<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-03-008019
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030618
<FILING-DATE>20030929
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>LEONARD CHARLES E
<CIK>0001225722
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-23211
<FILM-NUMBER>03913823
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>25 GREENS HILL LANE
<STREET2>PO BOX 866
<CITY>RUTLAND
<STATE>VT
<ZIP>06702
<PHONE>802 775 0325
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS INC
<CIK>0000911177
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4953
<IRS-NUMBER>030338873
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0430
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>25 GREENS HILL LANE P O BOX 866
<CITY>RUTLAND
<STATE>VT
<ZIP>05701
<PHONE>8027750325
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>25 GREENE HILL ROAD
<CITY>RUTLAND
<STATE>VT
<ZIP>05702
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-06-18</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000911177</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CWST</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001225722</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEONARD CHARLES E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>25 GREENS HILL LANE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RUTLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>05701</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Sr. Vice President</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.12</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-06-18</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>20000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>9.12</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-06-17</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>20000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
<derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.12</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-06-18</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>9.12</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-06-17</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">This option is immediately exercisable with respect to 10,000 of the shares granted and shall become exercisable with respect to the remaining 10,000 shares on June 18, 2004.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">This option shall become fully exercisable on June 18, 2005.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Charles E. Leonard</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-09-29</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
