Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 2,312	$ 2,205	$ 2,464
Restricted cash		76	76
Accounts receivable - trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $988, $2,153 and $1,672, respectively	60,167	55,750	52,603
Refundable income taxes	651	554	465
Prepaid expenses	7,670	8,763	7,176
Inventory	4,282	4,374	3,905
Deferred income taxes		2,095	2,502
Other current assets	1,586	4,852	1,255
Current assets of discontinued operations			359
Total current assets	76,668	78,669	70,805
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $789,766, $736,839 and $695,935, respectively	402,252	414,542	403,424
Goodwill	118,976	119,170	119,139
Intangible assets, net	9,252	11,808	13,420
Restricted assets	2,251	6,632	681
Cost method investments	12,333	14,432	16,752
Other non-current assets	28,151	24,542	24,205
Non-current assets of discontinued operations			1,471
Total assets	649,883	669,795	649,897
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current maturities of long-term debt and capital leases	1,448	1,656	885
Accounts payable	44,921	48,518	51,788
Accrued payroll and related expenses	8,175	6,289	6,062
Accrued interest	12,305	11,094	6,087
Current accrued capping, closure and post-closure costs	732	2,208	7,312
Other accrued liabilities	17,765	16,667	17,612
Total current liabilities	85,346	86,432	89,746
Long-term debt and capital leases, less current portion	522,199	534,055	507,134
Accrued capping, closure and post-closure costs, less current portion	40,309	37,621	37,342
Deferred income taxes	5,595	7,080	6,954
Other long-term liabilities	$ 18,031	$ 16,627	$ 17,258
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Casella Waste Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit:
Additional paid-in capital	$ 344,518	$ 340,773	$ 338,625
Accumulated deficit	(366,459)	(353,490)	(347,472)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	7	58	39
Total Casella Waste Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit	(21,523)	(12,253)	(8,407)
Noncontrolling interests	(74)	233	(130)
Total stockholders' deficit	(21,597)	(12,020)	(8,537)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	649,883	669,795	649,897
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Casella Waste Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit:
Common stock	401	396	391
Total stockholders' deficit	401	396	391
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Casella Waste Systems, Inc. stockholders' deficit:
Common stock	10	10	10
Total stockholders' deficit	$ 10	$ 10	$ 10

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3-4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph a(1)
-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 4
-Article 5