-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 CrFKipMhbHbg8SqNlgsyPA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000935836-03-000214.txt : 20030527
<SEC-HEADER>0000935836-03-000214.hdr.sgml : 20030526
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030527130646
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000935836-03-000214
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030523
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030527

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WASTE CONNECTIONS INC/DE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001057058
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REFUSE SYSTEMS [4953]
		IRS NUMBER:				943283464
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		620 COOLIDGE DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 350
		CITY:			FOLSOM
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95630
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9166088200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		620 COOLIDGE DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 350
		CITY:			FOLSOM
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95630-3155

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MITTELSTAEDT RONALD J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001064299

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31507
		FILM NUMBER:		03719537

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WASTE CONNECTIONS INC
		STREET 2:		2260 DOUGLAS BLVD SUITE 280
		CITY:			ROSEVILLE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95661
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9167722221

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WASTE CONNECTIONS INC
		STREET 2:		2260 DOUGLAS BLVD SUITE 280
		CITY:			ROSEVILLE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95661
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-23</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001057058</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WASTE CONNECTIONS INC/DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WCN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001064299</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MITTELSTAEDT RONALD J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Forward Purchase Agreement (obligation to sell)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-23</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-05-23</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2003-05-23</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>300000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>0</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The zeros in the above table are placeholders only that are required by the EDGAR software and should be disregarded.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On May 23, 2003, the reporting person settled his obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock pursuant to a prepaid forward purchase agreement (the &quot;Agreement&quot;) he entered into on May 23, 2000 with an unaffiliated third party (the &quot;Buyer&quot;).  The Agreement obligated the reporting person to deliver up to 300,000 shares of Common Stock to the Buyer on May 23, 2003.  The reporting person was paid cash by the Buyer in an amount equal to (300,000 x 67% of the Common Stock share price on May 22, 2000), as specified in the Agreement.  The reporting person pledged 300,000 shares of Common Stock to the Buyer to secure his obligations under the Agreement and retained voting and dividend rights in the pledged shares during the term of the pledge.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The number of shares to be delivered at settlement depended on the closing price of the Common Stock on May 21, 2003 (the &quot;Settlement Price&quot;).  If the Settlement Price were less than or equal to $15.54, the reporting person would transfer 300,000 shares to the Buyer.  If the Settlement Price were greater than $15.54 but less than or equal to $26.79, the reporting person would transfer a number of shares equal to
300,000 x ($15.54/Settlement Price).  If the Settlement Price were greater than $26.79, the reporting person would transfer a number of shares equal to 300,000 x (($15.54 + Settlement Price - $26.97)/Settlement Price).   The Settlement Price was $32.00.  Accordingly, the reporting person delivered to the Buyer 194,536 shares of Common Stock.  Because the Settlement Price was higher than $15.54, the reporting
person was not required to deliver 105,464 of the pledged shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ronald J. Mittelstaedt</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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