Casella buys rest of CSJ campus

Staff report

A year after buying the eastern portion of the former College of St. Joseph(CSJ) campus, Casella Waste Systems has purchased the western portion, making them the sole owner of the property.

Casella bought the remainder of the campus from Heritage Family Credit Union for $750,000 on Sept. 27, Rutland City records show.

Jeff Weld, the director of communications at Casella, said the company held back on buying the full campus last year to understand its growth concerns.

“There was a question of what our needs might be, what the planning process might look like,” Weld said. “There was a question of how much growth there might be.” 

Casella, based in Rutland, is Vermont’s largest waste management company, employing 4,200 workers around the U.S., with around 400 based in Rutland. 

The company plans to turn the campus into a training hub for employees, with orientations and commercial driver’s license training. Weld estimates they’ll train about 100 people a month on the campus. 

“I think everybody’s looking forward to moving forward and getting some permits,” Weld said.  

Once permits are secured, the campus will be renovated in phases. 

In Phase 1, Casella will relocate about a dozen people on the human resources team to the former administration building.

In Phase 2, the company will demolish the former dormitories.

“They aren’t usable,” Weld said. “That’s kind of where things are. We’re hoping to have those permits in hand and get those buildings demoed by the end of the year.” 

The campus has been in limbo since Heritage Family Credit Union foreclosed on the college in 2019 after CSJ  lost its accreditation.

A number of parties, including the Housing Trust of Rutland, have expressed interest in the property.

Weld said Casella wants to enhance economic growth in Rutland. 

“Housing is a major need,” Weld said, explaining the company could work with other employers to offer temporary housing.