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                                                                  Exhibit 5.1




                                Nobember 1, 1995




USA Waste Services, Inc.
5400 LBJ Freeway
Suite 300, Tower One
Dallas, Texas  75240

Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel for USA Waste Services, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the filing of the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 with respect to the registration of 3,172,226 shares (the
"Shares") of the Common Stock, $.01 par value (the "Common Stock"), of the
Company issuable to Sanders Morris Mundy Inc.  under certain standby
arrangements in connection with the conversion of the Company's 8-1/2%
Convertible Subordinated Debenture Due 2002 (the "Debentures").

         We have made such inquiries and examined such documents as we have
considered necessary or appropriate for purposes of giving the opinions
hereinafter set forth, including the examination of executed or conformed
counterparts, or copies certified or otherwise proved to our satisfaction, of
the following:

         (a)     the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company as
filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on June 30, 1995;

         (b)     the By-laws of the Company;

         (c)     the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the Company,
including the related prospectus and other attachments, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission to register the Shares under the Securities
Act of 1933 (the "Registration Statement").

         We have assumed the genuineness and authenticity of all signatures on
all original documents, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as
copies and the due authorization, execution,

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USA Waste Services, Inc.
Page 2
November 1, 1995

delivery or recordation of all documents where due authorization, execution or
recordation or prerequisites to the effectiveness thereof.

         Based upon the foregoing, and having regard for such legal
considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:

         (i)     the Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the States of Delaware;

         (ii)    the authorized capital of the Company consists of 150,000,000
shares of Common Stock, of which, as of September 30, 1995, 53,848,249 shares
are issued and outstanding, and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $.01 par
value, of which, as of September 30, 1995, no shares are issued and
outstanding;

         (iii)   the shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon
conversion of the Debentures, when issued in accordance with the terms of the
Debentures, will be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid, and
nonassessable; and

         (iv)    the Shares registered under the Registration Statement are
duly authorized, and if and when issued by the Company, will be legally issued,
fully paid, and non-assessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the
Statements made regarding our Firm and to the use of our name under the heading
"Legal Matters" in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration
Statement.

                                        Very truly yours,
                                        
                                        SNELL & SMITH, A Professional
                                        Corporation






