-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HAWMd2zJvLIhLh/uEayUBsxNr5N4jHL+Xi9Mk3WYCYVsgnLm6NmweHtQglAfSDDV
 5wW1Kn4Gkq538wVmd2V/1A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-09-018092.txt : 20090324
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-09-018092.hdr.sgml : 20090324
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090324161203
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-09-018092
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090320
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090324
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090324

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Barse David Michael
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001290673

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06732
		FILM NUMBER:		09701547

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THIRD AVENUE MANAGEMENT LLC
		STREET 2:		622 THIRD AVENUE, 32ND FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COVANTA HOLDING CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000225648
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COGENERATION SERVICES & SMALL POWER PRODUCERS [4991]
		IRS NUMBER:				956021257
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		40 LANE ROAD
		CITY:			FAIRFIELD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07004
		BUSINESS PHONE:		973-882-9000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		40 LANE ROAD
		CITY:			FAIRFIELD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07004

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DANIELSON HOLDING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MISSION INSURANCE GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19900826

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MISSION EQUITIES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19770921
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c83034_4x0.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-03-20</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000225648</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COVANTA HOLDING CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CVA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001290673</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Barse David Michael</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>622 THIRD AVENUE, 32ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.10 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>19000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.2987</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>464077</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to purchase common stock (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.31</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>19000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-12-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.10 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>19000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19425</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the weighted average price of multiple transactions with a range of prices between $14.18 and $14.40.  The Reporting Person, upon request by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Issuer or a security holder of the Issuer, undertakes to provide further information regarding the number of securities purchased at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">25,000 shares became exercisable on June 8, 2000; 8,333 shares became exercisable on December 8, 2000; 8,333 shares became exercisable on December 8,2001 and 8,334 shares became exercisable on June 24, 2002.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David M. Barse</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----