-----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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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-10-026547.txt : 20100510
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-10-026547.hdr.sgml : 20100510
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100510174142
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-10-026547
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100506
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100510
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100510

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZELL SAMUEL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001024193

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06732
		FILM NUMBER:		10817906

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO N RIVERSIDE PLAZA
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c00504_4x0.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-05-06</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001024193</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZELL SAMUEL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>TWO N. RIVERSIDE PLAZA, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</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>2010-05-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.10 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25418</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Refer to footnote 1</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.10 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12607682</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Refer to footnote 2</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.10 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2341500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Refer to footnote 3</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Such shares of Common Stock are beneficially owned by the Helen Zell Revocable Trust (&quot;HZRT&quot;). Samuel Zell's spouse, Helen Zell, is the trustee of HZRT. Samuel Zell disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares held by HZRT except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Such shares are beneficially owned by SZ Investments, L.L.C. (&quot;SZI&quot;). SZI is indirectly owned by trusts established for the benefit of Samuel Zell and members of his family (the &quot;Trusts&quot;). The Trustee of the Trusts is Chai Trust Company, LLC, of which Samuel Zell is neither an officer nor a director, and thus he disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Such shares are beneficially owned by EGI-Fund (05-07) Investors, L.L.C. (&quot;05-07&quot;), which is indirectly owned by the Trusts.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Samuel Zell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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