FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Ardagna Joseph Francis
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
11/01/2016
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Meridian Waste Solutions, Inc. [MRDN]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
5055 HEATHERWOOD CR
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

ROSWELL, GA 30075
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock, $0.025 par value per share 1,000 (1)
D
 

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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
NonEmployee Stock Option   (2) 11/01/2021 Common Stock, par value $0.025 per share 3,750 (2) $ 20 (2) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Ardagna Joseph Francis
5055 HEATHERWOOD CR
ROSWELL, GA 30075
  X      

Signatures

/s/ Joseph F. Ardagna 11/14/2016
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Reflects 1 - for - 20 reverse stock split effected by the Company on November 3, 2016.
(2) In connection with his appointment to the Board, Mr. Ardagna received, pursuant to a stock option agreement entered into as of November 1, 2016, by and between the Company and Mr. Ardagna, stock options to purchase up to three thousand seven hundred fifty (3,750) shares of the Company?s common stock, par value $0.025 per share, at an exercise price per share equal to $20.00, giving effect to the Company's 1for20 reverse stock split. The options are exercisable for a period of five (5) years and vest in equal amounts over a period of three (3) years at the rate of three hundred thirteen (313) options per fiscal quarter at the end of such quarter, commencing in the quarter ended December 31, 2016, and prorated for the number of days Mr. Ardagna served on Board during the first fiscal quarter.

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