New Casella CEO Ned Coletta to Navigate Growth, Debt Management, and Environmental Compliance
First Non-Family CEO Takes Helm at Vermont’s Largest Waste Management Company
Casella Waste Systems, Inc. officially completed its leadership transition on January 1, 2026, marking the first time in the company’s 50-year history that someone outside the founding Casella family will serve as Chief Executive Officer.
Edmond R. “Ned” Coletta, who previously served as the company’s President and Chief Financial Officer, assumed the CEO role effective January 1, 2026. John W. Casella, who founded the company in 1975 and led it as CEO since its incorporation in 1976, has transitioned to Executive Chairman of the Board.
The succession plan was first announced in August 2025, giving investors and stakeholders several months to prepare for the transition.
Who is Ned Coletta?
Background and Education
Coletta brings a background distinct from traditional waste management executives. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science Engineering from Brown University and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, according to company leadership profiles.
Before joining Casella, Coletta worked as a Research and Development Engineer at Lockheed Martin Michoud Space Systems from 1997 to 2001 and later co-founded and served as CFO of Avedro, Inc., a medical device company.
Career at Casella
Coletta joined Casella in December 2004, initially working in finance and investor relations. He served as Chief Financial Officer from 2012 to 2022 before being promoted to President. During his tenure as CFO and President, the company pursued aggressive expansion and managed significant debt restructuring.
Community Ties in Rutland
Coletta lives in Rutland, Vermont, with his wife Cara and their three children: Connor, Hannah, and Lauren. Since May 2020, he has served on the Board of Trustees for Killington Mountain School, a ski academy where his children have been students.
Public Advocacy for Regional Healthcare
In late 2025, Coletta became publicly involved in a community healthcare crisis. When Rutland Regional Medical Center announced plans to close its inpatient pediatric beds, Coletta testified before the Green Mountain Care Board, revealing that his 4-year-old son has a complex airway condition requiring specialized monitoring.
“My job is here, our lives are here, but it really causes us to question whether our jobs and our life should be here,” Coletta told VTDigger, framing the hospital’s capabilities as essential to retaining executive talent in the region.
The hospital subsequently withdrew its closure proposal in December 2025, citing community feedback and Vermont’s statewide healthcare transformation process.
Company Financial Performance
Casella has demonstrated significant revenue growth in recent years, though profitability has been more volatile.
Revenue and Market Position
The company’s revenues have grown from $1.085 billion in 2022 to approximately $1.795 billion on a trailing twelve-month basis as of September 2025. The company’s market capitalization stands at approximately $6.26 billion, with shares trading in the $97-$101 range as the transition occurred.
Third quarter 2025 results showed revenues of $472.5 million, up 20.5% year-over-year, with solid waste pricing increases of 4.6% to 5.7% driving growth.
Debt and Cash Flow
The company carries a Total Debt to Equity ratio of approximately 73%, typical for the capital-intensive waste industry. Adjusted Free Cash Flow has improved from $79 million in 2023 to $158.3 million in 2024, with projections for continued growth in 2025.
Strategic Expansion Beyond Vermont
Mid-Atlantic Push
Under Coletta’s leadership as President, Casella launched a major expansion into Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. Recent acquisitions, including Northstar Pulp and Paper, Royal Carting, and Welsh Sanitation, have added over $200 million in annualized revenues.
In a third quarter 2025 earnings call, John Casella acknowledged the company learned lessons about the need for “rapid system integration” during the Mid-Atlantic expansion.
Vertical Integration: Driver Training
To address commercial driver shortages, Casella established the Kenneth A. Heir Sr. CDL Training Center in 2020, which has trained over 300 new drivers, reducing reliance on external labor markets.
Environmental Challenges and Compliance
PFAS Management at Coventry Landfill
Casella’s WasteUSA landfill in Coventry accepts approximately 70% of Vermont’s trash and represents a critical infrastructure asset. However, management of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) — so-called “forever chemicals” — in landfill leachate has created ongoing regulatory challenges.
In February 2024, the Conservation Law Foundation reported that 9,000 gallons of leachate spilled at the Coventry facility during operation of a pilot PFAS treatment system. Casella halted the pilot project following the incident.
Environmental groups have alleged permit violations related to the pilot system’s operation. Vermont regulators subsequently issued a permit requiring innovative PFAS treatment technologies at the site.
Regional Incidents
A 2021 leachate spill of 154,000 gallons at Casella’s NCES landfill in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, heightened regulatory scrutiny. In Maine, the company’s Juniper Ridge Landfill experienced a fire in 2023 that led to air quality complaints from the Penobscot Nation.
Safety Record
Company facilities have received multiple OSHA citations in recent years. Violation Tracker data shows the company has paid over $538,000 in environment-related penalties since 2000, with ongoing workplace safety violations resulting in additional penalties.
Community Investment Initiatives
The Casella Foundation
The company launched the Casella Foundation in 2024, formalizing its philanthropic efforts with a focus on environmental conservation, youth development, and community revitalization. The foundation has supported libraries, fire departments, food shelves, and other community organizations across the company’s service area.
University of Vermont Partnership
In March 2025, Casella committed $1.5 million to establish the Casella Center for Circular Economy and Sustainability at the University of Vermont. The center will support PhD students and research staff focused on developing practical sustainability solutions.
Sustainability Leadership Awards
The company has recognized institutional partners through its Sustainability Leadership Awards program. 2025 recipients included Dartmouth College and UVM Medical Center.
Regulatory and Permitting Landscape
Casella operates in a highly regulated environment, particularly regarding its Vermont landfill operations. The company must navigate Act 250 environmental permitting requirements for any facility expansions. A 2019 expansion of the Coventry landfill by 51 acres faced fierce opposition from local groups including DUMP (Don’t Undermine Memphremagog’s Purity) and the Conservation Law Foundation before ultimately receiving approval.
Vermont’s discovery of PFAS in 95% of waste samples has increased scrutiny on landfill operators statewide.
What Happens Next
Coletta assumes the CEO role at a pivotal time for Casella. The company must balance several priorities:
Environmental Compliance: Successfully implementing permitted PFAS treatment systems at its Vermont and New Hampshire landfills is critical to maintaining disposal operations. Any additional spills or permit violations could result in operational restrictions or increased regulatory costs.
Mid-Atlantic Integration: The company’s expansion into Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland represents a strategic diversification from its New England base. Successful integration of recent acquisitions will be essential to maintaining the company’s growth trajectory.
Regulatory Relations: As the new CEO, Coletta will need to manage relationships with state regulators in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine while pursuing necessary permit expansions and renewals.
Market Expectations: Wall Street analysts have set price targets ranging from $95 to $120 per share, expecting continued revenue growth and operational efficiency improvements.
Community Engagement: The company’s “social license to operate” in Vermont communities near its facilities remains contested, requiring ongoing dialogue with local stakeholders and environmental groups.
John Casella’s role as Executive Chairman provides continuity and access to his decades of relationships with regulators and political leaders across the region. The Vermont Legislature recognized the company’s 50-year milestone with a concurrent resolution in 2025, noting its role as a significant regional employer.
The transition represents a generational shift for Vermont’s largest waste management company, from a founder-led family business to a professionally managed regional corporation navigating increasingly complex environmental and regulatory challenges.