Casella Waste Systems and Waga Energy Unveil RNG Facility at Ribbon Cutting

Rhea-AI Summary

Casella Waste Systems (NASDAQ:CWST) and Waga Energy opened a Renewable Natural Gas facility at the Chemung County Landfill in Elmira, NY. Operating since January 2026, it upgrades landfill gas into pipeline-quality RNG injected into the Valley Energy network.

The facility is designed for up to 610,000 MMBtu annually, with year-one production projected at 340,000 MMBtu and an expected avoidance of over 47,000 tons of CO₂‑equivalent emissions per year. Waga funded construction and will own and operate the site for 20 years, while both companies share RNG revenue.

Positive

• RNG facility designed to produce up to 610,000 MMBtu annually
• Year-one RNG output projected at 340,000 MMBtu (2.4 million diesel gallons equivalent)
• Expected avoidance of over 47,000 tons CO₂‑equivalent emissions annually
• 20-year agreement with Waga Energy to own and operate facility
• Capital for facility construction fully deployed by Waga Energy
• RNG injected into Valley Energy network, creating long-term revenue-sharing stream

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction – CWST

-1.31%

-1.31% Session close to close

In the May 15 session, CWST declined 1.31%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement highlights Casella’s strategy to monetize landfill gas by partnering with Waga Ene...

Analysis

This announcement highlights Casella’s strategy to monetize landfill gas by partnering with Waga Energy, which funded and will operate the Chemung RNG facility for 20 years. The plant targets up to 610,000 MMBtu of RNG annually and avoidance of over 47,000 tons of CO₂‑equivalent emissions per year. In context of recent revenue growth, acquisitions, and bond remarketing activity, investors may watch RNG production levels, environmental credits, and integration with Casella’s broader resource management platform.

Key Figures

RNG capacity: 610,000 MMBtu annually Emissions avoided: 47,000 tons CO₂‑equivalent per year Year-one RNG output: 340,000 MMBtu +4 more

7 metrics

RNG capacity 610,000 MMBtu annually Design capacity of Chemung County Landfill RNG facility

Emissions avoided 47,000 tons CO₂‑equivalent per year Estimated annual emissions avoidance per EPA standards

Year-one RNG output 340,000 MMBtu Projected production during first year of operation

Diesel equivalent 2.4 million gallons Year-one RNG output equivalent in diesel fuel

Facility term 20 years Waga Energy ownership and operating period under agreement

Facility start January 2026 RNG facility began turning landfill gas into RNG

Ribbon-cutting date May 14, 2026 Official opening ceremony of Chemung County RNG facility

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: May 11 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
May 11	Bond remarketing	Neutral	+2.1%	Remarketing of $15.0M New York State revenue bonds at new rate.
Apr 30	Earnings and guidance	Positive	+9.6%	Q1 2026 results with revenue growth and raised full-year guidance.
Apr 07	Earnings call setup	Neutral	+1.0%	Announcement of Q1 2026 results release and conference call details.
Apr 01	Acquisition closed	Positive	+6.9%	Completion of Star Waste Systems deal adding ~$100M annualized revenue.
Mar 25	Investor conference	Neutral	+0.3%	Planned presentation at Gabelli waste and sustainability symposium.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent company news, especially earnings and acquisitions, has generally coincided with positive price reactions, indicating investors have rewarded growth and capital markets activity.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, Casella reported Q1 2026 revenues of $457.3M and raised full-year guidance, while completing the Star Waste Systems acquisition, adding about $100M in annualized revenue. Capital structure actions included remarketing $15.0M in New York State revenue bonds. The stock reacted positively to these updates, with moves of +6.92% on the Star Waste deal and +9.56% on earnings. Today’s Chemung RNG facility ribbon-cutting fits into this broader growth and sustainability strategy.

Key Terms

renewable natural gas (rng), landfill gas, pipeline‑quality rng, mmbtu, +1 more

5 terms

renewable natural gas (rng) technical

"expert in the production of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) from landfills"

Renewable natural gas (RNG) is a fuel made by capturing methane released from organic waste—like landfills, farms, or wastewater—and cleaning it so it can replace conventional natural gas. Think of it as recycled gas: it turns waste into a usable energy product that can be sold, piped, or used as vehicle fuel. Investors care because RNG projects create predictable revenue streams, often qualify for subsidies or carbon credits, and reduce regulatory and market risk tied to emissions, affecting long-term cash flow and asset value.

landfill gas technical

"facility has been successfully turning landfill gas into RNG since January 2026"

Landfill gas is the mixture of gases, mainly methane and carbon dioxide, produced when organic waste breaks down in a landfill; think of it as the burp from a giant compost pile. It matters to investors because unmanaged gas creates safety, odor and regulatory risks and can carry cleanup costs, while captured gas can be sold or used to generate power, creating a revenue stream and reducing a site’s environmental liability.

pipeline‑quality rng technical

"technology ... to upgrade landfill gas into pipeline‑quality RNG"

Pipeline-quality RNG is renewable natural gas that has been cleaned and processed so it meets the technical and safety standards required to flow into the same transmission pipelines used for conventional natural gas. For investors, that matters because meeting pipeline specs unlocks access to a large, liquid market and long-term supply contracts, and it can qualify the fuel for regulatory credits and price premiums—similar to refining a raw product so it can be sold through mainstream distribution channels.

mmbtu technical

"designed to generate up to 610,000 MMBtu of renewable gas annually"

A MMBtu is a unit of energy equal to one million British thermal units, commonly used to measure natural gas and other fuel quantities for trading and contracts. For investors, it translates raw energy into a standardized price metric—think of it like gallons for gasoline—so changes in the MMBtu price affect producer revenues, utility costs, commodity derivatives, and the profitability of energy-related investments.

co₂‑equivalent emissions technical

"expected to avoid more than 47,000 tons of CO₂‑equivalent emissions each year"

CO2‑equivalent emissions quantify the total climate impact of all greenhouse gases by converting each gas’s warming effect into the amount of carbon dioxide that would cause the same effect, so methane, nitrous oxide and others can be summed on a single scale. Investors use this single-number measure like a common currency to compare firms’ climate footprints, assess regulatory and transition risks, potential costs, and reputational exposure tied to a company’s emissions.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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RUTLAND, Vt., May 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company in the Eastern United States, and Waga Energy (EPA: WAGA), a global expert in the production of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) from landfills, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 14, 2026, to celebrate the opening of the RNG production facility at the Chemung County Landfill in Elmira, New York. The facility, which has been successfully turning landfill gas into RNG since January 2026, represents a key milestone in Casella’s efforts to create valuable resources from waste.

“We’re excited to celebrate the opening of this facility as it represents a key piece of our strategy coming to life,” said Ned Coletta, President and CEO of Casella Waste Systems, Inc. “We made the decision several years ago to find great partners to develop these RNG projects at our facilities rather than invest the capital and embark on projects that are outside the scope of our expertise. This project is a great example of the benefits of that approach as we see the collective expertise of Chemung County, Waga Energy, and our landfill operations team coming together to create value out of the waste we manage.”

The facility leverages the WAGABOX® technology developed and patented by Waga Energy to upgrade landfill gas into pipeline‑quality RNG. The RNG produced on-site is injected directly into the Valley Energy natural gas distribution network, supplying the region with a renewable alternative to fossil natural gas. The facility is designed to generate up to 610,000 MMBtu of renewable gas annually and is expected to avoid more than 47,000 tons of CO₂‑equivalent emissions each year, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards¹. Through its first four months, the facility has performed well through its ramp up phase, and is projected to produce 340,000 MMBtu in year one which is equivalent to 2.4 million gallons of diesel fuel.

"We are honored to celebrate this inauguration alongside Casella, a company whose commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship is truly exemplary,” said Guénaël Prince, Chief Executive Officer of Waga Energy Inc. “The successful commissioning of the Chemung facility demonstrates the strength of our partnership and Casella's leadership in renewable energy development. This project showcases how innovative collaboration can turn waste into a valuable resource for the energy transition, benefiting both the environment and local communities."

Under the terms of the agreement, Waga Energy deployed the capital required to fully fund the construction of the facility and will own and operate the facility for 20 years, while Casella and Waga Energy share the revenue generated from RNG sales.

_______________
¹ Landfill Gas Energy Benefits Calculator | US EPA

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 more information, visit www.casella.com.

About Waga Energy

Waga Energy produces competitively priced Renewable Natural Gas (RNG, also known as biomethane) by upgrading landfill gas using a patented purification technology called WAGABOX®. The RNG produced is injected directly into the gas grids that supply individuals and businesses, providing a substitute for natural fossil gas. Waga Energy currently operates 36 RNG production units in France, Spain, Canada and the USA, representing an installed capacity of more than 6.5 million MMBtu (1.9 TWh) per year. To date, Waga Energy has 19 RNG production units under construction worldwide. Each project initiated by Waga Energy contributes to the fight against global warming and helps the energy transition. Waga Energy is listed on Euronext Paris (FR0012532810 – EPA: WAGA).

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

Certain matters discussed in this press release, including but not limited to, the statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, projections as to the anticipated benefits of the commercial agreement, the anticipated amounts of renewable natural gas to be produced and the anticipated impact of the commercial agreement and the renewable natural gas facilities on the Company’s business and future financial and operating results are "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such by the context of the statements, including words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “may,” “would,” “intend,” “estimate,” “will,” “guidance” and other similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which the Company operates and management’s beliefs and assumptions. The Company cannot guarantee that it actually will achieve the financial results, plans, intentions, expectations or guidance disclosed in the forward-looking statements made. Such forward-looking statements, and all phases of the Company’s operations, involve a number of risks and uncertainties, any one or more of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in its forward-looking statements.

Such risks and uncertainties include or relate to, among other things, the following: project development timelines may extend past anticipated schedules; the Company may not fully recognize the expected financial benefits from the RNG facilities due to operational challenges, gas production levels, market or economic factors outside its control which may impact revenues and costs, or for other reasons; and potential regulatory changes could adversely impact operations.

There are a number of other important risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These additional risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those detailed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recently filed Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and in other filings that the Company may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future.

The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contact Us Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
Media Relations  Jeff Weld Vice President of Communications (802) 772-2234	Investor Relations  Jason Mead Senior Vice President of Finance and Treasurer (802) 772-2293
Waga Energy
Alicia Fanni   Marketing and Communications Manager (786) 300-9545  alicia.fanni@waga-energy.com	Laurent Barbotin  Head of PR  +33 772 771-185  laurent.barbotin@waga-energy.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2eae24ff-981a-4946-bc50-c1930ec7754d

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fcf6ea0c-4503-450e-8bd4-402e85db97d9

This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

FAQ

What did Casella Waste Systems (NASDAQ:CWST) announce about the Chemung County RNG facility on May 14, 2026?

Casella Waste Systems announced the opening of a Renewable Natural Gas facility at the Chemung County Landfill. According to Casella, the plant has been operating since January 2026, upgrading landfill gas into pipeline-quality RNG injected into the Valley Energy distribution network.

How much Renewable Natural Gas can the Casella CWST Chemung County facility produce each year?

The Chemung County RNG facility is designed to generate up to 610,000 MMBtu of renewable gas annually. According to Casella, this output comes from upgrading landfill gas using Waga Energy’s WAGABOX technology, with the RNG injected directly into the Valley Energy natural gas network.

What is the projected first-year RNG production at Casella’s Chemung County landfill project (CWST)?

First-year production at the Chemung County RNG facility is projected at 340,000 MMBtu. According to Casella, this output is equivalent to approximately 2.4 million gallons of diesel fuel and reflects strong performance during the facility’s initial four-month ramp-up phase.

How much CO2 emissions could Casella’s Chemung County RNG facility (CWST) help avoid annually?

The facility is expected to avoid more than 47,000 tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions each year. According to Casella, this estimate is based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards and reflects the environmental benefits of converting landfill gas into Renewable Natural Gas.

What are the key terms of the Casella and Waga Energy partnership for the Chemung County RNG facility?

Under the agreement, Waga Energy funded construction and will own and operate the facility for 20 years. According to Casella, both companies share revenue from RNG sales, aligning interests around long-term production and performance at the Chemung County Landfill site.

How does Waga Energy’s WAGABOX technology support Casella Waste Systems’ RNG strategy at Chemung County?

Waga Energy’s WAGABOX technology upgrades landfill gas into pipeline-quality Renewable Natural Gas. According to Casella, using this patented system at Chemung County helps turn landfill emissions into a marketable energy product, supporting its strategy to create value from waste streams.