Casella Recognized on Forbes America’s Best Midsize Employers List

Rhea-AI Summary

Casella Waste Systems (Nasdaq: CWST) has been named to Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list for 2025, standing out as the only waste management company and Vermont-headquartered organization among nearly 500 recognized businesses. The selection process involved a Statista survey of over 217,000 employees at U.S. companies with 1,000+ workers.

The company's commitment to employee development is exemplified by its Kenneth A. Hier Sr. CDL Training Center, established in 2020, which has trained over 300 new drivers. This initiative honors Hier, Casella's first employee from 1976, who completed more than one million service stops in his 41-year career.

Building on its recognition on Time's America's Best Midsize Companies 2024 List, Casella continues expanding its workforce development programs beyond driver training to include mechanics, technicians, and frontline leaders. Chairman and CEO John W. Casella emphasizes that their service-first approach, dating back to 1975, has been important to employee satisfaction and business growth as they expand beyond 5,000 employees.

RUTLAND, Vt., Feb. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling, and resource management services company, has been named to Forbes “America’s Best Midsize Employers” list for 2025.

Casella was the only company in the waste, recycling, and resource management services industry—and the only company headquartered in Vermont—to be recognized among the nearly 500 organizations.

Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to survey more than 217,000 employees working at companies within the U.S. that employ more than 1,000 people. The organizations were stratified so that companies with 1,000 to 5,000 employees were deemed midsize, while companies with more than 5,000 employees were considered large employers. Survey respondents were asked if they would recommend their employer to others and to rate it based on a range of criteria, including salary, work environment, training programs, and opportunities to advance.

“We often say that our people are the biggest differentiator and competitive advantage as a sustainable enterprise,” said John W. Casella, Chairman and CEO of Casella. “We have invested a great deal in our people over the years, and our investments in safety, training, recruitment, and retention are passed on exponentially to the customers and communities we serve.”

In 2020, Casella established the Kenneth A. Hier Sr. CDL Training Center, which has trained more than 300 newly minted drivers since its inception. Hier, the first employee hired at Casella in 1976, embodied a steadfast commitment to safety and customer service, performing over one million successful service stops throughout his 41-year career.

In 2024, Casella earned a spot on Time’s America’s Best Midsize Companies 2024 List based on employee satisfaction, revenue growth, and sustainability transparency. Today, Casella continues to reinvest in its workforce companywide, expanding from its driver training program to include mechanics and technicians, frontline leaders, and other vital personnel committed to service and safety.

“Service is at the forefront of everything we do and has been since 1975,” said Casella. “If we are first of service to each other, our employees will be satisfied and will work hard to be of service to our customers, which then leads to growth and financial success. As we now move past 5,000 employees, this focus on service, training, and culture is vital for our sustainable future.”

For more information on a rewarding career at Casella, please visit: www.casella.com/careers

About Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

Casella Waste Systems, Inc., headquartered in Rutland, Vermont, provides resource management expertise and services to residential, commercial, municipal, institutional, and industrial customers, primarily in the areas of solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling, and organics services in the eastern United States. For further information visit the Company’s website at www.casella.com.

Media:

Jeff Weld
Vice President of Communications
(802) 772-2234
www.casella.com

FAQ

What recognition did Casella Waste Systems (CWST) receive from Forbes in 2025?

Casella Waste Systems was named to Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list for 2025, being the only waste management company and Vermont-based organization among nearly 500 recognized businesses.

How many drivers has CWST's Kenneth A. Hier Sr. CDL Training Center trained since 2020?

The Kenneth A. Hier Sr. CDL Training Center has trained more than 300 new drivers since its establishment in 2020.

What criteria did Forbes use to evaluate companies for their 2025 Best Midsize Employers list?

Forbes and Statista surveyed 217,000 employees, asking them to rate employers based on salary, work environment, training programs, advancement opportunities, and likelihood to recommend their employer to others.

How has CWST expanded its workforce development programs in 2024-2025?

Casella has expanded beyond driver training to include development programs for mechanics, technicians, frontline leaders, and other vital personnel focused on service and safety.

What other recent recognition has CWST received besides the Forbes 2025 listing?

Casella earned a spot on Time's America's Best Midsize Companies 2024 List, based on employee satisfaction, revenue growth, and sustainability transparency.