Photo by Oliver Parini-Caselle
Casella Waste Systems Inc. has announced that CEO John W. Casella will transition from CEO to an executive chairman position effective Jan. 1, 2026.
The Rutland, Vermont-based waste and recycling company’s current president, Edmond R. “Ned” Coletta, will succeed John Casella as CEO and will join the company’s board as a Class II director.
In a recently published Waste Today company profile, Coletta refers to “resource solutions” as a term for the company’s integrated set of services involving collection, recycling, transfer and disposal.
“It’s something we approach up front with our customers,” Coletta told Waste Today. “We find a lot of ways to drive value for our customers but also for ourselves, and [it’s] something that we’re really proud of and it’s a big differentiator in the marketplace.”
Coletta is a longtime Casella employee who was promoted to chief financial officer (CFO) in 2012 and then to president in 2023.
“Our success has always been driven by our talented and dedicated people,” Coletta says. “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 his role as executive chairman, John Casella will continue to serve as board chair and, in collaboration with Coletta, will support the company’s strategic development, stakeholder engagement and organizational culture.
John Casella joined his brother Doug in 1976, a year after Doug founded the company, and credits him for leading the growth and expansion of Casella Waste Systems into a leading waste management and resource solutions company in the eastern United States, significantly enhancing value for shareholders, customers and communities.
“I am incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work from our entire Casella team over five decades," John Casella says. "It has been my privilege to lead this company and witness its evolution into an industry leader committed to sustainability and innovation. I have great confidence in Ned and the executive leadership team to build on our legacy of delivering exceptional service and sustainable solutions.”
Coletta joined the company in late 2004. Before working for Casella Waste, he co-founded and served as CFO of Waltham, Massachusetts-based ophthalmic medical technology company Avedro Inc. and held a research and development engineering role at Lockheed Martin Michoud Space Systems in New Orleans.
He holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a bachelor's degree from Brown University.
“On behalf of the entire board, I thank John for his outstanding leadership, irrepressible perseverance and invaluable contributions,” says Joe Doody, a member of the Casella Waste board of directors.
“John’s strategic vision and unwavering commitment have shaped Casella’s trajectory and positioned us strongly for the future. Ned’s extensive experience and proven leadership capabilities make him exceptionally qualified to lead Casella into its next chapter of growth and success.”