EXHIBIT 5.1

                        WYRICK ROBBINS YATES & PONTON LLP
                                Attorneys at Law

                                   The Summit
                        4101 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 300
                       Raleigh, North Carolina 27607-7506

                                 March 25, 1998


Waste Industries, Inc.
3949 Browning Place
Raleigh, North Carolina  27609

                  Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed by Waste
Industries, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the "Company"), with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on or about the date hereof (the
"Registration Statement"), in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 2,326,000 shares of the Company's Common
Stock, no par value per share (the "Shares"). We understand that the Shares are
to be issued pursuant to the Company's Employee Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan
and its 1997 Stock Plan. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of
all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals
and the conformity with the original of all documents submitted to us as copies
thereof.

         As your legal counsel, we have examined the proceedings taken, and are
familiar with the proceedings proposed to be taken, by you in connection with
the sale and issuance of the Shares.

         It is our opinion that, upon completion of the proceedings being taken
or contemplated by us, as your counsel, to be taken prior to the issuance of the
Shares, the Shares, when issued in the manner referred to in the Registration
Statement and in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Company, will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

         We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the
Registration Statement, including the Prospectus relating thereto, and any
amendments thereto.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            WYRICK ROBBINS YATES & PONTON LLP