
<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the January
31, 1998 Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Statement of Operations for
the nine-month period ended January 31, 1998, and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to such financial statements and the footnotes thereto.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                           0000911177
<NAME>                          Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                APR-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                   MAY-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                     JAN-31-1998
<CASH>                                                 2,305
<SECURITIES>                                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                         19,474
<ALLOWANCES>                                          (1,331)
<INVENTORY>                                              255
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                      23,339
<PP&E>                                               109,561
<DEPRECIATION>                                        34,075
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       175,326
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                 19,609
<BONDS>                                                    0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                0
<COMMON>                                                 115
<OTHER-SE>                                            80,754
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         175,326
<SALES>                                                    0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                      87,321
<CGS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                         51,743
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                      26,431
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         584
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     5,450
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                        3,873
<INCOME-TAX>                                           1,950
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                    1,923
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                           1,923
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            .14
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            .09
        


</TABLE>
