On December 28, 2005, the Company completed a $25.0 million financing transaction involving the issuance by the Finance Authority of Maine of $25.0 million aggregate principal amount of its Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2005 (the “Bonds”) which mature in January 2025. The Bonds are issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of December 1, 2005 and are enhanced by an irrevocable, transferable direct-pay letter of credit issued by Bank of America, N.A. Pursuant to a Financing Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2005, the Company has borrowed the proceeds of the Bonds to pay for certain costs relating to equipment acquisition for solid waste collection and transportation services, all located in Maine.
 
On August 13, 2007, the Company redeemed all of the outstanding shares of its Series A Preferred Stock, pursuant to the mandatory redemption requirements set forth in the Certificate of Designation for the Series A Preferred Stock.  The shares were redeemed at an aggregate redemption price of $75.1 million, which was the liquidation value equal to the original price plus accrued but unpaid dividends through the date of redemption.  The redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock was effected through cash payouts by the Company of the redemption price upon receipt of stock certificates and other related documentation from the holders thereof.  The Company borrowed against the senior credit facility to fund this redemption.
 
On July 31, 2008, the Company completed a financing for the construction of two single-stream material recovery facilities as well as engines for a landfill gas to energy project with a third-party leasing company.  The balance on the facility at October 31, 2008 was $11.9 million.  The financing has a seven year term at a fixed rate of interest (approximately 7.1%).
 
Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to $39.2 million for the six months ended October 31, 2008 compared to $35.3 million for the same period of the prior fiscal year.  Net income decreased $0.3 million in the six months ended October 31, 2008 compared to the six months ended October 31, 2007.  Losses associated with discontinued operations decreased by $1.7 million during the same period.  Depreciation and amortization expense decreased by $1.1 million primarily due to lower amortization volumes and rates at our Colebrook closure facility, which closed in the quarter ended October 31, 2008, partially offset by an increase in landfill amortization at our Worcester closure facility due to increased volumes.  Depreciation expense was relatively consistent between periods.  Also contributing to a slight decrease is the accrual of the Series A Preferred dividend for $1.0 million which was included in interest expense for the six months ended October 31, 2007 as well as a loss from equity method investments amounting to a $1.5 decrease in the six months ended October 31, 2008 compared to the six months
 
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ended October 31, 2007.  These amounts were offset by income from assets under contractual obligations which decreased $1.3 million in the six months ended October 31, 2008 compared to the six months ended October 31, 2007 and other income of $2.1 associated with the favorable settlement at Maine Energy resulting in the reversal of residual accruals in the six months ended October 31, 2007.  Deferred taxes also contributed to an increase of $4.0 million in the same period due to projected utilization of net operating losses.
 
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures, increased $1.8 million for the six months ended October 31, 2008 compared to the six months ended October 31, 2007.  Changes in accounts receivable were relatively consistent with a $0.6 million increase for the six months ended October 31, 2008 compared to the six months ended October 31, 2007.  Accounts payable during the six months ended October 31, 2008 amounted to $4.4 million of cash used compared with $4.2 million used in the prior year comparable period.  Other assets and liabilities amounted to a $5.8 million use of cash for the six months ended October 31, 2008 compared to a $7.1 million use of cash for the six months ended October 31, 2007.  The decrease of $1.3 million from the prior year is due primarily to the following: (1) higher payments for landfill capping, closure and post-closure in the six months ended October 31, 2008 versus the prior period amounting to $1.3 million, (2) reductions associated with higher payroll accruals at April 30, 2008 amounting to $3.7 million, (3) lower accrued interest at October 31, 2008 associated with lower interest rates partially offset by higher debt levels amounting to a $1.6 million decrease, offset by (4) higher other long-term liabilities at April 30, 2007 associated with the Maine Energy settlement which took place in the six months ended October 31, 2007 resulting in a $3.1 million increase, (5) higher net refundable income taxes at October 31, 2007, amounting to a $4.0 million increase, and (6) higher prepaid expenses at April 30, 2008 associated with the timing of insurance payments, amounting to a $1.0 million decrease.
 
Net cash used in investing activities was $41.3 million for the six months ended October 31, 2008 compared to $42.9 million used in investing activities in the same period of the prior fiscal year.
 
Net cash provided by financing activities was $2.3 million for the six months ended October 31, 2008 compared to net cash used of $2.6 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year.  The increase in cash provided by financing activities is primarily due to lower net borrowings to fund investing activities.
 
The Company generally meets liquidity needs from operating cash flow and its senior credit facility.  These liquidity needs are primarily for capital expenditures for vehicles, containers and landfill development, debt service costs and capping, closure and post-closure expenditures and acquisitions.  It is the Company’s intention to continue to grow organically and through acquisitions.
 
The Company uses a variety of strategies to mitigate the impact of fluctuations in the commodity prices including entering into fixed price contracts and entering into hedges which mitigate the variability in cash flows generated from the sales of recycled paper at floating prices, resulting in a fixed price being received from these sales.  As of October 31, 2008, to minimize the Company’s commodity exposure, the Company was party to thirty-three commodity hedging agreements.  Beginning in the month of October 2008, average commodity prices began to decline which impacted FCR recycling operating income by approximately $0.4 million compared to the quarter ended October 31, 2007.  In November 2008, commodity prices declined sharply driven by a severe drop in demand as a result of global economic conditions.  The Company does not expect a significant negative impact to liquidity as a result of lower operating income due to commodity price declines.  See “Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk – Commodity Price Volatility” below.
 
Effective October 15, 2008, the Company has filed a universal shelf registration statement with the SEC.  The purpose of the filing is to renew and replace an existing universal shelf registration statement set to expire on December 1, 2008.  The Company may from time to time issue securities thereunder in an amount of up to $250.0 million.  However, the Company’s ability and willingness to issue securities
 
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pursuant to this registration statement will depend on market conditions at the time of any such desired offering and therefore the Company may not be able to issue such securities on favorable terms, if at all.
 
Inflation and Prevailing Economic Conditions
 
To date, inflation has not had a significant impact on the Company’s operations. Consistent with industry practice, most of the Company’s contracts provide for a pass-through of certain costs, including increases in landfill tipping fees and, in some cases, fuel costs.  Increases in fuel costs have been passed on through a fuel surcharge program. The Company therefore believes it should be able to implement price increases sufficient to offset most cost increases resulting from inflation. However, competitive factors may require the Company to absorb at least a portion of these cost increases, particularly during periods of high inflation.
 
The Company’s business is located mainly in the eastern United States.  Therefore, the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations are susceptible to downturns in the general economy in this geographic region and other factors affecting the region, such as state regulations and severe weather conditions.  The Company is unable to forecast or determine the timing and /or the future impact of a sustained economic slowdown.
 
ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
Interest rate volatility
 
The Company had interest rate risk relating to approximately $198.0 million of long-term debt at October 31, 2008.  The interest rate on the variable rate portion of long-term debt was approximately 4.35% at October 31, 2008.  Should the average interest rate on the variable rate portion of long-term debt change by 100 basis points, it would have an approximate interest expense change of $0.5 million for the quarter reported.
 
The remainder of the Company’s long-term debt is at fixed rates and not subject to interest rate risk.  This includes $165.0 million of long term debt at fixed rates due to interest rate swaps and collars.
 
Commodity price volatility
 
Through its FCR recycling operation, the Company is subject to commodity price fluctuations.  For the quarter ended October 31, 2008, fibers (newspapers, cardboard, and mixed papers) made up approximately 67% of the Company’s commodity revenue stream.  A portion of these materials are exposed to minimal commodity volatility impact because we purchase the materials based off an index price less a processing fee, and then resell the materials off the same index within a short period of time.  For other tons that may be exposed to market volatility, the Company uses a number of risk mitigation strategies such as floor prices, fixed price agreements, and revenue share arrangements.  In addition, as of October 31, 2008 the Company is party to thirty-three commodity hedge contracts that manage pricing fluctuations on a portion of its OCC and ONP volumes not protected by the strategies mentioned above.  These contracts expire between December 2008 and December 2011, with approximately 67% expiring by December 2009.  The Company does not use financial instruments for trading purposes and is not a party to any leveraged derivatives.  The Company expects to be able to replace its expiring hedges with existing or new counterparties; however, the pricing terms at any given time will be subject to prevailing market conditions.
 
Aluminum made up 8% of the Company’s commodity revenue stream for the quarter ended October 31, 2008.  The Company sells the majority of its aluminum domestically under fixed price contracts, with current contracts extending through April 2009.
 
Plastics (PET and HDPE) made up 22% of the Company’s commodity revenue stream for the quarter ended October 31, 2008.  The Company currently sells the majority of its plastics domestically under long term contracts at pricing tied to market rates.  It has floor prices in place on most PET contracts and is working to add fixed price contracts to help manage plastic pricing fluctuations in the future.  There are limited hedging instruments available for stabilizing the pricing for recovered plastics.  However, the Company does not utilize these types of contracts because historically recovered plastics pricing has not been highly correlated with market indices for virgin plastic resin sales prices.
 
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Ferrous metals made up 3% of the Company’s commodity revenue stream for the quarter ended October 31, 2008.  The Company currently sells the majority of its ferrous metals domestically at spot market rates.
 
FCR recycling uses the above strategies to mitigate the impact of commodity price volatility.  This approach results in a non-linear relationship between changes in commodity prices and underlying operating performance.
 
In November 2008, commodity prices declined sharply driven by a severe drop in demand as a result of global economic conditions, including Chinese and domestic mills taking unforeseen downtime to work off inventories.  Based on weighted average prices and volumes for the second quarter of fiscal 2009 and considering the effect of the hedges in place at the end of October, if all commodity prices were to change proportionally by the stated ranges below, the impact on the Company’s revenues and operating income for the quarter ended October 31, 2008 is estimated as follows:
 
Commodity Price	 	 	 	Operating income	 	
Change	 	Revenues	 	(loss)	 	
-50%	 	$	(7.4	)	$	(3.5	)	
-20%	 	$	(3.1	)	$	(1.6	)	
-10%	 	$	(1.7	)	$	(0.9	)	
10%	 	$	1.2	 	$	0.5	 	
20%	 	$	2.7	 	$	1.2	 	
50%	 	$	7.0	 	$	3.2	 	
 
When reviewing these statistics, it should be noted that commodity prices typically do not move by the same percentage across all the commodities the Company handles, and that, as noted above, the commodity mix may vary from month to month, therefore the above sensitivity analysis may not be indicative of future operating results.
 
ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
a)                                      Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.  The Company’s management, with the participation of its chief executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of October 31, 2008.  The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.  Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial and accounting officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.  Based on the evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of October 31, 2008, the Company’s chief executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer have concluded that, as of such date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
 
b)                                     Changes in internal controls.  No change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2008 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
On September 12, 2001, the Company’s subsidiary, North Country Environmental Services, Inc. (“NCES”), petitioned the New Hampshire Superior Court (“Superior Court”) for a declaratory judgment concerning the extent to which the Town of Bethlehem, New Hampshire (“Town”) could lawfully prohibit NCES’s expansion of its landfill in Bethlehem.  The Town filed counterclaims seeking contrary
 
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declarations and other relief.  The parties appealed the Superior Court’s decision to the New Hampshire Supreme Court (“Supreme Court”).  On March 1, 2004, the Supreme Court ruled that NCES had all necessary local approvals to landfill within a 51-acre portion of its 105-acre parcel and the Town could not prevent expansion in that area.  A significant portion of NCES’s Stage IV expansion as originally designed and approved by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (“NHDES”), however, was to lie outside the 51 acres.  With respect to expansion outside the 51 acres, the Supreme Court remanded four issues to the Superior Court for further proceedings.  On April 25, 2005, the Superior Court rendered summary judgment in NCES’s favor on two of the four issues, leaving the other two issues for trial.  The two issues that were decided on summary judgment remain subject to appeal by the Town.  In March of 2005, the Town adopted a new zoning ordinance that prohibited landfilling outside of a new “District V,” which corresponded to the 51 acres.  The Town then amended its pleadings to seek a declaration that the new ordinance was valid.  The parties each filed motions for partial summary judgment.  Following the court’s decisions on those motions, the validity of the new ordinance remained subject to trial based on two defenses raised by NCES.  On March 30, 2007, NCES applied to the NHDES for a permit modification under which all Stage IV capacity (denominated “Stage IV, Phase II”) would be relocated within the 51 acres.  That application was superseded by a new application, filed on November 30, 2007, that would bring all berms along the perimeter of the landfill’s footprint within the 51 acres as well.  NCES sought a stay of the litigation on the ground that, if NHDES were to grant the permit modification, there would be no need for NCES to expand beyond the 51 acres for eight or more years, and the case could be dismissed as moot or unripe.  The Superior Court granted the stay pending a decision by NHDES.  The permit modification application currently remains pending before NHDES. The NHDES conducted public hearings in July and September 2008.  The NHDES decision to grant the permit modification is expected to be made during the fourth quarter of calendar year 2008.
 
The Company, on behalf of itself, its subsidiary FCR, LLC (“FCR”), and as a Majority Managing Member of Green Mountain Glass, LLC (“GMG”), initiated a declaratory judgment action against GR Technologies, Inc. (“GRT”), Anthony C. Lane and Robert Cameron Billmyer (“the Defendants”) on June 8, 2007, to resolve issues raised by GRT as the minority shareholder of GMG.  The issues addressed in the action included exercise of management discretion, right to intellectual property, and other related disputes.  The Defendants counterclaimed in May 2008 seeking unspecified damages on a variety of bases including, among others, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, tortious interference with business relations, induced infringement and other matters.  Management intends to vigorously contest those allegations, and it believes that the claims have no merit substantively or as a matter of law.  Additionally, the Defendants filed a Derivative Action in Rutland Superior Court as a Managing Member of GMG on July 2, 2008 against several employees of the Company and its subsidiary FCR, LLC, making similar allegations.  On September 16, 2008, the Company filed a Motion for Summary Judgment, and a Proposed Order Decreeing Dissolution and Appointing a Special Master, alleging that the relationship of GRT and FCR in GMG is irretrievably broken.  All litigation is in its early stages and, accordingly, it is not possible at this time to evaluate the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or provide meaningful estimates as to amount or range of potential loss, but management currently believes that the litigation, regardless of its outcome, will not have a material adverse affect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
 
The Company offers no prediction of the outcome of any of the proceedings or negotiations described above. The Company is vigorously defending each of these lawsuits and claims. However, there can be no guarantee the Company will prevail or that any judgments against the Company, if sustained on appeal, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations or cash flows.
 
The Company is a defendant in certain other lawsuits alleging various claims incurred in the ordinary course of business, none of which, either individually or in the aggregate, the Company believes are material to its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
 
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
 
See the Company’s risk factors as previously disclosed in its Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2008.
 
ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
 
None.
 
ITEM 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
 
None.
 
ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
 
At the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders held on October 14, 2008, three proposals were submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders.  The proposals and results of voting were as follows:
 
PROPOSAL I.
 
Proposal to elect, as Class II directors, Messrs. James W. Bohlig, Gregory B. Peters and Joseph G. Doody.  Proposal to elect, as Class I director, Michael K.Burke.
 
James W. Bohlig:	 	Votes For: 28,542,738	 	
 	 	Withheld:    3,982,683	 	
 
Gregory B. Peters:	 	Votes For: 18,894,252	*	
 	 	Withheld:    3,749,169	*	
 
Joseph G. Doody:	 	Votes For: 28,880,992	 	
 	 	Withheld:    3,644,429	 	
 
Michael K. Burke:	 	Votes For: 32,460,388	 	
 	 	Withheld:         65,033	 	

* In accordance with the Company’s by-laws, Mr. Peters, who is the designee of the holders of Class A Common stock, requires only the affirmative vote representing a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Class A common stock.
 
Other directors whose terms of office continued in effect after the annual meeting are John W. Casella, Douglas R. Casella, James F. Callahan, Jr., John F. Chapple III, Jr. and James P. McManus.
 
PROPOSAL II.
 
To approve the amendment to the Company’s 2006 Stock Incentive Plan.
 
Votes For:	 	29,516,407	 	
Votes Against:	 	840,526	 	
Abstentions:	 	206,872	 	
 
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PROPOSAL III.
 
Proposal to ratify the selection of Vitale, Caturano & Company, Ltd. as the Company’s auditors for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2009.
 
Votes For:	 	32,499,295	 	
Votes Against:	 	        16,180	 	
Abstentions:	 	          9,946	 	
 
ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION
 
None.
 
ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS
 
The exhibits that are filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or that are incorporated by reference herein are set forth in the Exhibit Index hereto.
 
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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.	

Date: December 4, 2008	 	By:	/s/ Paul J. Massaro	
 	 	(Principal Financial and Accounting	
 	 	Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)	
 
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Exhibit Index
 
10.1 +	2006 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.	
31.1 +	Certification of John W. Casella, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002.	
31.2 +	Certification of Paul J. Massaro,Principal Financial and Accounting Officer and Duly Authorized Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002.	
32.1 ++	Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. S 1350 of  John W. Casella, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002.	
32.2 ++	Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. S 1350 of Paul J. Massaro,Principal Financial and Accounting Officer and Duly Authorized Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002.	

+ - Filed herewith
++ - Furnished herewith
 
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Exhibit 10.1
 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC.
 
2006 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED
 
1.                                      Purpose
 
The purpose of this 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of Casella Waste Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is to advance the interests of the Company’s stockholders by enhancing the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who are expected to make important contributions to the Company and by providing such persons with equity ownership opportunities and performance-based incentives that are intended to align their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders. Except where the context otherwise requires, the term “Company” shall include any of the Company’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Code”) and any other business venture (including, without limitation, joint venture or limited liability company) in which the Company has a controlling interest, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”).
 
2.                                      Eligibility
 
All of the Company’s employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors are eligible to receive options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards (each, an “Award”) under the Plan. Each person who receives an Award under the Plan is deemed a “Participant”.
 
3.                                      Administration and Delegation
 
(a)                                 Administration by Board of Directors.  The Plan will be administered by the Board. The Board shall have authority to grant Awards and to adopt, amend and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Plan as it shall deem advisable. The Board may construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and any Award agreements entered into under the Plan. The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. All decisions by the Board shall be made in the Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or in any Award. No director or person acting pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board shall be liable for any action or determination relating to or under the Plan made in good faith.
 
(b)                                Appointment of Committees.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a “Committee”). All references in the Plan to the “Board” shall mean the Board or a Committee of the Board to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee. During such time as the Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), the Board shall appoint one such Committee of not less than two members, each member of which shall be an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and a “non-employee director” as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. Grants of Awards intended to comply with Section 162(m) shall be made only by such Committee.
 
(c)                                 Delegation to Officers.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate to one or more officers of the Company the power to grant Awards to employees or officers of the Company or any of its present or future subsidiary corporations and to exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Board may determine, provided that the Board shall fix the terms of the Awards to be granted by such officers (including the exercise price of such Awards, which may include a formula by which the exercise price will be determined) and the maximum number of shares subject to Awards that the officers may grant; provided further, however, that no officer shall be authorized to
 
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grant Awards to any “executive officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 3b-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) or to any “officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act).
 
4.                                      Stock Available for Awards
 
(a)                                 Number of Shares.  Subject to adjustment under Section 10, Awards may be made under the Plan for up to such number of shares of Common Stock as is equal to the sum of: (i) 1,275,000 shares of Common Stock (of which 275,000 shares are reserved for issuance to non-employee directors pursuant to Section 6 below), plus (ii) such additional number of shares of Common Stock as is equal to the aggregate number of shares subject to Awards granted under the Company’s 1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan, 1994 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan, 1996 Stock Option Plan, and 1997 Stock Inventive Plan which are not actually issued because such awards expire or otherwise result in shares not being issued. For purposes of counting the number of shares available for the grant of Awards under the Plan, (i) shares of Common Stock covered by independent SARs shall be counted against the number of shares available for the grant of Awards under the Plan; provided, however, that independent SARs that may be settled in cash only shall not be so counted; (ii) if any Award (A) expires or is terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised or is forfeited in whole or in part (including as the result of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award being repurchased by the Company at the original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right) or (B) results in any Common Stock not being issued (including as a result of an independent SAR that was settleable either in cash or in stock actually being settled in cash), the unused Common Stock covered by such Award shall again be available for the grant of Awards under the Plan; provided, however, in the case of Incentive Stock Options (as hereinafter defined), the foregoing shall be subject to any limitations under the Code; and (iii) shares of Common Stock tendered to the Company by a Participant to (A) purchase shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an Award or (B) satisfy tax withholding obligations (including shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation) shall not be added back to the number of shares available for the future grant of Awards under the Plan. Shares issued under the Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.
 
(b)                                Sub-limits.  Subject to adjustment under Section 10, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted to any Participant under the Plan shall be 200,000 per fiscal year. For purposes of the foregoing limit, the combination of an Option in tandem with a SAR (as each is hereafter defined) shall be treated as a single Award. The per-Participant limit described in this Section 4(b) shall be construed and applied consistently with Section 162(m) of the Code or any successor provision thereto, and the regulations thereunder (“Section 162(m)”).
 
(c)                                 Substitute Awards.  In connection with a merger or consolidation of an entity with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of property or stock of an entity, the Board may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted by such entity or an affiliate thereof. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms as the Board deems appropriate in the circumstances, notwithstanding any limitations on Awards contained in the Plan. Substitute Awards shall not count against the overall share limit set forth in Section 4(a), except as may be required by reason of Section 422 and related provisions of the Code.
 
5.                                      Stock Options
 
(a)                                 General.  The Board may grant options to purchase Common Stock (each, an “Option”) and determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option, including conditions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it considers necessary or advisable. An Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (as hereinafter defined) shall be designated a “Nonstatutory Stock Option.”
 
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(b)                                Incentive Stock Options.  An Option that the Board intends to be an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an “Incentive Stock Option”) shall only be granted to employees of the Company, any of the Company’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code, and shall be subject to and shall be construed consistently with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Option (or any part thereof) that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option is not an Incentive Stock Option or for any action taken by the Board, including without limitation the conversion of an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
 
(c)                                 Exercise Price.  The Board shall establish the exercise price of each Option and specify such exercise price in the applicable option agreement; provided, however, that the exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value (as defined below) on the date the Option is granted.
 
(d)                                Duration of Options.  Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the applicable option agreement, provided, however, that no Option will be granted for a term in excess of 10 years.
 
(e)                                 No Reload Rights.  No Option granted under the Plan shall contain any provision entitling the optionee to the automatic grant of additional Options in connection with any exercise of the original Option.
 
(f)                                   Exercise of Option.  Options may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by the Board, together with payment in full as specified in Section 5(g) for the number of shares for which the Option is exercised. Shares of Common Stock subject to the Option will be delivered by the Company following exercise either as soon as practicable or, subject to such conditions as the Board shall specify, on a deferred basis (with the Company’s obligation to be evidenced by an instrument providing for future delivery of the deferred shares at the time or times specified by the Board).
 
(g)                                Payment Upon Exercise.  Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid for as follows:
 
(1)                                 in cash or by check, payable to the order of the Company;
 
(2)                                 except as may otherwise be provided in the applicable option agreement, by (i) delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding or (ii) delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding;
 
(3)                                 to the extent provided for in the applicable option agreement or approved by the Board, in its sole discretion, by delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant valued at their fair market value as determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Board (“Fair Market Value”), provided (i) such method of payment is then permitted under applicable law, (ii) such Common Stock, if acquired directly from the Company, was owned by the Participant for such minimum period of time, if any, as may be established by the Board in its discretion and (iii) such Common Stock is not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements;
 
(4)                                 to the extent permitted by applicable law and provided for in the applicable option agreement or approved by the Board, in its sole discretion, by (i) delivery of a promissory note of
 
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the Participant to the Company on terms determined by the Board, or (ii) payment of such other lawful consideration as the Board may determine; or
 
(5)                                 by any combination of the above permitted forms of payment.
 
(h)                                Limitation on Repricing.  Unless such action is approved by the Company’s stockholders: (i) no outstanding Option granted under the Plan may be amended to provide an exercise price per share that is lower than the then-current exercise price per share of such outstanding Option (other than adjustments pursuant to Section 10) and (ii) the Board may not cancel any outstanding option (whether or not granted under the Plan) and grant in substitution therefor new Awards under the Plan covering the same or a different number of shares of Common Stock and having an exercise price per share lower than the then-current exercise price per share of the cancelled option.
 
6.                                      Director Options.
 
(a)                                 Initial Grant.  Upon the commencement of service on the Board by any individual who is not then an employee of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall grant to such person a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase 7,500 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment under Section 10).
 
(b)                                Annual Grant.  On the date of each annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, the Company shall grant to each member of the Board of Directors of the Company who is both serving as a director of the Company immediately prior to and immediately following such annual meeting and who is not then an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase 7,500 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment under Section 10); provided, however, that a director shall not be eligible to receive an option grant under this Section 6(b) until such director has served on the Board for at least twelve months.
 
(c)                                 Terms of Director Options.  Options granted under this Section 6 shall (i) have an exercise price equal to the closing sale price (for the primary trading session) of the Common Stock on The Nasdaq Stock Market or the national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then traded on the trading date immediately prior to the date of grant (and if the Common Stock is not then traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market or a national securities exchange, the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on such date), (ii) vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant provided that the individual has continued to serve on the Board until at least the Annual Meeting of Stockholders immediately preceding such vesting date provided that no additional vesting shall take place after the Participant ceases to serve as a director and further provided that the Board may provide for accelerated vesting in the case of death, disability, attainment of mandatory retirement age or retirement following at least 10 years of service, (iii) expire on the earlier of 10 years from the date of grant or 90 days following cessation of service on the Board and (iv) contain such other terms and conditions as the Board shall determine.
 
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7.                                      Stock Appreciation Rights.
 
(a)                                 General.  The Board may grant Awards consisting of a Stock Appreciation Right (“SAR”) entitling the holder, upon exercise, to receive an amount in Common Stock or cash or a combination thereof (such form to be determined by the Board) determined by reference to appreciation, from and after the date of grant, in the fair market value of a share of Common Stock. The date as of which such appreciation or other measure is determined shall be the exercise date.
 
(b)                                Grants.  Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in tandem with, or independently of, Options granted under the Plan.
 
(1)                                 Tandem Awards.  When Stock Appreciation Rights are expressly granted in tandem with Options, (i) the Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable only at such time or times, and to the extent, that the related Option is exercisable (except to the extent designated by the Board in connection with a Reorganization Event) and will be exercisable in accordance with the procedure required for exercise of the related Option; (ii) the Stock Appreciation Right will terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the related Option, except to the extent designated by the Board in connection with a Reorganization Event and except that a Stock Appreciation Right granted with respect to less than the full number of shares covered by an Option will not be reduced until the number of shares as to which the related Option has been exercised or has terminated exceeds the number of shares not covered by the Stock Appreciation Right; (iii) the Option will terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the exercise of the related Stock Appreciation Right; and (iv) the Stock Appreciation Right will be transferable only with the related Option.
 
(2)                                 Independent SARs.  A Stock Appreciation Right not expressly granted in tandem with an Option will become exercisable at such time or times, and on such conditions, as the Board may specify in the SAR Award.
 
(c)                                 Grant Price.  The grant price or exercise price of an SAR shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the date of grant of the SAR.
 
(d)                                Term.  The term of an SAR shall not be more than 10 years from the date of grant.
 
(e)                                 Exercise.  Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by the Board, together with any other documents required by the Board.
 
8.                                      Restricted Stock; Restricted Stock Units.
 
(a)                                 General.  The Board may grant Awards entitling recipients to acquire shares of Common Stock (“Restricted Stock”), subject to the right of the Company to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price (or to require forfeiture of such shares if issued at no cost) from the recipient in the event that conditions specified by the Board in the applicable Award are not satisfied prior to the end of the applicable restriction period or periods established by the Board for such Award. Instead of granting Awards for Restricted Stock, the Board may grant Awards entitling the recipient to receive shares of Common Stock to be delivered at the time such shares of Common Stock vest (“Restricted Stock Units”) (Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units are each referred to herein as a “Restricted Stock Award”).
 
(b)                                Limitations on Vesting.
 
(1)                                 Restricted Stock Awards that vest based on the passage of time alone shall be zero percent vested prior to the first anniversary of the date of grant, no more than 33 1 / 3 % vested prior to the second anniversary of the date of grant, and no more than 66 2 / 3 % vested prior to the third anniversary of the date of grant. Restricted Stock Awards that vest upon the passage of time and
 
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provide for accelerated vesting based on performance shall not vest prior to the first anniversary of the date of grant. This subsection (8)(b)(1) shall not apply to Awards granted pursuant to Section 11(i).
 
(2)                                 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the Board may, in its discretion, either at the time a Restricted Stock Award is made or at any time thereafter, waive its right to repurchase shares of Common Stock (or waive the forfeiture thereof) or remove or modify any part or all of the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Stock Award, provided that the Board may only exercise such rights in extraordinary circumstances which shall include, without limitation, death or disability of the Participant; estate planning needs of the Participant; a merger, consolidation, sale, reorganization, recapitalization, or change in control of the Company; or any other nonrecurring significant event affecting the Company, a Participant or the Plan.
 
(c)                                 Terms and Conditions for all Restricted Stock Awards.  The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award, including the conditions for vesting and repurchase (or forfeiture) and the issue price, if any.
 
(d)                                Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock.
 
(1)                                 Dividends.  Participants holding shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to all ordinary cash dividends paid with respect to such shares, unless otherwise provided by the Board. If any dividends or distributions are paid in shares, or consist of a dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock other than an ordinary cash dividend, the shares, cash or other property will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid. Each dividend payment will be made no later than the end of the fiscal year in which the dividends are paid to shareholders of that class of stock or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the date the dividends are paid to shareholders of that class of stock.
 
(2)                                 Stock Certificates.  The Company may require that any stock certificates issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock shall be deposited in escrow by the Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or its designee). At the expiration of the applicable restriction periods, the Company (or such designee) shall deliver the certificates no longer subject to such restrictions to the Participant or if the Participant has died, to the beneficiary designated, in a manner determined by the Board, by a Participant to receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death (the “Designated Beneficiary”). In the absence of an effective designation by a Participant, “Designated Beneficiary” shall mean the Participant’s estate.
 
(e)                                 Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock Units.
 
(1)                                 Settlement.  Upon the vesting of and/or lapsing of any other restrictions (i.e., settlement) with respect to each Restricted Stock Unit, the Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company one share of Common Stock or an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock, as provided in the applicable Award agreement. The Board may, in its discretion, provide that settlement of Restricted Stock Units shall be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the election of the Participant.
 
(2)                                 Voting Rights.  A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units.
 
(3)                                 Dividend Equivalents.  To the extent provided by the Board, in its sole discretion, a grant of Restricted Stock Units may provide Participants with the right to receive an amount equal to any dividends or other distributions declared and paid on an equal number of outstanding shares of Common Stock (“Dividend Equivalents”). Dividend Equivalents may be paid currently or
 
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credited to an account for the Participants, may be settled in cash and/or shares of Common Stock and may be subject to the same restrictions on transfer and forfeitability as the Restricted Stock Units with respect to which paid, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, subject in each case to such terms and conditions as the Board shall establish, in each case to be set forth in the applicable Award agreement.
 
9.                                      Other Stock Unit Awards.
 
Other Awards of shares of Common Stock, and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, shares of Common Stock or other property, may be granted hereunder to Participants (“Other Stock Unit Awards”), including without limitation Awards entitling recipients to receive shares of Common Stock to be delivered in the future and Awards providing cash bonuses based solely on achievement of the performance goals set forth in Section 11(i). Such Other Stock Unit Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock Unit Awards may be paid in shares of Common Stock or cash, as the Board shall determine. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall determine the terms and conditions of each Other Stock Unit Award, including any purchase price applicable thereto.
 
10.                                Adjustments for Changes in Common Stock and Certain Other Events.
 
(a)                                 Changes in Capitalization.  In the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, reclassification of shares, spin-off or other similar change in capitalization or event, or any dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock other than an ordinary cash dividend, (i) the number and class of securities available under this Plan, (ii) the sub-limits set forth in Section 4(b), (iii) the number and class of securities and exercise price per share of each outstanding Option and each Option issuable under Section 6, (iv) the share- and per-share provisions and the exercise price of each Stock Appreciation Right, (v) the number of shares subject to and the repurchase price per share subject to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award and (vi) the share- and per-share-related provisions and the purchase price, if any, of each outstanding Other Stock Unit Award, shall be appropriately adjusted by the Company (or substituted Awards may be made, if applicable) to the extent determined by the Board. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event the Company effects a split of the Common Stock by means of a stock dividend and the exercise price of and the number of shares subject to such Option are adjusted as of the date of the distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the record date for such dividend), then an optionee who exercises an Option between the record date and the distribution date for such stock dividend shall be entitled to receive, on the distribution date, the stock dividend with respect to the shares of Common Stock acquired upon such Option exercise, notwithstanding the fact that such shares were not outstanding as of the close of business on the record date for such stock dividend.
 
(b)                                Reorganization Events.
 
(1)                                 Definition.  A “Reorganization Event” shall mean: (a) any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity as a result of which all of the Common Stock of the Company is converted into or exchanged for the right to receive cash, securities or other property or is cancelled, (b) any exchange of all of the Common Stock of the Company for cash, securities or other property pursuant to a share exchange transaction or (c) any liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
 
(2)                                 Consequences of a Reorganization Event on Awards Other than Restricted Stock Awards.  In connection with a Reorganization Event, the Board shall take any one or more of the following actions as to all or any outstanding Awards other than Restricted Stock Awards on such terms as the Board determines: (i) provide that Awards shall be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof),
 
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(ii) upon written notice to a Participant, provide that the Participant’s unexercised Options or other unexercised Awards will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization Event unless exercised by the Participant within a specified period following the date of such notice, (iii) provide that outstanding Awards shall become exercisable, realizable, or deliverable, or restrictions applicable to an Award shall lapse, in whole or in part prior to or upon such Reorganization Event, (iv) in the event of a Reorganization Event under the terms of which holders of Common Stock will receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment for each share surrendered in the Reorganization Event (the “Acquisition Price”), make or provide for a cash payment to a Participant equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the Acquisition Price times the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Participant’s Options or other Awards (to the extent the exercise price does not exceed the Acquisition Price) over (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding Options or other Awards, in exchange for the termination of such Options or other Awards and any applicable tax withholdings, (v) provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, Awards shall convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds (if applicable, net of the exercise price thereof) and (vi) any combination of the foregoing.
 
For purposes of clause (i) above, an Option shall be considered assumed if, following consummation of the Reorganization Event, the Option confers the right to purchase, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Option immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event, the consideration (whether cash, securities or other property) received as a result of the Reorganization Event by holders of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock held immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock); provided, however, that if the consideration received as a result of the Reorganization Event is not solely common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), the Company may, with the consent of the acquiring or succeeding corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of Options to consist solely of common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) equivalent in value (as determined by the Board) to the per share consideration received by holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock as a result of the Reorganization Event.
 
(3)                                 Consequences of a Reorganization Event on Restricted Stock Awards.  Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event other than a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the repurchase and other rights of the Company under each outstanding Restricted Stock Award shall inure to the benefit of the Company’s successor and shall, unless the Board determines otherwise, apply to the cash, securities or other property which the Common Stock was converted into or exchanged for pursuant to such Reorganization Event in the same manner and to the same extent as they applied to the Common Stock subject to such Restricted Stock Award. Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event involving the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, except to the extent specifically provided to the contrary in the instrument evidencing any Restricted Stock Award or any other agreement between a Participant and the Company, all restrictions and conditions on all Restricted Stock Awards then outstanding shall automatically be deemed terminated or satisfied.
 
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11.                                General Provisions Applicable to Awards
 
(a)                                 Transferability of Awards.  Awards shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, other than in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant; provided, however, that the Board may permit or provide in an Award for the gratuitous transfer of the Award by the Participant to or for the benefit of any immediate family member, family trust or other entity established for the benefit of the Participant and/or an immediate family member thereof if, with respect to such proposed transferee, the Company would be eligible to use a Form S-8 for the registration of the sale of the Common Stock subject to such Award under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; provided, further, that the Company shall not be required to recognize any such transfer until such time as the Participant and such permitted transferee shall, as a condition to such transfer, deliver to the Company a written instrument in form and substance satisfactory to the Company confirming that such transferee shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Award. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees.
 
(b)                                Documentation.  Each Award shall be evidenced in such form (written, electronic or otherwise) as the Board shall determine. Each Award may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan.
 
(c)                                 Board Discretion.  Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, each Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Award. The terms of each Award need not be identical, and the Board need not treat Participants uniformly.
 
(d)                                Termination of Status.  The Board shall determine the effect on an Award of the disability, death, termination of employment, authorized leave of absence or other change in the employment or other status of a Participant and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, or the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary, may exercise rights under the Award.
 
(e)                                 Withholding.  The Participant must satisfy all applicable federal, state, and local or other income and employment tax withholding obligations before the Company will deliver stock certificates or otherwise recognize ownership of Common Stock under an Award. The Company may decide to satisfy the withholding obligations through additional withholding on salary or wages. If the Company elects not to or cannot withhold from other compensation, the Participant must pay the Company the full amount, if any, required for withholding or have a broker tender to the Company cash equal to the withholding obligations. Payment of withholding obligations is due before the Company will issue any shares on exercise or release from forfeiture of an Award or, if the Company so requires, at the same time as is payment of the exercise price unless the Company determines otherwise. If provided for in an Award or approved by the Board in its sole discretion, a Participant may satisfy such tax obligations in whole or in part by delivery of shares of Common Stock, including shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value; provided, however, except as otherwise provided by the Board, that the total tax withholding where stock is being used to satisfy such tax obligations cannot exceed the Company’s minimum statutory withholding obligations (based on minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income). Shares surrendered to satisfy tax withholding requirements cannot be subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements.
 
(f)                                   Amendment of Award.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 5(h), the Board may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or realization, and converting an
 
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Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option, provided either (i) that the Participant’s consent to such action shall be required unless the Board determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant or (ii) that the change is permitted under Section 10 hereof.
 
(g)                                Conditions on Delivery of Stock.  The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove restrictions from shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all conditions of the Award have been met or removed to the satisfaction of the Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and any applicable stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the requirements of any applicable laws, rules or regulations.
 
(h)                                Acceleration.  The Board may at any time provide that any Award shall become immediately exercisable in full or in part, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as the case may be.
 
(i)                                    Performance Awards.
 
(1)                                 Grants.  Restricted Stock Awards and Other Stock Unit Awards under the Plan may be made subject to the achievement of performance goals pursuant to this Section 11(i) (“Performance Awards”). With respect to Other Stock Unit Awards providing a cash bonus, the maximum amount of such cash bonus paid to any Participant in any fiscal year shall not exceed $2,000,000.
 
(2)                                 Committee.  Grants of Performance Awards to any Covered Employee intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) (“Performance-Based Compensation”) shall be made only by a Committee (or subcommittee of a Committee) comprised solely of two or more directors eligible to serve on a committee making Awards qualifying as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m). In the case of such Awards granted to Covered Employees, references to the Board or to a Committee shall be deemed to be references to such Committee or subcommittee. “Covered Employee” shall mean any person who is a “covered employee” under Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.
 
(3)                                 Performance Measures.  For any Award that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the Committee shall specify that the degree of granting, vesting and/or payout shall be subject to the achievement of one or more objective performance measures established by the Committee, which shall be based on the relative or absolute attainment of specified levels of one or any combination of the following: net income, revenue or earnings each before or after, or otherwise adjusted for, discontinued operations, cost of operations, general and administrative costs, working capital, property plant and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets, interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization; operating profit before or after discontinued operations and/or taxes; sales or sales growth; earnings growth; cash flow or cash position; gross margins; stock price; market share; return on sales, assets, equity or investment, with or without adjustment for working capital; improvement of financial ratings; achievement of balance sheet or income statement objectives; or total shareholder return. Such goals may reflect absolute entity or business unit performance or a relative comparison to the performance of a peer group of entities or other external measure of the selected performance criteria and may be absolute in their terms or measured against or in relationship to other companies comparably, similarly or otherwise situated. The Committee may specify that such performance measures shall be adjusted to exclude any one or more of (i) extraordinary items, (ii) gains or losses on the dispositions of discontinued operations, (iii) the cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, (iv) the writedown of any asset, and (v) charges for restructuring and rationalization programs. Such performance
 
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measures: (i) may vary by Participant and may be different for different Awards; (ii) may be particular to a Participant or the department, branch, line of business, subsidiary or other unit in which the Participant works and may cover such period as may be specified by the Committee; and (iii) shall be set by the Committee within the time period prescribed by, and shall otherwise comply with the requirements of, Section 162(m). Awards that are not intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation may be based on these or such other performance measures as the Board may determine.
 
(4)                                 Adjustments.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan, with respect to any Performance Award that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the Committee may adjust downwards, but not upwards, the cash or number of Shares payable pursuant to such Award, and the Committee may not waive the achievement of the applicable performance measures except in the case of the death or disability of the Participant.
 
(5)                                 Other.  The Committee shall have the power to impose such other restrictions on Performance Awards as it may deem necessary or appropriate to ensure that such Awards satisfy all requirements for Performance-Based Compensation.
 
12.                                Miscellaneous
 
(a)                                 No Right To Employment or Other Status.  No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment or any other relationship with the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan, except as expressly provided in the applicable Award.
 
(b)                                No Rights As Stockholder.  Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be distributed with respect to an Award until becoming the record holder of such shares.
 
(c)                                 Effective Date and Term of Plan.  The Plan shall become effective on the date the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders (the “Effective Date”). No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the completion of 10 years from the Effective Date, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date.
 
(d)                                Amendment of Plan.  The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time provided that (i) to the extent required by Section 162(m), no Award granted to a Participant that is intended to comply with Section 162(m) after the date of such amendment shall become exercisable, realizable or vested, as applicable to such Award, unless and until such amendment shall have been approved by the Company’s stockholders if required by Section 162(m) (including the vote required under Section 162(m)); (ii) no amendment that would require stockholder approval under the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) may be made effective unless and until such amendment shall have been approved by the Company’s stockholders; and (iii) if the NASDAQ amends its corporate governance rules so that such rules no longer require stockholder approval of material amendments to equity compensation plans, then, from and after the effective date of such amendment to the NASDAQ rules, no amendment to the Plan (A) materially increasing the number of shares authorized under the Plan (other than pursuant to Section 10), (B) expanding the types of Awards that may be granted under the Plan, or (C) materially expanding the class of participants eligible to participate in the Plan shall be effective unless stockholder approval is obtained. In addition, if at any time the approval of the Company’s stockholders is required as to any other modification or amendment under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision with respect to Incentive Stock Options, the Board may not effect such modification or amendment without such approval. No Award shall be made that is conditioned upon stockholder approval of any amendment to the Plan.
 
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(e)                                 Provisions for Foreign Participants.  The Board may modify Awards or Options granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States or establish subplans or procedures under the Plan to recognize differences in laws, rules, regulations or customs of such foreign jurisdictions with respect to tax, securities, currency, employee benefit or other matters.
 
(f)                                   Compliance with Section 409A of the Code.  Except as provided in individual Award agreements initially or by amendment, if and to the extent any portion of any payment, compensation or other benefit provided to a Participant in connection with his or her employment termination is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the Participant is a specified employee as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, as determined by the Company in accordance with its procedures, by which determination the Participant (through accepting the Award) agrees that he or she is bound, such portion of the payment, compensation or other benefit shall not be paid before the day that is six months plus one day after the date of “separation from service” (as determined under Code Section 409A) (the “New Payment Date”), except as Code Section 409A may then permit. The aggregate of any payments that otherwise would have been paid to the Participant during the period between the date of separation from service and the New Payment Date shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum on such New Payment Date, and any remaining payments will be paid on their original schedule.
 
The Company makes no representations or warranty and shall have no liability to the Participant or any other person if any provisions of or payments, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A but do not to satisfy the conditions of that section.”
 
(g)                                Governing Law.  The provisions of the Plan and all Awards made hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such state that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such state.
 
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EXHIBIT 31.1
 
CERTIFICATION
 
I, John W. Casella, certify that:
 
1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Casella Waste Systems, Inc.;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;
 
4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
 
a)    Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
b)    Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
c)    Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
d)    Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
 
a)    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
b)    Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Date: December 4, 2008	 	
 	 	
 	By: /s/ John W. Casella	
 	John W. Casella	
 	Chief Executive Officer	

EXHIBIT 31.2
 
CERTIFICATION
 
I, Paul J. Massaro, certify that:
 
1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Casella Waste Systems, Inc.;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;
 
4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f))  for the registrant and have:
 
a)    Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
b)    Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
c)    Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
d)    Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
 
a)    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
b)    Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Date: December 4, 2008	 	

 	By: /s/ Paul J. Massaro	
 	(Principal Financial and Accounting	
 	Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)	

EXHIBIT 32.1
 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
 
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
 
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
 
In connection with the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ended October 31, 2008 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, John W. Casella, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that, to his knowledge:
 
(1)   the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
 
(2)   the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
Date: December 4, 2008	 	
 	 	
 	By: /s/ John W. Casella	
 	John W. Casella	
 	Chief Executive Officer	

EXHIBIT 32.2
 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
 
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
 
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
 
In connection with the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ended October 31, 2008 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, Paul J. Massaro, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the Company, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that, to his knowledge:
 
(1)   the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
 
(2)   the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
Date: December 4, 2008	 	
 	 	
 	By: /s/ Paul J. Massaro	
 	(Principal Financial and Accounting	
 	Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)