John Casella will step down as CEO of Casella Waste Systems effective Jan. 1, 2026. Ned Coletta, Casella’s president, will take on the CEO role.
John Casella will stay on as the company’s executive chairman of the board, according to a news release. Coletta will remain president and will join the board as a Class II director during that time.
John Casella joined Casella in 1976, the year after his brother, Doug, started the company as Casella Refuse Removal. The longtime CEO has led the company through milestones such as the company going public in 1997 and the company’s recent 50th anniversary.
Casella has also served as a member of several associations and groups such as the Association of Vermont Recyclers, the Rutland Industrial Development Corporation, the National Recycling Coalition, the Environmental Research & Education Foundation and the Detachable Container Association. He has also served as an advisor on solid waste issues for the governors of Vermont, New York and New Hampshire.
Casella notified the board on August 1 that he planned to step down.
“I am incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work from our entire Casella team over five decades,” said John Casella in a statement. “It has been my privilege to lead this company and witness its evolution into an industry leader committed to sustainability and innovation.”
Casella said he has “great confidence” in Coletta and other company leadership “to build on our legacy of delivering exceptional service and sustainable solutions.”
Coletta joined Casella in 2004 and held various positions, including senior vice president, treasurer, and vice president of finance and investor relations. He served as CFO for 11 years before also becoming president in July 2022.
Before coming to Casella, Coletta co-founded and served as CFO of medical device company Avedro. He also worked in research and development engineering at Lockheed Martin Michoud Space Systems.
“Our success has always been driven by our talented and dedicated people,” said Coletta in a statement. “I am honored to lead the Casella team as we continue to innovate and deliver sustainable resource management solutions that benefit our customers, communities, and the environment.”
In an interview with Waste Dive in 2024, Coletta said his transition to the role of president allowed him to “pass the financial baton” and spend more time on bigger picture strategy work.
Coletta’s annual salary will be $750,000, effective Jan. 1, with a target annual cash bonus percentage of 150% of his base salary. He will also receive an annual equity award for 2026 of $2.5 million, delivered 25% in restricted stock units and 75% in performance-based stock units.
John Casella will have a reduced salary of $750,000 as of Jan. 1 for his new executive chairman role, with a target annual cash bonus percentage of 100% of his base salary. He will also receive an annual equity award of $2 million for 2026 and 2027, according to filings.
Vermont-based Casella reported revenue of $1.56 billion in 2024 and employs more than 5,000 people. It operates in multiple Northeast states, which have been experiencing diminishing disposal capacity. In the last few years, Casella has focused on expansion into the mid-Atlantic through its acquisition of several GFL Environmental assets and other regional deals. Casella noted during the company’s recent Q2 earnings call that the company also planned to focus on other acquisitions along the Eastern Seaboard.
The company has also focused on upgrading and scaling its recycling services and ramping up work at its rail-served McKean Landfill in Pennsylvania, among other long-term expansion plans.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with additional details about Casella as well as its executive compensation plans.
