<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000847468
<NAME> WASTE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> US DOLLARS

                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999             DEC-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1                       1
<CASH>                                      36,816,693                 193,613
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                6,256,875               5,457,562
<ALLOWANCES>                                   125,816                 222,028
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            46,250,254              10,198,432
<PP&E>                                      82,232,920              48,948,513
<DEPRECIATION>                               5,410,617               4,262,778
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             173,884,122              96,116,699
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       12,110,540              16,718,221
<BONDS>                                              0              60,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                       134,651                 117,184
<OTHER-SE>                                           0              37,810,712
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               173,884,122              96,116,699
<SALES>                                      8,862,258              21,044,584
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             8,862,258              21,044,584
<CGS>                                        7,868,030              12,399,529
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                7,868,030              19,000,952
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             1,913,609               4,482,478
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           2,006,467             (4,073,693)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            (8,473,625)             (6,205,925)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                  43,174
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        (8,473,625)             (6,249,099)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                              (223,008)               (246,539)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                               (8,696,633)             (6,495,634)
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.74                  (1.00)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.74                  (1.00)