<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-03-008772
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031014
<FILING-DATE>20031015
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CHAPPLE JOHN F IIII
<CIK>0001225731
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-23211
<FILM-NUMBER>03940721
</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>2003-10-14</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000911177</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CWST</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001225731</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHAPPLE JOHN F IIII</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>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.68</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-14</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7500</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>12.68</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-10-13</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>7500</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7500</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">This option shall become exercisable with respect to one-third of the options granted on the first anniversary of the date of grant and as to a further one-third of the options granted on each of the second and third anniversaries of the date of grant.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ John F. Chapple, III</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-10-14</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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