Clean Harbors (CLH) 10-Q 7 Nov 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

DOCUMENT_AND_ENTITY_INFORMATIO

DOCUMENT AND ENTITY INFORMATION Document	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 01, 2013
Document Information [Line Items]	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'CLEAN HARBORS INC	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000822818	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	60,659,766

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$248,635	$229,836
Marketable securities	11,787	11,778
Accounts receivable, net of allowances aggregating $17,824 and $11,125, respectively	603,054	541,423
Unbilled accounts receivable	42,122	27,072
Deferred costs	17,097	6,888
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	41,880	75,778
Inventories and supplies	155,301	171,441
Deferred tax assets	21,898	22,577
Total current assets	1,141,774	1,086,793
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,615,427	1,531,763
Other assets:	'	'
Long-term investments	4,352	4,354
Deferred financing costs	21,565	21,657
Goodwill	590,152	593,771
Permits and other intangibles, net	567,776	572,817
Other	15,806	14,651
Total other assets	1,199,651	1,207,250
Total assets	3,956,852	3,825,806
Current liabilities:	'	'
Current portion of capital lease obligations	1,973	5,092
Accounts payable	321,097	256,468
Deferred revenue	61,912	50,942
Accrued expenses	256,813	232,429
Current portion of closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities	27,737	24,121
Total current liabilities	669,532	569,052
Other liabilities:	'	'
Closure and post-closure liabilities, less current portion of $7,512 and $8,791, respectively	39,982	45,457
Remedial liabilities, less current portion of $20,225 and $15,330, respectively	151,866	151,890
Long-term obligations	1,400,000	1,400,000
Capital lease obligations, less current portion	1,669	2,879
Deferred taxes, unrecognized tax benefits and other long-term liabilities	217,683	224,456
Total other liabilities	1,811,200	1,824,682
Common stock, $.01 par value:	'	'
Authorized 80,000,000; shares issued and outstanding 60,612,702 and 60,385,453 shares, respectively	606	604
Shares held under employee participation plan	-469	-469
Additional paid-in capital	893,822	880,979
Accumulated other comprehensive income	12,070	49,632
Accumulated earnings	570,091	501,326
Total stockholders’ equity	1,476,120	1,432,072
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$3,956,852	$3,825,806

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	$17,824	$11,125
Accrued Capping, Closure, Post-closure and Environmental Costs	7,512	8,791
Accrued Environmental Loss Contingencies, Current	$20,225	$15,330
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share (in USD per share)	$0.01	$0.01
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	80,000,000	80,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	60,612,702	60,385,453
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	60,612,702	60,385,453

UNAUDITED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Service revenues	$702,033	$503,728	$2,048,527	$1,523,767
Product revenues	205,502	30,078	581,699	105,179
Total revenues	907,535	533,806	2,630,226	1,628,946
Cost of revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)	'	'	'	'
Service revenues	478,434	348,758	1,402,409	1,056,174
Product revenues	168,685	24,182	495,060	84,704
Total cost of revenues	647,119	372,940	1,897,469	1,140,878
Selling, general and administrative expenses	114,464	60,339	365,546	197,892
Accretion of environmental liabilities	2,914	2,488	8,628	7,409
Depreciation and amortization	69,430	41,300	196,904	116,794
Income from operations	73,608	56,739	161,679	165,973
Other (expense) income	-150	-91	2,030	-465
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	-26,385	0	-26,385
Interest expense, net of interest income of $96 and $362 for the quarter and year-to-date ended 2013 and $221 and $623 for the quarter and year-to-date ended 2012, respectively	-19,326	-11,596	-58,784	-33,836
Income before provision for income taxes	54,132	18,667	104,925	105,287
Provision for income taxes	18,771	6,308	36,160	37,487
Net income	$35,361	$12,359	$68,765	$67,800
Earnings per share:	'	'	'	'
Basic (in USD per share)	$0.58	$0.23	$1.14	$1.27
Diluted (in USD per share)	$0.58	$0.23	$1.13	$1.27
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	60,610	53,374	60,542	53,303
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	60,760	53,565	60,692	53,519

UNAUDITED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME1

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Interest income	$96	$221	$362	$623

UNAUDITED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME2

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Net income	$35,361	$12,359	$68,765	$67,800
Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities (net of taxes of $153 and $61 for the quarter and year-to-date 2013 and $146 and $63 for the quarter and year-to date 2012, respectively)	1,074	894	359	310
Foreign currency translation adjustments	20,731	29,086	-37,921	27,393
Other comprehensive income (loss)	21,805	29,980	-37,562	27,703
Comprehensive income	$57,166	$42,339	$31,203	$95,503

UNAUDITED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME3

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Change in fair value of available for sale securities, tax	$153	$146	$61	$63

UNAUDITED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME4

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net income	$68,765	$67,800
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	196,904	116,794
Pre-tax, non-cash acquisition accounting adjustments	13,559	0
Allowance for doubtful accounts	5,281	809
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	2,539	1,173
Accretion of environmental liabilities	8,628	7,409
Changes in environmental liability estimates	-2,417	-3,553
Deferred income taxes	272	-494
Stock-based compensation	6,389	5,235
Excess tax benefit of stock-based compensation	-1,589	-1,786
Income tax benefit related to stock option exercises	1,579	1,776
Other expense (income)	-2,030	465
Write-off of deferred financing costs and debt premium	0	5,341
Environmental expenditures	-15,928	-7,833
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions	'	'
Accounts receivable	-72,377	59,881
Inventories and supplies	1,710	-7,692
Other current assets	11,860	12,822
Accounts payable	37,257	-18,969
Other current and long-term liabilities	19,712	-6,486
Net cash from operating activities	280,114	232,692
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Additions to property, plant and equipment	-207,641	-130,326
Proceeds from sales of fixed assets	3,700	4,190
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	-59,458	-92,475
Additions to intangible assets, including costs to obtain or renew permits	-4,357	-2,409
Purchase of marketable securities	0	-10,517
Other	-11	5,120
Net cash used in investing activities	-267,767	-226,417
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Change in uncashed checks	9,754	-13,955
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	399	231
Remittance of shares, net	-599	-1,604
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan	5,327	4,627
Deferred financing costs paid	-2,446	-9,638
Payments on capital leases	-4,096	-5,303
Principal payment on debt	0	-520,000
Issuance of senior unsecured notes, including premium	0	800,000
Issuance costs related to 2012 issuance of common stock	-250	0
Distribution of cash earned on employee participation plan	0	-55
Excess tax benefit of stock-based compensation	1,589	1,786
Net cash from financing activities	9,678	256,089
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	-3,226	527
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	18,799	262,891
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	229,836	260,723
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	248,635	523,614
Cash payments for interest and income taxes:	'	'
Interest paid	58,084	41,176
Income taxes paid	8,386	5,578
Non-cash investing and financing activities:	'	'
Property, plant and equipment accrued	39,804	31,978
Transfer of inventory to property, plant and equipment	$11,369	$0

UNAUDITED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME5

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Shares Held Under Employee Participation Plan	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Accumulated Earnings
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$1,432,072	$604	($469)	$880,979	$49,632	$501,326
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	'	60,385	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	68,765	'	'	'	'	68,765
Other comprehensive loss	-37,562	'	'	'	-37,562	'
Stock-based compensation	6,389	'	'	6,389	'	'
Stock-based compensation (in shares)	'	57	'	'	'	'
Issuance of restricted shares, net of shares remitted	-599	'	'	-599	'	'
Issuance of restricted shares, net of shares remitted (in shares)	'	-14	'	'	'	'
Issuance costs related to 2012 issuance of common stock	-250	'	'	-250	'	'
Exercise of stock options	399	2	'	397	'	'
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	'	61	'	'	'	'
Net tax benefit on exercise of stock-based awards	1,579	'	'	1,579	'	'
Net tax benefit on exercise of stock options (in shares)	'	0	'	'	'	'
Employee stock purchase plan	5,327	'	'	5,327	'	'
Employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	'	123	'	'	'	'
Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$1,476,120	$606	($469)	$893,822	$12,070	$570,091
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2013	'	60,612	'	'	'	'

BASIS_OF_PRESENTATION

BASIS OF PRESENTATION	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
BASIS OF PRESENTATION	'
	BASIS OF PRESENTATION
	The accompanying consolidated interim financial statements are unaudited and include the accounts of Clean Harbors, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Clean Harbors,” the “Company” or "we") and have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year or any other interim periods. The financial statements presented herein should be read in connection with the financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
	During the first quarter of 2013, the Company adjusted its operating segments to integrate the business activities of Safety-Kleen, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Safety-Kleen”) acquired in December 2012, and to incorporate other changes made in 2013 to the manner in which the Company manages its business, makes operating decisions and assesses its performance. Under the new structure, the Company's operations are managed in five reportable segments: Technical Services, Oil Re-refining and Recycling, SK Environmental Services, Industrial and Field Services, and Oil and Gas Field Services. The prior year segment information has been recast to conform to the current year presentation. See Note 17, “Segment Reporting.”

SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNTING_POLICIE

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	'
	SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
	The Company's significant accounting policies are described in Note 2, "Significant Accounting Policies," in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. On December 28, 2012, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding common shares of Safety-Kleen. There have been no changes in these policies or their application, other than as described below related to certain policies applicable to Safety-Kleen. See Note 3, “Business Combinations.” No revenue, expense, income or loss of Safety-Kleen was included in the Company's consolidated statements of income for the year ended December 31, 2012 due to the immateriality of Safety-Kleen's operating results subsequent to December 28, 2012.
	Safety-Kleen's operating results are included in the Company's unaudited consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, and reflect the application of certain significant accounting policies as described below:
	Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue
	S-K Environmental Services revenue is generated from providing parts cleaning services, containerized waste services, oil collection services and other complementary products and services.
	Parts cleaning services generally consist of placing a specially designed parts washer at a customer's premises and then, on a recurring basis, delivering clean solvent or aqueous-based washing fluid, cleaning and servicing the parts washer and removing the used solvent or aqueous fluid. The Company also services customer-owned parts washers. Revenue from parts cleaning services is recognized over the service interval. Service intervals represent the actual amount of time between service visits to a particular parts cleaning customer. Average service intervals vary from seven to 14 weeks depending on several factors, such as customer accommodation, types of machines serviced and frequency of use.
	Containerized waste services consist of profiling, collecting, transporting and recycling or disposing of a wide variety of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. Revenue is recognized upon disposal. The Company tracks the amount of time it takes from collection of the customer's waste to delivery to the disposal outlet, which represents a deferral period of approximately two and one-half weeks.
	Other complementary products and services include vacuum services, allied products and other environmental services. Revenue is recognized when products are delivered and services are performed.
	Oil Re-refining and Recycling revenue is generated from re-refining used oil to produce high quality base and blended lubricating oils, and recycling used oil collected in excess of the Company's re-refining capacity into recycled fuel oil. The high quality base and blended lubricating oils are sold to third-party distributors, retailers, government agencies, fleets, railroads and industrial customers. The recycled fuel oil is sold to asphalt plants, industrial plants, blenders, pulp and paper companies, vacuum gas oil producers and marine diesel oil producers. Revenue is recognized upon delivery.
	Deferred Costs Relating to Deferred Revenue
	Commissions and other incremental direct costs, primarily costs of materials and transportation expenses, relating to deferred revenue from the Company’s parts cleaning services, containerized waste services and vacuum services are capitalized and deferred. The deferred costs are included in current assets in the consolidated balance sheet and expensed when the related revenues are recognized.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2013-11 Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. This standard provides guidance regarding when an unrecognized tax benefit should be classified as a reduction to a deferred tax asset or when it should be classified as a liability in the consolidated balance sheet. The guidance is effective for the Company on January 1, 2014. Management does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
	In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02 Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) - Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The new guidance requires an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) by component. Entities are required to present, either on the face of the income statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of AOCI by respective line items of net income if the amount reclassified is required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, entities are required to cross-reference the disclosures required under U.S. GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts. This guidance is effective prospectively for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2012. The Company adopted the standard on January 1, 2013. The amounts required to be disclosed under this guidance are disclosed in Note 14, “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.”
	Reclassifications
	The Company's revenues and cost of revenues in the consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and the changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions in the consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

BUSINESS_COMBINATIONS

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
BUSINESS COMBINATIONS	'
	BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
	Evergreen Oil, Inc.
	On September 13, 2013, Safety-Kleen, Inc. acquired 100% of the outstanding common shares of Evergreen Oil, Inc. (“Evergreen”) for approximately $57.0 million. The purchase price consisted of an all-cash purchase price of $60.5 million, less a $3.5 million adjustment for the amount by which the estimated net working capital (as defined in the stock purchase agreement) of Evergreen on the closing date was less than $1.0 million. The purchase price is subject to adjustment upon finalization of Evergreen’s net working capital balance as of the closing date. Goodwill of $2.8 million and $0.4 million has been recorded on a preliminary basis in the Oil Re-refining and Recycling and SK Environmental Services segments, respectively, and will not be deductible for tax purposes. Evergreen, headquartered in Irvine, California, specializes in the recovery and re-refining of used oil and is currently the second-largest collector of used oil in California. Evergreen owns and operates one of the only oil re-refining operations in the western United States and also offers other ancillary environmental services, including parts cleaning and containerized waste services, vacuum services and hazardous waste management services.
	The Company believes Evergreen is a good strategic fit, enabling Clean Harbors to further (i) penetrate the small quantity waste generator market, (ii) expand its oil re-refining, oil recycling and waste treatment capabilities, (iii) increase the waste volumes into its existing waste disposal treatment network, (v) enhance its commitment to sustainability, (vi) leverage the combined sales forces to maximize cross-selling opportunities, and (viii) leverage operating efficiencies through the combined company.
	Safety-Kleen, Inc.
	On December 28, 2012, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding common shares of Safety-Kleen for approximately $1.3 billion. The purchase price consisted of an all-cash purchase price of $1.25 billion, plus a $13.3 million adjustment for the amount by which the net working capital (excluding cash) of Safety-Kleen on the closing date exceeded $50.0 million. The Company incurred acquisition-related costs of approximately $0.9 million and $2.2 million in connection with the transaction which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. The Company financed the purchase through a combination of approximately $300.0 million of existing cash, $369.3 million in net proceeds from the Company's public offering of 6.9 million shares of Clean Harbors common stock, and approximately $589.0 million in net proceeds from the Company's private debt offering of $600.0 million of 5.125% senior unsecured notes due 2021. Safety-Kleen, headquartered in Richardson, Texas, is the largest re-refiner and recycler of used oil in North America and a leading provider of parts cleaning and environmental services to commercial, industrial and automotive customers. In conjunction with the transaction, Safety-Kleen, Inc. and its subsidiaries became wholly-owned subsidiaries of Clean Harbors.
	The fair value of all the acquired identifiable assets and liabilities summarized below is provisional pending finalization of the Company's acquisition accounting. Measurement period adjustments reflect new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date. The Company believes that such preliminary allocations provide a reasonable basis for estimating the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, but the Company is waiting for additional information necessary to finalize fair value. The Company expects to finalize the valuation and complete the purchase price allocation as soon as practicable but no later than one year from the acquisition date. As the measurement period adjustments are not material to the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2012 nor are they material to the amounts reported in the consolidated statements of income and consolidated statement of cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the adjustments have been recorded on a prospective basis. Final determination of the fair value may result in further adjustments to the values presented below. The following table summarizes the recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in thousands).
		Preliminary Allocations			Year-to-Date Measurement Period Adjustments			Current Estimate of Allocations
	Inventories and supplies	$	102,339		$	5,037		$	107,376
	Other current assets (i)	152,245			319			152,564
	Property, plant and equipment	514,712			779			515,491
	Permits and other intangibles	421,400			4,577			425,977
	Other assets	4,985			(1,111		)	3,874
	Current liabilities	(192,652		)	(5,081		)	(197,733		)
	Closure and post-closure liabilities, less current portion	(15,774		)	8,221			(7,553		)
	Remedial liabilities, less current portion	(38,370		)	(10,577		)	(48,947		)
	Deferred taxes, unrecognized tax benefits and other long-term liabilities	(128,375		)	7,178			(121,197		)
	Total identifiable net assets	820,510			9,342			829,852
	Goodwill (ii)	436,749			(3,317		)	433,432
	Total	$	1,257,259		$	6,025		$	1,263,284
	_______________________
	(i)	The fair value of the assets acquired includes customer receivables with a preliminary aggregate fair value of $133.7 million. Combined gross amounts due were $143.7 million.
	(ii)	Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired over the purchase price. Goodwill of $214.1 million, $147.3 million, $69.9 million, and $2.1 million has been recorded on a preliminary basis in the Oil Re-refining and Recycling, SK Environmental Services, Industrial and Field Services and Technical Services segments, respectively. None of the goodwill related to this acquisition will be deductible for tax purposes.
	The Company has determined that the separate disclosure of Safety-Kleen's revenues and earnings is impracticable for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 due to the integration of Safety-Kleen's operations into the Company upon acquisition.
	The following unaudited pro forma combined summary financial information presented below gives effect to the following transactions as if they had occurred as of January 1, 2011, and assumes that there were no material, non-recurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to: (i) the acquisition of Safety-Kleen, (ii) the sale of 6.9 million shares of the Company's common stock, (iii) the issuance of $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior unsecured notes due 2021, and (iv) the payment of related fees and expenses (in thousands):
		For the Three Months Ended			For the Nine Months Ended
		30-Sep-12			30-Sep-12
	Pro forma combined revenues	$	851,376		$	2,691,025
	Pro forma combined net income	$	13,480		$	90,546
	This pro forma financial information is not necessarily indicative of the Company's consolidated operating results that would have been reported had the transactions been completed as described herein, nor is such information necessarily indicative of the Company's consolidated results for any future period.
	Other 2012 Acquisitions
	The Company acquired (i) during the second quarter of 2012, all of the outstanding stock of a privately owned Canadian company which provides workforce accommodations, camp catering and fresh food services; (ii) during the third quarter of 2012, certain assets of a privately owned U.S. company that is engaged in the business of materials handling services that includes a variety of support equipment to provide customers with a sole source for any dredging and dewatering project; and (iii) during the fourth quarter of 2012, the shares and assets of certain subsidiaries of a privately owned company that is engaged in the business of providing catalyst loading and unloading services in the United States and Canada. The combined purchase price for these acquisitions was approximately $108.9 million, including the assumption and payment of debt of $7.7 million and post-closing adjustments of $2.1 million based upon finalization of the working capital balances as of the closing date. Management has determined the purchase price allocations based on estimates of the fair values of all tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The Company believes that such information provides a reasonable basis for estimating the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed.
	As of September 30, 2013, the Company had finalized the acquisition accounting of the identified acquired assets and liabilities for the other 2012 acquisitions, the impact of which was not material to the financial statements. The following table summarizes the recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in thousands).
		Preliminary Allocations			Year-to-Date Measurement Period Adjustments			Final Allocations
	Current assets (i)	$	20,270		$	117		$	20,387
	Property, plant and equipment	51,901			(8		)	51,893
	Customer relationships and other intangibles	21,770			(1		)	21,769
	Other assets	53			4			57
	Current liabilities	(5,277		)	(22		)	(5,299		)
	Other liabilities	(5,133		)	(79		)	(5,212		)
	Total identifiable net assets	83,584			11			83,595
	Goodwill (ii)	23,956			1,308			25,264
	Total	$	107,540		$	1,319		$	108,859
	______________________
	(i)	The fair value of the financial assets acquired included customer receivables with an aggregate fair value of $13.2 million. Combined gross amounts due were $13.5 million.
	(ii)	Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired over the purchase price attributed to expected operating and cross selling synergies. The goodwill has been assigned to the Industrial and Field Services segment and will not be deductible for tax purposes.
	The following unaudited pro forma combined financial data presents information as if the 2012 acquisitions had been acquired as of January 1, 2011 and assumes that there were no material, non-recurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to those acquisitions. The pro forma financial information does not necessarily reflect the actual results that would have been reported had the Company and those three acquisitions been combined during the periods presented, nor is it necessarily indicative of the future results of operations of the combined companies (in thousands).
		For the Three Months Ended			For the Nine Months Ended
		30-Sep-12			30-Sep-12
	Pro forma combined revenues	$	545,393		$	1,698,246
	Pro forma combined net income	$	11,982		$	72,351
	Acquisition-related costs of $0.2 million for the other 2012 acquisitions were included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Company's consolidated statements of income for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	'
	FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
	The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, receivables, trade payables, auction rate securities, derivative financial instruments and long-term debt. The estimated fair value of cash equivalents, receivables, and trade payables approximate their carrying value due to the short maturity of these instruments and are deemed to be Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the Company’s unsecured senior notes (due 2020 and 2021) at September 30, 2013 were $780.9 million and $573.1 million, respectively, and at December 31, 2012 were $816.0 million and $623.5 million, respectively, based on quoted market prices or available market data. The senior unsecured notes fair value is Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
	The Company's assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were as follows (in thousands):
	September 30, 2013
			Quoted Prices in			Significant Other		Significant				Balance at September 30, 2013
			Active Markets			Observable		Unobservable
			for Identical			Inputs		Inputs
			Assets			(Level 2)		(Level 3)
			(Level 1)
	Assets:
	Auction rate securities (i)		$	—		$	—	$	4,352			$	4,352
	Derivative instruments (ii)		$	—		$	60	$	—			$	60
	Marketable securities (iii)		$	11,787		$	—	$	—			$	11,787
	Liabilities:
	Derivative instruments (ii)		$	—		$	239	$	—			$	239
	December 31, 2012
			Quoted Prices in			Significant Other		Significant				Balance at
			Active Markets			Observable		Unobservable				December 31,
			for Identical			Inputs		Inputs				2012
			Assets			(Level 2)		(Level 3)
			(Level 1)
	Assets:
	Auction rate securities (i)		$	—		$	—	$	4,354			$	4,354
	Derivative instruments (ii)		$	—		$	165	$	—			$	165
	Marketable securities (iii)		$	11,778		$	—	$	—			$	11,778
	Liabilities:
	Derivative instruments (ii)		$	—		$	1,242	$	—			$	1,242
	________________________________________________
	(i)	The auction rate securities are classified as available-for-sale and the fair value of these securities was estimated utilizing a probability discounted cash flow analysis. As of September 30, 2013, all of the Company's auction rate securities continue to have AAA underlying ratings. The Company attributes the $0.3 million decline in the fair value of the securities from the original cost basis to external liquidity issues rather than credit issues. The Company assessed the decline in value to be temporary because it does not intend to sell and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell the securities before their maturity. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded an unrealized pre-tax loss of less than $0.1 million and a pre-tax gain of $0.1 million, respectively, on its auction rate securities.
	(ii)	The fair value of derivatives is recorded based on the present value of cash flows using a crude oil forward rate curve.
	(iii)	The fair value of marketable securities is recorded based on quoted market prices and changes in fair value were included in other comprehensive income.
	The following table presents the changes in the Company’s auction rate securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):
			Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
			September 30,					September 30,
			2013			2012		2013				2012
	Balance at beginning of period		$	4,352		$	4,326	$	4,354			$	4,245
	Unrealized (loss) gain included in other comprehensive income		—			—		(2		)		81
	Balance at September 30,		$	4,352		$	4,326	$	4,352			$	4,326
	Derivative Financial Instruments
	The Company acquired several commodity derivatives with the Safety-Kleen acquisition on December 28, 2012. The Company uses commodity derivatives to manage against significant fluctuations in oil and oil derivative commodity prices and indices, specifically the ICIS-LOR rate and 6-oil index. All commodity derivatives are comprised of cashless collar contracts related to crude oil prices, pursuant to which the Company sells a call to a bank and then purchases a put from the same bank. The derivative instruments are not designated as hedges and expire in 2013 and 2014. The following table presents the fair value for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of September 30, 2013 (fair value amounts in thousands):
	Financial Institution	Trade Date		Start Date	End Date		Barrels of oil per Month	Commodity		Floor				Cap		Upfront Costs	Fair Value as of September 30, 2013
	Bank of America	2/7/13		4/1/14	4/30/14		148,810	Brent		$	75			$	134.7	—	$	24
	Bank of America	4/2/13		6/1/14	6/30/14		148,810	Brent		75				130		—	21
	Bank of America	9/11/13		11/1/14	11/28/14		148,810	Brent		75				124		—	15
	Total derivative instrument asset																$	60
	JP Morgan	9/11/12		11/1/13	11/30/13		148,810	Brent		$	75			$	137.5	—	$	3
	JP Morgan	12/7/12		2/1/14	2/28/14		148,810	Brent		75				124.7		—	33
	JP Morgan	3/7/13		5/1/14	5/31/14		148,810	Brent		75				125.75		—	10
	JP Morgan	5/6/13		7/1/14	7/31/14		148,810	Brent		75				122		—	37
	JP Morgan	7/8/13		9/1/14	9/30/14		148,810	Brent		75				120.75		—	39
	Bank of America	8/3/12		10/1/13	10/31/13		148,810	Brent		75				130		—	—
	Bank of America	10/4/12		12/1/13	12/31/13		148,810	Brent		75				127.5		—	14
	Bank of America	11/9/12		1/1/14	1/31/14		148,810	Brent		75				130		—	13
	Bank of America	1/8/13		3/1/14	3/31/14		148,810	Brent		75				129		—	10
	Bank of America	6/10/13		8/1/14	8/29/14		148,810	Brent		75				120.65		—	66
	Bank of America	8/13/13		10/1/14	10/31/14		148,810	Brent		75				122.6		—	14
	Total derivative instrument liability																$	239
	Total derivative instrument asset and total derivative instrument liability as noted in the table above are included in the consolidated balance sheets as a component of prepaid expenses and other current assets and accrued expenses, respectively.

INVENTORIES_AND_SUPPLIES

INVENTORIES AND SUPPLIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
INVENTORIES AND SUPPLIES	'
	INVENTORIES AND SUPPLIES
	Inventories and supplies consisted of the following (in thousands):
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Oil and oil products	$	63,450	$	77,735
	Supplies and drums	61,888		63,540
	Solvent and solutions	11,508		9,398
	Other	18,455		20,768
	Total inventories and supplies	$	155,301	$	171,441

PROPERTY_PLANT_AND_EQUIPMENT

PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT	'
	PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
	Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Land	$	100,133	$	106,037
	Asset retirement costs (non-landfill)	10,748		10,450
	Landfill assets	93,104		77,952
	Buildings and improvements	324,646		329,617
	Camp equipment	135,377		135,827
	Vehicles	419,581		385,172
	Equipment	1,164,838		1,061,090
	Furniture and fixtures	5,244		6,757
	Construction in progress	129,385		31,780
		2,383,056		2,144,682
	Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization	767,629		612,919
	Total property, plant and equipment, net	$	1,615,427	$	1,531,763

GOODWILL_AND_OTHER_INTANGIBLE_

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS	'
	GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
	The changes to goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):
		2013
	Balance at January 1, 2013	$	593,771
	Acquired from acquisitions	3,179
	Decrease from adjustments during the measurement period related to acquisitions	(2,009		)
	Foreign currency translation	(4,789		)
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	590,152
	The goodwill related to the acquisition of Safety-Kleen in 2012 and Evergreen in 2013 includes estimates that are subject to change based upon final fair value determinations.
	The Company assesses goodwill for impairment at least on an annual basis as of December 31, or when events or changes in the business environment indicate that the carrying value of the reporting unit may exceed its fair value, by comparing the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill.
	Below is a summary of amortizable other intangible assets (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013								December 31, 2012
		Cost			Accumulated		Net		Weighted	Cost		Accumulated		Net		Weighted
					Amortization				Average			Amortization				Average
									Remaining Amortization							Remaining Amortization
									Period							Period
									(in years)							(in years)
	Permits	$	157,578		$	49,818	$	107,760	18.8	$	148,661	$	46,282	$	102,379	21.8
	Customer and supplier relationships	377,334			46,372		330,962		12.5	372,751		27,739		345,012		13.2
	Other intangible assets	28,097			14,548		13,549		3.5	22,027		12,121		9,906		3.6
	Total amortizable permits and other intangible assets	563,009			110,738		452,271		12.5	543,439		86,142		457,297		13.6
	Trademarks and trade names	115,505			—		115,505		Indefinite	115,520		—		115,520		Indefinite
	Total permits and other intangible assets	$	678,514		$	110,738	$	567,776		$	658,959	$	86,142	$	572,817
	Below is the expected future amortization of the net carrying amount of finite lived intangible assets at September 30, 2013 (in thousands):
	Years Ending December 31,	Expected
		Amortization
	2013 (three months)	$	10,816
	2014	42,308
	2015	40,704
	2016	39,210
	2017	36,528
	Thereafter	282,705
		$	452,271

ACCRUED_EXPENSES

ACCRUED EXPENSES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accrued Expenses [ABSTRACT]	'
ACCRUED EXPENSES	'
	ACCRUED EXPENSES
	Accrued expenses consisted of the following (in thousands):
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Insurance	$	54,105	$	48,243
	Interest	17,900		20,061
	Accrued disposal costs	1,498		1,835
	Accrued compensation and benefits	71,030		70,250
	Income, real estate, sales and other taxes	54,403		35,640
	Other	57,877		56,400
	Total accrued expenses	$	256,813	$	232,429

CLOSURE_AND_POSTCLOSURE_LIABIL

CLOSURE AND POST-CLOSURE LIABILITIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]	'
CLOSURE AND POST-CLOSURE LIABILITIES	'
	CLOSURE AND POST-CLOSURE LIABILITIES
	The changes to closure and post-closure liabilities (also referred to as “asset retirement obligations”) for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):
		Landfill			Non-Landfill			Total
		Retirement			Retirement
		Liability			Liability
	Balance at January 1, 2013	$	26,658		$	27,590		$	54,248
	Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	—			659			659
	Adjustments during the measurement period related to acquisitions	—			(10,201		)	(10,201		)
	New asset retirement obligations	3,321			—			3,321
	Accretion	2,255			1,281			3,536
	Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	(398		)	99			(299		)
	Changes in estimates recorded to balance sheet	299			—			299
	Expenditures	(3,527		)	(310		)	(3,837		)
	Currency translation and other	(152		)	(80		)	(232		)
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	28,456		$	19,038		$	47,494
	All of the landfill facilities included in the above were active as of September 30, 2013. New asset retirement obligations incurred during the first nine months of 2013 were discounted at the credit-adjusted risk-free rate of 6.60%. There were no significant charges (benefits) in 2013 resulting from changes in estimates for closure and post-closure liabilities.

REMEDIAL_LIABILITIES

REMEDIAL LIABILITIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Environmental Remediation Obligations [Abstract]	'
REMEDIAL LIABILITIES	'
	REMEDIAL LIABILITIES
	The changes to remedial liabilities for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):
		Remedial			Remedial			Remedial			Total
		Liabilities for			Liabilities for			Liabilities
		Landfill Sites			Inactive Sites			(Including
								Superfund) for
								Non-Landfill
								Operations
	Balance at January 1, 2013	$	5,829		$	71,079		$	90,312		$	167,220
	Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	—			—			2,384			$	2,384
	Adjustments during the measurement period related to acquisitions	—			8,855			3,726			12,581
	Accretion	210			2,505			2,377			5,092
	Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	(62		)	(2,341		)	285			(2,118		)
	Expenditures	(67		)	(6,307		)	(5,717		)	(12,091		)
	Currency translation and other	(108		)	(54		)	(815		)	(977		)
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	5,802		$	73,737		$	92,552		$	172,091
	The benefit resulting from changes in remedial liability estimates for inactive sites was primarily due to reevaluating and removing certain compensation costs related to one site as a result of recently receiving site closure approval.

FINANCING_ARRANGEMENTS

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS	'
	FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS
	The following table is a summary of the Company’s financing arrangements (in thousands):
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Senior unsecured notes, at 5.25%, due August 1, 2020	$	800,000	$	800,000
	Senior unsecured notes, at 5.125%, due June 1, 2021	600,000		600,000
	Revolving credit facility, due January 17, 2018	—		—
	Long-term obligations	$	1,400,000	$	1,400,000
	On January 17, 2013, the Company increased its revolving credit facility to provide for maximum borrowings of up to $400.0 million (with a $325.0 million sub-limit for letters of credit). At September 30, 2013, the revolving credit facility had no outstanding loans, $262.3 million available to borrow and $137.7 million of letters of credit outstanding.
	The financing arrangements and principal terms of the Company's $800.0 million principal amount of 5.25% senior unsecured notes due 2020 ("2020 Notes") and $600.0 million principal amount of 5.125% senior unsecured notes due 2021 ("2021 Notes") which were outstanding at September 30, 2013, and the Company's amended $400.0 million revolving credit facility, are discussed further in Note 11, “Financing Arrangements,” in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

INCOME_TAXES

INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
INCOME TAXES	'
	INCOME TAXES
	The Company’s effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 was 34.7% and 34.5%, respectively, compared to 33.8% and 35.6% for the same periods in 2012.
	As of September 30, 2013, the Company had recorded $3.9 million of liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits and $1.6 million of interest. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had recorded $3.5 million of liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits and $1.4 million of interest.
	Due to expiring statute of limitation periods, the Company believes that total unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by approximately $3.8 million within the next twelve months. The $3.8 million (which includes interest of $1.3 million) is related to various foreign and state tax laws and, if realized, will be recorded in earnings and therefore will impact the effective income tax rate.
	In September 2013, the Internal Revenue Service released final Tangible Property Regulations (the “Final Regulations”). The Final Regulations provide guidance on applying Regulation Section 1.263(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) to amounts paid to acquire, produce or improve tangible property, as well as rules for materials and supplies (IRC Regulation Section 1.162). These regulations contain certain changes from the temporary and proposed tangible property regulations that were issued on December 23, 2011. The Final Regulations are generally effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2014. In addition, taxpayers are permitted to early adopt the Final Regulations for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2012. The Company does not expect the Final Regulations to have a material effect on its results of operations or cash flows. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its consolidated balance sheets.

EARNINGS_PER_SHARE

EARNINGS PER SHARE	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
EARNINGS PER SHARE	'
	EARNINGS PER SHARE
	The following are computations of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands except for per share amounts):
		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share:
	Net income	$	35,361	$	12,359	$	68,765	$	67,800
	Denominator:
	Basic shares outstanding	60,610		53,374		60,542		53,303
	Dilutive effect of equity-based compensation awards	150		191		150		216
	Dilutive shares outstanding	60,760		53,565		60,692		53,519
	Basic earnings per share:	$	0.58	$	0.23	$	1.14	$	1.27
	Diluted earnings per share:	$	0.58	$	0.23	$	1.13	$	1.27
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the dilutive effect of all then outstanding options, restricted stock and performance awards is included in the EPS calculations above except for 173,000 outstanding performance stock awards for which the performance criteria were not attained at that time. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the EPS calculations above include the dilutive effects of all then outstanding options, restricted stock, and performance awards except for 66,000 outstanding performance stock awards for which the performance criteria were not attained at that time.

ACCUMULATED_OTHER_COMPREHENSIV

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	'
	ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
	Other comprehensive income (loss) includes translation adjustments of foreign currency financial statements, unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities and changes in unfunded pension liabilities. The components of other comprehensive income (loss) and related tax effects for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were as follows (in thousands):
			For the Three Months Ended												For the Three Months Ended
			September 30, 2013												September 30, 2012
			Gross				Tax Effect				Net of Tax				Gross		Tax Effect			Net of Tax
	Foreign currency translation		$	20,731			$	—			$	20,731			$	29,086	$	—		$	29,086
	Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities		1,227				(153		)		1,074				1,040		(146		)	894
	Other comprehensive income (loss)		$	21,958			$	(153	)		$	21,805			$	30,126	$	(146	)	$	29,980
			For the Nine Months Ended												For the Nine Months Ended
			September 30, 2013												September 30, 2012
			Gross				Tax Effect				Net of Tax				Gross		Tax Effect			Net of Tax
	Foreign currency translation		$	(37,921	)		$	—			$	(37,921	)		$	27,393	$	—		$	27,393
	Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities		420				(61		)		359				373		(63		)	310
	Other comprehensive income (loss)		$	(37,501	)		$	(61	)		$	(37,562	)		$	27,766	$	(63	)	$	27,703
	The components of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, were as follows (in thousands):
		Foreign Currency Translation				Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available-For-Sale Securities				Unfunded Pension Liability				Total
	Balance at January 1, 2013	$	50,627			$	660			$	(1,655	)		$	49,632
	Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(37,921		)		359				—				(37,562		)
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	12,706			$	1,019			$	(1,655	)		$	12,070
	There were no reclassifications to net income from accumulated other comprehensive income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013.

STOCKBASED_COMPENSATION

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION	'
	STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
	The following table summarizes the total number and type of awards granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, as well as the related weighted-average grant-date fair values:
		Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
		September 30, 2013			September 30, 2013
		Shares	Weighted Average		Shares	Weighted Average
			Grant-Date			Grant-Date
			Fair Value			Fair Value
	Restricted stock awards	27,890	$	57.88	287,882	$	55.21
	Performance stock awards	1,468	$	55.29	114,453	$	54.27
	Total awards	29,358			402,335

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	'
	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	Legal and Administrative Proceedings
	The Company’s waste management services are regulated by federal, state, provincial and local laws enacted to regulate discharge of materials into the environment, remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater or otherwise protect the environment. This ongoing regulation results in the Company frequently becoming a party to legal or administrative proceedings involving all levels of governmental authorities and other interested parties. The issues involved in such proceedings generally relate to applications for permits and licenses by the Company and conformity with legal requirements, alleged violations of existing permits and licenses, or alleged responsibility arising under federal or state Superfund laws to remediate contamination at properties owned either by the Company or by other parties (“third party sites”) to which either the Company or prior owners of certain of the Company’s facilities shipped wastes.
	At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company had recorded reserves of $41.8 million and $38.6 million, respectively, in the Company's financial statements for actual or probable liabilities related to the legal and administrative proceedings in which the Company was then involved, the principal of which are described below. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company also believed that it was reasonably possible that the amount of these potential liabilities could be as much as $3.4 million and $3.5 million more, respectively. The Company periodically adjusts the aggregate amount of these reserves when these actual or probable liabilities are paid or otherwise discharged, new claims arise, or additional relevant information about existing or probable claims becomes available. As of September 30, 2013, the $41.8 million of reserves consisted of (i) $35.1 million related to pending legal or administrative proceedings, including Superfund liabilities, which were included in remedial liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and (ii) $6.7 million primarily related to federal and state enforcement actions, which were included in accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets.
	As of September 30, 2013, the principal legal and administrative proceedings in which the Company was involved, or which had been terminated during 2013, were as follows:
	Ville Mercier.    In September 2002, the Company acquired the stock of a subsidiary (the "Mercier Subsidiary") which owns a hazardous waste incinerator in Ville Mercier, Quebec (the "Mercier Facility"). The property adjacent to the Mercier Facility, which is also owned by the Mercier Subsidiary, is now contaminated as a result of actions dating back to 1968, when the Government of Quebec issued to a company unrelated to the Mercier Subsidiary two permits to dump organic liquids into lagoons on the property. By 1972, groundwater contamination had been identified, and the Quebec government provided an alternate water supply to the municipality of Ville Mercier.
	In 1999, Ville Mercier and three neighboring municipalities filed separate legal proceedings against the Mercier Subsidiary and the Government of Quebec. The lawsuits assert that the defendants are jointly and severally responsible for the contamination of groundwater in the region, which they claim caused each municipality to incur additional costs to supply drinking water for their citizens since the 1970's and early 1980's. The four municipalities claim a Canadian dollar ("CDN") total of $1.6 million as damages for additional costs to obtain drinking water supplies and seek an injunctive order to obligate the defendants to remediate the groundwater in the region. The Quebec Government also sued the Mercier Subsidiary to recover approximately $17.4 million (CDN) of alleged past costs for constructing and operating a treatment system and providing alternative drinking water supplies.
	On September 26, 2007, the Quebec Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks issued a Notice pursuant to Section 115.1 of the Environment Quality Act, superseding Notices issued in 1992, which are the subject of the pending litigation. The more recent Notice notifies the Mercier Subsidiary that, if the Mercier Subsidiary does not take certain remedial measures at the site, the Minister intends to undertake those measures at the site and claim direct and indirect costs related to such measures. The Mercier Subsidiary continues to assert that it has no responsibility for the groundwater contamination in the region and will contest any action by the Ministry to impose costs for remedial measures on the Mercier Subsidiary. The Company also continues to pursue settlement options. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company had accrued $13.9 million and $14.2 million, respectively, for remedial liabilities relating to the Ville Mercier legal proceedings.
	Safety-Kleen Legal Proceedings. On December 28, 2012, the Company acquired Safety-Kleen and thereby became subject to the legal proceedings in which Safety-Kleen was a party on that date. In addition to certain Superfund proceedings in which Safety-Keen has been named as a potentially responsible party as described below under “Superfund Proceedings,” the principal such legal proceedings involving Safety-Kleen which were outstanding as of September 30, 2013 were as follows:
	Product Liability Cases - Safety-Kleen is named as a defendant in various lawsuits that are currently pending in various courts and jurisdictions throughout the United States, including approximately 62 proceedings (excluding cases which have been settled but not formally dismissed) as of September 30, 2013, wherein persons claim personal injury resulting from the use of Safety-Kleen's parts cleaning equipment or cleaning products. These proceedings typically involve allegations that the solvent used in Safety-Kleen's parts cleaning equipment contains contaminants and/or that Safety-Kleen's recycling process does not effectively remove the contaminants that become entrained in the solvent during their use. In addition, certain claimants assert that Safety-Kleen failed to warn adequately the product user of potential risks, including an historic failure to warn that solvent contains trace amounts of toxic or hazardous substances such as benzene. Safety-Kleen maintains insurance that it believes will provide coverage for these claims (over amounts accrued for self-insured retentions and deductibles in certain limited cases), except for punitive damages to the extent not insurable under state law or excluded from insurance coverage. Safety-Kleen believes that these claims lack merit and has historically vigorously defended, and intends to continue to vigorously defend, itself and the safety of its products against all of these claims. Such matters are subject to many uncertainties and outcomes are not predictable with assurance. Consequently, Safety-Kleen is unable to ascertain the ultimate aggregate amount of monetary liability or financial impact with respect to these matters as of September 30, 2013. From December 31, 2012 to September 30, 2013, 26 product liability claims were settled or dismissed. Due to the nature of these claims and the related insurance, Safety-Kleen did not incur any expense as Safety-Kleen's insurance provided coverage in full for all such claims. Safety-Kleen may be named in similar, additional lawsuits in the future, including claims for which insurance coverage may not be available.
	Fee Class Action Claims. In October 2010, two customers filed a complaint, individually and on behalf of all similarly situated customers in the State of Alabama, alleging that Safety-Kleen improperly assessed fuel surcharges and extended area service fees. Safety-Kleen disputes the basis of the claims on numerous grounds, including that Safety-Kleen has contracts with numerous customers authorizing the assessment of such fees and that in cases where no contract exists Safety-Kleen provides customers with a document at the time of service reflecting the assessment of the fee, followed by an invoice itemizing the fee. It is Safety-Kleen's position that it had the right to assess fuel surcharges, that the customers consented to the charges and that the surcharges were voluntarily paid by the customers when presented with an invoice. The lawsuit is still in its initial stages of discovery, with the focus being whether a class will be certified. The class certification-related fact discovery cutoff was September 4, 2013, and a hearing on class certification is now scheduled to be held in early to mid-2014. The plaintiff has filed a motion to extend the discovery cutoff and trial date, but the court has not ruled on these requests. In late June 2012, a nearly identical lawsuit was filed by the same law firm on behalf of a California-based customer. That lawsuit contends, under various state law theories, that Safety-Kleen impermissibly assessed fuel surcharges and late payment fees, and seeks certification of a class of California customers only. Safety-Kleen will assert the same defenses as in the Alabama litigation. In December 2012, a similar suit was filed by the same law firm on behalf of a Missouri-based customer which contends under various state law theories that Safety-Kleen impermissibly assessed fuel surcharges and seeks certification of a class of Missouri customers only. Safety-Kleen will assert the same defenses as in the Alabama and California cases. The Company is unable to ascertain the ultimate aggregate amount of monetary liability or financial impact with respect to these matters as of September 30, 2013, and no reserve has been recorded.
	Superfund Proceedings
	The Company has been notified that either the Company (which, since December 28, 2012, includes Safety-Kleen) or the prior owners of certain of the Company's facilities for which the Company may have certain indemnification obligations have been identified as potentially responsible parties ("PRPs") or potential PRPs in connection with 122 sites which are subject to or are proposed to become subject to proceedings under federal or state Superfund laws. Of the 122 sites, two involve facilities that are now owned by the Company and 120 involve third party sites to which either the Company or the prior owners shipped wastes. In connection with each site, the Company has estimated the extent, if any, to which it may be subject, either directly or as a result of any such indemnification provisions, for cleanup and remediation costs, related legal and consulting costs associated with PRP investigations, settlements, and related legal and administrative proceedings. The amount of such actual and potential liability is inherently difficult to estimate because of, among other relevant factors, uncertainties as to the legal liability (if any) of the Company or the prior owners of certain of the Company's facilities to contribute a portion of the cleanup costs, the assumptions that must be made in calculating the estimated cost and timing of remediation, the identification of other PRPs and their respective capability and obligation to contribute to remediation efforts, and the existence and legal standing of indemnification agreements (if any) with prior owners, which may either benefit the Company or subject the Company to potential indemnification obligations.
	The Company's potential liability for cleanup costs at the two facilities now owned by the Company and at 35 (the "Listed Third Party Sites") of the 120 third party sites arose out of the Company's 2002 acquisition of substantially all of the assets (the "CSD assets") of the Chemical Services Division of Safety-Kleen Corp. As part of the purchase price for the CSD assets, the Company became liable as the owner of these two facilities and also agreed to indemnify the prior owners of the CSD assets against their share of certain cleanup costs for the Listed Third Party Sites payable to governmental entities under federal or state Superfund laws. Of the 35 Listed Third Party Sites, six are currently requiring expenditures on remediation, 13 are now settled, and 16 are not currently requiring expenditures on remediation. The status of the two facilities owned by the Company (the Wichita Property and the BR Facility) are further described below.
	The 120 Superfund sites described above include 69 sites for which the Company had been notified it is a PRP or potential PRP prior to the Company's acquisition of Safety-Kleen on December 28, 2012, and an additional 50 sites at which Safety-Kleen had been notified it is a PRP or potential PRP prior to such acquisition. The total number of Superfund sites at which the Company had at September 30, 2013 potential liability and the total dollar amount of such estimated liability relating to those sites as described above have been increased to reflect the additional potential Superfund liabilities to which the Company became subject as a result of the Safety-Kleen acquisition. One of the third party sites (the Marine Shale site) is further described below.
	Wichita Property.    The Company acquired in 2002 as part of the CSD assets a service center located in Wichita, Kansas (the "Wichita Property"). The Wichita Property is one of several properties located within the boundaries of a 1,400 acre state-designated Superfund site in an old industrial section of Wichita known as the North Industrial Corridor Site. Along with numerous other PRPs, the former owner executed a consent decree relating to such site with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA"), and the Company is continuing its ongoing remediation program for the Wichita Property in accordance with that consent decree. The Company also acquired rights under an indemnification agreement between the former owner and an earlier owner of the Wichita Property, which the Company anticipates but cannot guarantee will be available to reimburse certain such cleanup costs.
	BR Facility.    The Company acquired in 2002 as part of the CSD assets a former hazardous waste incinerator and landfill in Baton Rouge (the "BR Facility"), for which operations had been previously discontinued by the prior owner. In September 2007, the EPA issued a special notice letter to the Company related to the Devil's Swamp Lake Site ("Devil's Swamp") in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. Devil's Swamp includes a lake located downstream of an outfall ditch where wastewater and stormwater have been discharged, and Devil's Swamp is proposed to be included on the National Priorities List due to the presence of Contaminants of Concern ("COC") cited by the EPA. These COCs include substances of the kind found in wastewater and storm water discharged from the BR Facility in past operations. The EPA originally requested COC generators to submit a good faith offer to conduct a remedial investigation feasibility study directed towards the eventual remediation of the site. The Company is currently performing corrective actions at the BR Facility under an order issued by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (the "LDEQ"), and has begun conducting the remedial investigation and feasibility study under an order issued by the EPA. The Company cannot presently estimate the potential additional liability for the Devil's Swamp cleanup until a final remedy is selected by the EPA.
	Marine Shale Site.    Prior to 1996, Marine Shale Processors, Inc. ("Marine Shale") operated a kiln in Amelia, Louisiana which incinerated waste producing a vitrified aggregate as a by-product. Marine Shale contended that its operation recycled waste into a useful product, i.e., vitrified aggregate, and therefore was exempt from regulation under the RCRA and permitting requirements as a hazardous waste incinerator under applicable federal and state environmental laws. The EPA contended that Marine Shale was a "sham-recycler" subject to the regulation and permitting requirements as a hazardous waste incinerator under the U.S. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA"), that its vitrified aggregate by-product was a hazardous waste, and that Marine Shale's continued operation without required permits was illegal. Litigation between the EPA and Marine Shale began in 1990 and continued until July 1996, when the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Marine Shale to shut down its operations.
	Certain of the former owners of the CSD assets were major customers of Marine Shale, but the Marine Shale site was not included as a Listed Third Party Site in connection with the Company's acquisition of the CSD assets and Clean Harbors was never a customer of Marine Shale. A Safety-Kleen subsidiary was, however, a Marine Shale customer and has been named a PRP. On May 11, 2007, the EPA and the LDEQ issued a special notice to the Company and other PRPs, seeking a good faith offer to address site remediation at the former Marine Shale facility. The Company has joined with other parties to form a group (the "Site Group") to retain common counsel and participate in further negotiations with the EPA and the LDEQ directed towards the eventual remediation of the Marine Shale site. The Site Group made a good faith settlement offer to the EPA on November 29, 2007, and negotiations among the EPA, the LDEQ and the Site Group with respect to the Marine Shale site are ongoing. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the amount of the Company's reserves relating to the Marine Shale site were $4.5 million and $4.4 million, respectively.
	Certain Other Third Party Sites.    At 11 of the 120 third party sites, Clean Harbors has an indemnification agreement with ChemWaste, a former subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc., and at five additional of those third party sites, Safety-Kleen has a similar indemnification agreement with McKesson Corporation. These agreements indemnify the Company (which now includes Safety-Kleen) with respect to any liability at the 16 sites for waste disposed prior to the Company's (or Safety-Kleen's) acquisition of the former subsidiaries of Waste Management or McKesson which had shipped wastes to those sites. Accordingly, Waste Management or McKesson are paying all costs of defending those subsidiaries in those 16 cases, including legal fees and settlement costs. However, there can be no guarantee that the Company's ultimate liabilities for those sites will not exceed the amount recorded or that indemnities applicable to any of these sites will be available to pay all or a portion of related costs. Except for the indemnification agreements which the Company holds from ChemWaste and McKesson, the Company does not have an indemnity agreement with respect to any of the 120 third party sites discussed above. In addition to the Wichita Property, the BR Facility and Marine Shale, Clean Harbors has 12 sites at which it believes its potential liability could exceed $100,000.
	Federal, State and Provincial Enforcement Actions
	From time to time, the Company pays fines or penalties in regulatory proceedings relating primarily to waste treatment, storage or disposal facilities. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, there were five and four proceedings, respectively, for which the Company reasonably believed that the sanctions could equal or exceed $100,000. The Company believes that the fines or other penalties in these or any of the other regulatory proceedings will, individually or in the aggregate, not have a material effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

SEGMENT_REPORTING

SEGMENT REPORTING	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
SEGMENT REPORTING	'
	SEGMENT REPORTING
	During the first quarter of 2013, the Company adjusted its operating segments to integrate the business activities of Safety-Kleen, acquired in December 2012, and to incorporate other changes made in 2013 to the manner in which the Company manages its business, makes operating decisions and assesses its performance. The Company's operations are now managed in five reportable segments: Technical Services, Oil Re-refining and Recycling, SK Environmental Services, Industrial and Field Services and Oil and Gas Field Services. The prior year segment information has been recast to conform to the current year presentation.
	Performance of the segments is evaluated on several factors, of which the primary financial measure is “Adjusted EBITDA,” which consists of net income plus accretion of environmental liabilities, depreciation and amortization, net interest expense, provision for income taxes and pre-tax, non-cash acquisition accounting adjustments. Also excluded are loss on early extinguishment of debt, other income (expense) and income from discontinued operations, net of tax as these amounts are not considered part of usual business operations. Transactions between the segments are accounted for at the Company’s estimate of fair value based on similar transactions with outside customers.
	The operations not managed through the Company’s five reportable segments are recorded as “Corporate Items.” Corporate Items revenues consist of two different operations for which the revenues are insignificant. Corporate Items cost of revenues represents certain central services that are not allocated to the five segments for internal reporting purposes. Corporate Items selling, general and administrative expenses include typical corporate items such as legal, accounting and other items of a general corporate nature that are not allocated to the Company’s five reportable segments. Corporate Items revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 includes a one-time, non-cash reduction of approximately $10.2 million due to the impact of acquisition accounting adjustments on Safety-Kleen's historical deferred revenue balance at December 28, 2012. The revenue amounts of the five reportable segments for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 exclude such adjustments to maintain comparability with future operating results and reflect how the Company manages the business.
	The following table reconciles third party revenues to direct revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands). Third party revenue is revenue billed to outside customers by a particular segment. Direct revenue is the revenue allocated to the segment performing the provided service. The Company analyzes results of operations based on direct revenues because the Company believes that these revenues and related expenses best reflect the manner in which operations are managed. Intersegment revenues represent the sharing of third party revenues among the segments based on products and services provided by each segment as if the products and services were sold directly to the third party. The intersegment revenues are shown net. The negative intersegment revenues are due to more transfers out of customer revenues to other segments than transfers in of customer revenues from other segments.
		For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Technical			Oil Re-refining and Recycling			SK Environmental Services			Industrial and Field			Oil and Gas Field			Corporate			Totals
		Services									Services			Services			Items
	Third party revenues	$	269,465		$	151,565		$	150,535		$	227,754		$	107,627		$	589		$	907,535
	Intersegment revenues, net	35,406			(64,918		)	36,516			(7,322		)	318			—			—
	Corporate Items, net	964			—			—			73			(114		)	(923		)	—
	Direct revenues	$	305,835		$	86,647		$	187,051		$	220,505		$	107,831		$	(334	)	$	907,535
		For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
		Technical			Oil Re-refining and Recycling			SK Environmental Services			Industrial and Field			Oil and Gas Field			Corporate			Totals
		Services									Services			Services			Items
	Third party revenues	$	247,355		$	—		$	—		$	203,371		$	82,812		$	268		$	533,806
	Intersegment revenues, net	6,951			—			—			(8,877		)	1,926			—			—
	Corporate Items, net	665			—			—			100			(98		)	(667		)	—
	Direct revenues	$	254,971		$	—		$	—		$	194,594		$	84,640		$	(399	)	$	533,806
		For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Technical			Oil Re-refining and Recycling			SK Environmental Services			Industrial and Field			Oil and Gas Field			Corporate			Totals
		Services									Services			Services			Items
	Third party revenues	$	759,666		$	438,191		$	453,325		$	693,667		$	294,183		$	(8,806	)	$	2,630,226
	Intersegment revenues, net	85,614			(186,053		)	126,441			(32,316		)	6,314			—			—
	Corporate Items, net	3,155			—			84			184			(314		)	(3,109		)	—
	Direct revenues	$	848,435		$	252,138		$	579,850		$	661,535		$	300,183		$	(11,915	)	$	2,630,226
		For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
		Technical			Oil Re-refining and Recycling			SK Environmental Services			Industrial and Field			Oil and Gas Field			Corporate			Totals
		Services									Services			Services			Items
	Third party revenues	$	712,313		$	—		$	—		$	608,768		$	306,566		$	1,299		$	1,628,946
	Intersegment revenues, net	24,235			—			—			(31,246		)	7,011			—			—
	Corporate Items, net	1,805			—			—			48			(391		)	(1,462		)	—
	Direct revenues	$	738,353		$	—		$	—		$	577,570		$	313,186		$	(163	)	$	1,628,946
	The following table presents information used by management by reportable segment (in thousands). The Company does not allocate interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, accretion of environmental liabilities, pre-tax, non-cash acquisition accounting adjustments, and other (income) expense, to its segments.
		For the Three Months Ended						For the Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Adjusted EBITDA:
	Technical Services	$	78,849		$	68,241		$	208,284		$	188,673
	Oil Re-refining and Recycling	18,892			—			46,861			—
	SK Environmental Services	22,951			—			84,162			—
	Industrial and Field Services	48,096			43,278			138,638			117,914
	Oil and Gas Field Services	20,854			14,132			52,372			62,299
	Corporate Items	(43,690		)	(25,124		)	(149,547		)	(78,710		)
	Total	$	145,952		$	100,527		$	380,770		$	290,176
	Reconciliation to Consolidated Statements of Income:
	Pre-tax, non-cash acquisition accounting adjustments	$	—		$	—		$	13,559		$	—
	Accretion of environmental liabilities	2,914			2,488			8,628			7,409
	Depreciation and amortization	69,430			41,300			196,904			116,794
	Income from operations	73,608			56,739			161,679			165,973
	Other expense (income)	150			91			(2,030		)	465
	Loss on early extinguishment of debt	—			26,385			—			26,385
	Interest expense, net of interest income	19,326			11,596			58,784			33,836
	Income before provision for income taxes	$	54,132		$	18,667		$	104,925		$	105,287
	The following table presents assets by reportable segment and in the aggregate (in thousands):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Property, plant and equipment, net
	Technical Services	$	398,778		$	402,260
	Oil Re-refining and Recycling	262,745			224,289
	SK Environmental Services	193,760			195,172
	Industrial and Field Services	410,776			371,335
	Oil and Gas Field Services	240,863			257,985
Corporate Items	108,505			80,722
Total property, plant and equipment, net	$	1,615,427		$	1,531,763
Intangible assets:
Technical Services
Goodwill	$	47,917		$	48,157
Permits and other intangibles, net	81,689			85,842
Total Technical Services	129,606			133,999
Oil Re-refining and Recycling
Goodwill	215,816			215,704
Permits and other intangibles, net	233,259			222,182
Total Oil Re-refining and Recycling	449,075			437,886
SK Environmental Services
Goodwill	146,956			148,422
Permits and other intangibles, net	186,043			190,472
Total SK Environmental Services	332,999			338,894
Industrial and Field Services
Goodwill	140,927			141,726
Permits and other intangibles, net	36,854			41,143
Total Industrial and Field Services	177,781			182,869
Oil and Gas Field Services
Goodwill	38,536			39,762
Permits and other intangibles, net	29,931			33,178
Total Oil and Gas Field Services	68,467			72,940
Total	$	1,157,928		$	1,166,588
The following table presents total assets by reportable segment (in thousands):
	September 30,			December 31,
	2013			2012
Technical Services	$	699,713		$	714,777
Oil Re-refining and Recycling	833,336			797,650
SK Environmental Services	642,557			647,746
Industrial and Field Services	645,183			607,654
Oil and Gas Field Services	310,481			348,771
Corporate Items	825,582			709,208
Total	$	3,956,852		$	3,825,806
The following table presents total assets by geographical area (in thousands):
	September 30,			December 31,
	2013			2012
United States	$	2,665,328		$	2,564,609
Canada	1,287,090			1,260,421
Other foreign	4,434			776
Total	$	3,956,852		$	3,825,806

GUARANTOR_AND_NONGUARANTOR_SUB

GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Financial Information [Abstract]	'
GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION	'
	GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION
	The 2020 Notes and 2021 Notes are guaranteed by substantially all of the Company's subsidiaries organized in the United States. Each guarantor for the 2020 Notes and 2021 Notes is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and its guarantee is both full and unconditional and joint and several.  The 2020 Notes and 2021 Notes are not guaranteed by the Company’s Canadian or other foreign subsidiaries. The following presents supplemental condensed consolidating financial information for the parent company, the guarantor subsidiaries and the non-guarantor subsidiaries, respectively.
	Following is the condensed consolidating balance sheet at September 30, 2013 (in thousands):
		Clean			U.S. Guarantor			Foreign			Consolidating			Total
		Harbors, Inc.			Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor			Adjustments
								Subsidiaries
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,006		$	187,926		$	59,703		$	—		$	248,635
	Intercompany receivables	336,356			2,369			174,609			(513,334		)	—
	Other current assets	12,144			589,065			291,930			—			893,139
	Property, plant and equipment, net	—			942,331			673,096			—			1,615,427
	Investments in subsidiaries	2,601,246			929,111			144,953			(3,675,310		)	—
	Intercompany debt receivable	—			508,524			3,701			(512,225		)	—
	Other long-term assets	20,842			900,617			278,192			—			1,199,651
	Total assets	$	2,971,594		$	4,059,943		$	1,626,184		$	(4,700,869	)	$	3,956,852
	Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
	Current liabilities	$	40,600		$	472,178		$	156,754		$	—		$	669,532
	Intercompany payables	—			510,906			2,428			(513,334		)	—
	Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	—			158,366			33,482			—			191,848
	Long-term obligations	1,400,000			—			—			—			1,400,000
	Capital lease obligations, net	—			231			1,438			—			1,669
	Intercompany debt payable	3,701			—			508,524			(512,225		)	—
	Other long-term liabilities	51,173			124,441			42,069			—			217,683
	Total liabilities	1,495,474			1,266,122			744,695			(1,025,559		)	2,480,732
	Stockholders’ equity	1,476,120			2,793,821			881,489			(3,675,310		)	1,476,120
	Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,971,594		$	4,059,943		$	1,626,184		$	(4,700,869	)	$	3,956,852
	Following is the condensed consolidating balance sheet at December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
		Clean			U.S. Guarantor			Foreign			Consolidating			Total
		Harbors, Inc.			Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor			Adjustments
								Subsidiaries
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	35,214		$	140,683		$	53,939		$	—		$	229,836
	Intercompany receivables	296,023			17,704			116,571			(430,298		)	—
	Other current assets	38,295			526,354			292,308			—			856,957
	Property, plant and equipment, net	—			886,032			645,731			—			1,531,763
	Investments in subsidiaries	2,528,699			850,011			144,953			(3,523,663		)	—
	Intercompany debt receivable	—			508,067			3,701			(511,768		)	—
	Other long-term assets	21,141			896,991			289,118			—			1,207,250
	Total assets	$	2,919,372		$	3,825,842		$	1,546,321		$	(4,465,729	)	$	3,825,806
	Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
	Current liabilities	$	32,586		$	402,990		$	133,476		$	—		$	569,052
	Intercompany payables	—			412,594			17,704			(430,298		)	—
	Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	—			161,175			36,172			—			197,347
	Long-term obligations	1,400,000			—			—			—			1,400,000
	Capital lease obligations, net	—			301			2,578			—			2,879
	Intercompany debt payable	3,701			—			508,067			(511,768		)	—
	Other long-term liabilities	51,013			134,393			39,050			—			224,456
	Total liabilities	1,487,300			1,111,453			737,047			(942,066		)	2,393,734
	Stockholders’ equity	1,432,072			2,714,389			809,274			(3,523,663		)	1,432,072
	Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,919,372		$	3,825,842		$	1,546,321		$	(4,465,729	)	$	3,825,806
	Following is the consolidating statement of income (loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2013 (in thousands):
		Clean			U.S. Guarantor			Foreign			Consolidating			Total
		Harbors, Inc.			Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor			Adjustments
								Subsidiaries
	Revenues
	Service revenues	$	—		$	445,165		$	256,812		$	56		$	702,033
	Product revenues	—			169,743			35,815			(56		)	205,502
	Total revenues	—			614,908			292,627			—			907,535
	Cost of revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)
	Service cost of revenues	—			300,859			177,519			56			478,434
	Product cost of revenues	—			139,683			29,058			(56		)	168,685
	Total cost of revenues	—			440,542			206,577			—			647,119
	Selling, general and administrative expenses	29			81,496			32,939			—			114,464
Accretion of environmental liabilities	—			2,478			436			—			2,914
Depreciation and amortization	—			45,533			23,897			—			69,430
Income from operations	(29		)	44,859			28,778			—			73,608
Other expense	—			(111		)	(39		)	—			(150		)
Interest (expense) income	(19,844		)	137			381			—			(19,326		)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	58,919			21,064			—			(79,983		)	—
Intercompany dividend income (expense)	—			—			3,063			(3,063		)	—
Intercompany interest income (expense)	—			10,107			(10,107		)	—			—
Income before provision for income taxes	39,046			76,056			22,076			(83,046		)	54,132
Provision for income taxes	3,685			8,218			6,868			—			18,771
Net income	35,361			67,838			15,208			(83,046		)	35,361
Other comprehensive (loss) income	21,805			21,805			(10,072		)	(11,733		)	21,805
Comprehensive (loss) income	$	57,166		$	89,643		$	5,136		$	(94,779	)	$	57,166
Following is the consolidating statement of income (loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2012 (in thousands):
	Clean			U.S. Guarantor			Foreign			Consolidating			Total
	Harbors, Inc.			Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor			Adjustments
							Subsidiaries
Revenues
Service revenues	$	—		$	290,295		$	218,304		$	(4,871	)	$	503,728
Product revenues	—			24,527			5,678			(127		)	30,078
Total revenues	—			314,822			223,982			(4,998		)	533,806
Cost of revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)
Service cost of revenues	—			198,793			154,836			(4,871		)	348,758
Product cost of revenues	—			19,904			4,405			(127		)	24,182
Total cost of revenues	—			218,697			159,241			(4,998		)	372,940
Selling, general and administrative expenses	9			35,810			24,520			—			60,339
Accretion of environmental liabilities	—			2,150			338			—			2,488
Depreciation and amortization	—			20,778			20,522			—			41,300
Income from operations	(9		)	37,387			19,361			—			56,739
Other (expense) income	—			(8		)	(83		)	—			(91		)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(26,385		)	—			—			—			(26,385		)
Interest expense	(11,247		)	180			(529		)	—			(11,596		)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	50,039			15,869			—			(65,908		)	—
Intercompany dividend income (expense)	—			—			3,439			(3,439		)	—
Intercompany interest income (expense)	—			10,290			(10,290		)	—			—
Income before provision for income taxes	12,398			63,718			11,898			(69,347		)	18,667
Provision for income taxes	39			3,831			2,438			—			6,308
Net income	12,359			59,887			9,460			(69,347		)	12,359
Other comprehensive income (loss)	29,980			29,980			13,042			(43,022		)	29,980
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	42,339		$	89,867		$	22,502		$	(112,369	)	$	42,339
Following is the consolidating statement of income (loss) for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 (in thousands):
	Clean			U.S. Guarantor			Foreign			Consolidating			Total
	Harbors, Inc.			Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor			Adjustments
							Subsidiaries
Revenues
Service revenues	$	—		$	1,295,525		$	755,856		$	(2,854	)	$	2,048,527
Product revenues	—			463,301			119,267			(869		)	581,699
Total revenues	—			1,758,826			875,123			(3,723		)	2,630,226
Cost of revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)
Service cost of revenues	—			873,945			531,318			(2,854		)	1,402,409
Product cost of revenues	—			395,891			100,038			(869		)	495,060
Total cost of revenues	—			1,269,836			631,356			(3,723		)	1,897,469
Selling, general and administrative expenses	84			266,941			98,521			—			365,546
Accretion of environmental liabilities	—			7,315			1,313			—			8,628
Depreciation and amortization	—			127,042			69,862			—			196,904
Income from operations	(84		)	87,692			74,071			—			161,679
Other income (expense)	—			2,858			(828		)	—			2,030
Interest (expense) income	(59,408		)	137			487			—			(58,784		)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	134,246			57,040			—			(191,286		)	—
Intercompany dividend income (expense)	—			—			10,031			(10,031		)	—
Intercompany interest income (expense)	—			30,414			(30,414		)	—			—
Income before provision for income taxes	74,754			178,141			53,347			(201,317		)	104,925
Provision for income taxes	5,989			14,753			15,418			—			36,160
Net income	68,765			163,388			37,929			(201,317		)	68,765
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(37,562		)	(37,562		)	20,385			17,177			(37,562		)
Comprehensive (loss) income	$	31,203		$	125,826		$	58,314		$	(184,140	)	$	31,203
Following is the consolidating statement of income (loss) for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 (in thousands):
	Clean			U.S. Guarantor			Foreign			Consolidating			Total
	Harbors, Inc.			Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor			Adjustments
							Subsidiaries
Revenues
Service revenues	$	—		$	850,737		$	687,924		$	(14,894	)	$	1,523,767
Product revenues	—			69,364			36,608			(793		)	105,179
Total revenues	—			920,101			724,532			(15,687		)	1,628,946
Cost of revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)
Service cost of revenues	—			575,006			496,062			(14,894		)	1,056,174
Product cost of revenues	—			55,646			29,851			(793		)	84,704
Total cost of revenues	—			630,652			525,913			(15,687		)	1,140,878
Selling, general and administrative expenses	27			122,167			75,698			—			197,892
Accretion of environmental liabilities	—			6,430			979			—			7,409
Depreciation and amortization	—			56,568			60,226			—			116,794
Income from operations	(27		)	104,284			61,716			—			165,973
Other (expense) income	—			(333		)	(132		)	—			(465		)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(26,385		)	—			—			—			(26,385		)
Interest expense	(32,679		)	—			(1,157		)	—			(33,836		)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	124,965			49,236			—			(174,201		)	—
Intercompany dividend income (expense)	10,010			—			10,354			(20,364		)	—
Intercompany interest income (expense)	—			30,894			(30,894		)	—			—
Income before provision for income taxes	75,884			184,081			39,887			(194,565		)	105,287
Provision for income taxes	8,084			19,473			9,930			—			37,487
Net income	67,800			164,608			29,957			(194,565		)	67,800
Other comprehensive income (loss)	27,703			27,703			11,370			(39,073		)	27,703
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	95,503		$	192,311		$	41,327		$	(233,638	)	$	95,503
Following is the condensed consolidating statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 (in thousands):
	Clean			U.S. Guarantor			Foreign			Total
	Harbors, Inc.			Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor
							Subsidiaries
Net cash from operating activities	$	(38,228	)	$	176,844		$	141,498		$	280,114
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	—			(101,813		)	(105,828		)	(207,641		)
Proceeds from sales of fixed assets	—			819			2,881			3,700
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	—			(59,458		)	—			(59,458		)
Costs to obtain or renew permits	—			(221		)	(4,136		)	(4,357		)
Other	—			—			(11		)	(11		)
Net cash from investing activities	—			(160,673		)	(107,094		)	(267,767		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Change in uncashed checks	—			9,427			327			9,754
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	399			—			—			399
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan	5,327			—			—			5,327
Remittance of shares, net	(599		)	—			—			(599		)
Excess tax benefit of stock-based compensation	1,589			—			—			1,589
Deferred financing costs paid	(2,446		)	—			—			(2,446		)
Payments on capital leases	—			(178		)	(3,918		)	(4,096		)
Issuance costs related to 2012 issuance of common stock	(250		)							(250		)
Dividends (paid) / received	—			(10,284		)	10,284			—
Interest (payments) / received	—			32,107			(32,107		)	—
Net cash from financing activities	4,020			31,072			(25,414		)	9,678
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	—			—			(3,226		)	(3,226		)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(34,208		)	47,243			5,764			18,799
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	35,214			140,683			53,939			229,836
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	1,006		$	187,926		$	59,703		$	248,635
Following is the condensed consolidating statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 (in thousands):
	Clean			U.S. Guarantor			Foreign			Total
	Harbors, Inc.			Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor
							Subsidiaries
Net cash from operating activities	$	(49,918	)	$	98,497		$	184,113		$	232,692
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	—			(75,664		)	(54,662		)	(130,326		)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	—			3,411			779			4,190
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	—			(51,424		)	(41,051		)	(92,475		)
Costs to obtain or renew permits	—			(625		)	(1,784		)	(2,409		)
Purchase of available for sale securities	—			—			(10,517		)	(10,517		)
Other				603			4,517			5,120
Net cash from investing activities	—			(123,699		)	(102,718		)	(226,417		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Change in uncashed checks	—			(7,771		)	(6,184		)	(13,955		)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	231			—			—			231
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan	4,627			—			—			4,627
Remittance of shares, net	(1,604		)	—			—			(1,604		)
Excess tax benefit of stock-based compensation	1,786			—			—			1,786
Deferred financing costs paid	(9,638		)	—			—			(9,638		)
Payments of capital leases	—			(781		)	(4,522		)	(5,303		)
Distribution of cash earned on employee participation plan	(55		)	—			—			(55		)
Principal payment on debt	$	(520,000	)	$	—		$	—		(520,000		)
Issuance of senior unsecured notes	800,000			—			—			800,000
Dividends (paid) / received	10,010			(23,669		)	13,659			—
Interest (payments) / received	—			43,954			(43,954		)	—
Net cash from financing activities	285,357			11,733			(41,001		)	256,089
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	—			—			527			527
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	235,439			(13,469		)	40,921			262,891
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	91,581			128,071			41,071			260,723
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	327,020		$	114,602		$	81,992		$	523,614

SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNTING_POLICIE1

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue	'
	Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue
	S-K Environmental Services revenue is generated from providing parts cleaning services, containerized waste services, oil collection services and other complementary products and services.
	Parts cleaning services generally consist of placing a specially designed parts washer at a customer's premises and then, on a recurring basis, delivering clean solvent or aqueous-based washing fluid, cleaning and servicing the parts washer and removing the used solvent or aqueous fluid. The Company also services customer-owned parts washers. Revenue from parts cleaning services is recognized over the service interval. Service intervals represent the actual amount of time between service visits to a particular parts cleaning customer. Average service intervals vary from seven to 14 weeks depending on several factors, such as customer accommodation, types of machines serviced and frequency of use.
	Containerized waste services consist of profiling, collecting, transporting and recycling or disposing of a wide variety of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. Revenue is recognized upon disposal. The Company tracks the amount of time it takes from collection of the customer's waste to delivery to the disposal outlet, which represents a deferral period of approximately two and one-half weeks.
	Other complementary products and services include vacuum services, allied products and other environmental services. Revenue is recognized when products are delivered and services are performed.
	Oil Re-refining and Recycling revenue is generated from re-refining used oil to produce high quality base and blended lubricating oils, and recycling used oil collected in excess of the Company's re-refining capacity into recycled fuel oil. The high quality base and blended lubricating oils are sold to third-party distributors, retailers, government agencies, fleets, railroads and industrial customers. The recycled fuel oil is sold to asphalt plants, industrial plants, blenders, pulp and paper companies, vacuum gas oil producers and marine diesel oil producers. Revenue is recognized upon delivery.
Deferred Costs Relating to Deferred Revenue	'
	Deferred Costs Relating to Deferred Revenue
	Commissions and other incremental direct costs, primarily costs of materials and transportation expenses, relating to deferred revenue from the Company’s parts cleaning services, containerized waste services and vacuum services are capitalized and deferred. The deferred costs are included in current assets in the consolidated balance sheet and expensed when the related revenues are recognized.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2013-11 Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. This standard provides guidance regarding when an unrecognized tax benefit should be classified as a reduction to a deferred tax asset or when it should be classified as a liability in the consolidated balance sheet. The guidance is effective for the Company on January 1, 2014. Management does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
	In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02 Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) - Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The new guidance requires an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) by component. Entities are required to present, either on the face of the income statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of AOCI by respective line items of net income if the amount reclassified is required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, entities are required to cross-reference the disclosures required under U.S. GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts. This guidance is effective prospectively for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2012. The Company adopted the standard on January 1, 2013. The amounts required to be disclosed under this guidance are disclosed in Note 14, “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.”

BUSINESS_COMBINATIONS_Tables

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Safety-Kleen [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Summary of recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed	'
	The following table summarizes the recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in thousands).
		Preliminary Allocations			Year-to-Date Measurement Period Adjustments			Current Estimate of Allocations
	Inventories and supplies	$	102,339		$	5,037		$	107,376
	Other current assets (i)	152,245			319			152,564
	Property, plant and equipment	514,712			779			515,491
	Permits and other intangibles	421,400			4,577			425,977
	Other assets	4,985			(1,111		)	3,874
	Current liabilities	(192,652		)	(5,081		)	(197,733		)
	Closure and post-closure liabilities, less current portion	(15,774		)	8,221			(7,553		)
	Remedial liabilities, less current portion	(38,370		)	(10,577		)	(48,947		)
	Deferred taxes, unrecognized tax benefits and other long-term liabilities	(128,375		)	7,178			(121,197		)
	Total identifiable net assets	820,510			9,342			829,852
	Goodwill (ii)	436,749			(3,317		)	433,432
	Total	$	1,257,259		$	6,025		$	1,263,284
	_______________________
	(i)	The fair value of the assets acquired includes customer receivables with a preliminary aggregate fair value of $133.7 million. Combined gross amounts due were $143.7 million.
	(ii)	Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired over the purchase price. Goodwill of $214.1 million, $147.3 million, $69.9 million, and $2.1 million has been recorded on a preliminary basis in the Oil Re-refining and Recycling, SK Environmental Services, Industrial and Field Services and Technical Services segments, respectively. None of the goodwill related to this acquisition will be deductible for tax purposes.
Pro forma combined summary financial information	'
	The following unaudited pro forma combined summary financial information presented below gives effect to the following transactions as if they had occurred as of January 1, 2011, and assumes that there were no material, non-recurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to: (i) the acquisition of Safety-Kleen, (ii) the sale of 6.9 million shares of the Company's common stock, (iii) the issuance of $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior unsecured notes due 2021, and (iv) the payment of related fees and expenses (in thousands):
		For the Three Months Ended			For the Nine Months Ended
		30-Sep-12			30-Sep-12
	Pro forma combined revenues	$	851,376		$	2,691,025
	Pro forma combined net income	$	13,480		$	90,546
Other 2012 Acquisitions [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Summary of recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed	'
	(in thousands).
		Preliminary Allocations			Year-to-Date Measurement Period Adjustments			Final Allocations
	Current assets (i)	$	20,270		$	117		$	20,387
	Property, plant and equipment	51,901			(8		)	51,893
	Customer relationships and other intangibles	21,770			(1		)	21,769
	Other assets	53			4			57
	Current liabilities	(5,277		)	(22		)	(5,299		)
	Other liabilities	(5,133		)	(79		)	(5,212		)
	Total identifiable net assets	83,584			11			83,595
	Goodwill (ii)	23,956			1,308			25,264
	Total	$	107,540		$	1,319		$	108,859
	______________________
	(i)	The fair value of the financial assets acquired included customer receivables with an aggregate fair value of $13.2 million. Combined gross amounts due were $13.5 million.
	(ii)	Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired over the purchase price attributed to expected operating and cross selling synergies. The goodwill has been assigned to the Industrial and Field Services segment and will not be deductible for tax purposes.
Pro forma combined summary financial information	'
	The following unaudited pro forma combined financial data presents information as if the 2012 acquisitions had been acquired as of January 1, 2011 and assumes that there were no material, non-recurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to those acquisitions. The pro forma financial information does not necessarily reflect the actual results that would have been reported had the Company and those three acquisitions been combined during the periods presented, nor is it necessarily indicative of the future results of operations of the combined companies (in thousands).
		For the Three Months Ended			For the Nine Months Ended
		30-Sep-12			30-Sep-12
	Pro forma combined revenues	$	545,393		$	1,698,246
	Pro forma combined net income	$	11,982		$	72,351

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Tables

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'
	The Company's assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were as follows (in thousands):
	September 30, 2013
			Quoted Prices in			Significant Other		Significant				Balance at September 30, 2013
			Active Markets			Observable		Unobservable
			for Identical			Inputs		Inputs
			Assets			(Level 2)		(Level 3)
			(Level 1)
	Assets:
	Auction rate securities (i)		$	—		$	—	$	4,352			$	4,352
	Derivative instruments (ii)		$	—		$	60	$	—			$	60
	Marketable securities (iii)		$	11,787		$	—	$	—			$	11,787
	Liabilities:
	Derivative instruments (ii)		$	—		$	239	$	—			$	239
	December 31, 2012
			Quoted Prices in			Significant Other		Significant				Balance at
			Active Markets			Observable		Unobservable				December 31,
			for Identical			Inputs		Inputs				2012
			Assets			(Level 2)		(Level 3)
			(Level 1)
	Assets:
	Auction rate securities (i)		$	—		$	—	$	4,354			$	4,354
	Derivative instruments (ii)		$	—		$	165	$	—			$	165
	Marketable securities (iii)		$	11,778		$	—	$	—			$	11,778
	Liabilities:
	Derivative instruments (ii)		$	—		$	1,242	$	—			$	1,242
	________________________________________________
	(i)	The auction rate securities are classified as available-for-sale and the fair value of these securities was estimated utilizing a probability discounted cash flow analysis. As of September 30, 2013, all of the Company's auction rate securities continue to have AAA underlying ratings. The Company attributes the $0.3 million decline in the fair value of the securities from the original cost basis to external liquidity issues rather than credit issues. The Company assessed the decline in value to be temporary because it does not intend to sell and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell the securities before their maturity. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded an unrealized pre-tax loss of less than $0.1 million and a pre-tax gain of $0.1 million, respectively, on its auction rate securities.
	(ii)	The fair value of derivatives is recorded based on the present value of cash flows using a crude oil forward rate curve.
	(iii)	The fair value of marketable securities is recorded based on quoted market prices and changes in fair value were included in other comprehensive income.
Changes in auction rate securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'
	The following table presents the changes in the Company’s auction rate securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):
			Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
			September 30,					September 30,
			2013			2012		2013				2012
	Balance at beginning of period		$	4,352		$	4,326	$	4,354			$	4,245
	Unrealized (loss) gain included in other comprehensive income		—			—		(2		)		81
	Balance at September 30,		$	4,352		$	4,326	$	4,352			$	4,326
Schedule of Derivative Instruments	'
	The following table presents the fair value for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of September 30, 2013 (fair value amounts in thousands):
	Financial Institution	Trade Date		Start Date	End Date		Barrels of oil per Month	Commodity		Floor				Cap		Upfront Costs	Fair Value as of September 30, 2013
	Bank of America	2/7/13		4/1/14	4/30/14		148,810	Brent		$	75			$	134.7	—	$	24
	Bank of America	4/2/13		6/1/14	6/30/14		148,810	Brent		75				130		—	21
	Bank of America	9/11/13		11/1/14	11/28/14		148,810	Brent		75				124		—	15
	Total derivative instrument asset																$	60
	JP Morgan	9/11/12		11/1/13	11/30/13		148,810	Brent		$	75			$	137.5	—	$	3
	JP Morgan	12/7/12		2/1/14	2/28/14		148,810	Brent		75				124.7		—	33
	JP Morgan	3/7/13		5/1/14	5/31/14		148,810	Brent		75				125.75		—	10
	JP Morgan	5/6/13		7/1/14	7/31/14		148,810	Brent		75				122		—	37
	JP Morgan	7/8/13		9/1/14	9/30/14		148,810	Brent		75				120.75		—	39
	Bank of America	8/3/12		10/1/13	10/31/13		148,810	Brent		75				130		—	—
	Bank of America	10/4/12		12/1/13	12/31/13		148,810	Brent		75				127.5		—	14
	Bank of America	11/9/12		1/1/14	1/31/14		148,810	Brent		75				130		—	13
	Bank of America	1/8/13		3/1/14	3/31/14		148,810	Brent		75				129		—	10
	Bank of America	6/10/13		8/1/14	8/29/14		148,810	Brent		75				120.65		—	66
	Bank of America	8/13/13		10/1/14	10/31/14		148,810	Brent		75				122.6		—	14
	Total derivative instrument liability																$	239

INVENTORIES_AND_SUPPLIES_Table

INVENTORIES AND SUPPLIES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Inventory	'
	Inventories and supplies consisted of the following (in thousands):
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Oil and oil products	$	63,450	$	77,735
	Supplies and drums	61,888		63,540
	Solvent and solutions	11,508		9,398
	Other	18,455		20,768
	Total inventories and supplies	$	155,301	$	171,441

PROPERTY_PLANT_AND_EQUIPMENT_T

PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Land	$	100,133	$	106,037
	Asset retirement costs (non-landfill)	10,748		10,450
	Landfill assets	93,104		77,952
	Buildings and improvements	324,646		329,617
	Camp equipment	135,377		135,827
	Vehicles	419,581		385,172
	Equipment	1,164,838		1,061,090
	Furniture and fixtures	5,244		6,757
	Construction in progress	129,385		31,780
		2,383,056		2,144,682
	Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization	767,629		612,919
	Total property, plant and equipment, net	$	1,615,427	$	1,531,763

GOODWILL_AND_OTHER_INTANGIBLE_1

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of changes to goodwill	'
	The changes to goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):
		2013
	Balance at January 1, 2013	$	593,771
	Acquired from acquisitions	3,179
	Decrease from adjustments during the measurement period related to acquisitions	(2,009		)
	Foreign currency translation	(4,789		)
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	590,152
Summary of amortizable other intangible assets	'
	Below is a summary of amortizable other intangible assets (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013								December 31, 2012
		Cost			Accumulated		Net		Weighted	Cost		Accumulated		Net		Weighted
					Amortization				Average			Amortization				Average
									Remaining Amortization							Remaining Amortization
									Period							Period
									(in years)							(in years)
	Permits	$	157,578		$	49,818	$	107,760	18.8	$	148,661	$	46,282	$	102,379	21.8
	Customer and supplier relationships	377,334			46,372		330,962		12.5	372,751		27,739		345,012		13.2
	Other intangible assets	28,097			14,548		13,549		3.5	22,027		12,121		9,906		3.6
	Total amortizable permits and other intangible assets	563,009			110,738		452,271		12.5	543,439		86,142		457,297		13.6
	Trademarks and trade names	115,505			—		115,505		Indefinite	115,520		—		115,520		Indefinite
	Total permits and other intangible assets	$	678,514		$	110,738	$	567,776		$	658,959	$	86,142	$	572,817
Schedule of expected amortization for the net carrying amount of finite lived intangible assets	'
	Below is the expected future amortization of the net carrying amount of finite lived intangible assets at September 30, 2013 (in thousands):
	Years Ending December 31,	Expected
		Amortization
	2013 (three months)	$	10,816
	2014	42,308
	2015	40,704
	2016	39,210
	2017	36,528
	Thereafter	282,705
		$	452,271

ACCRUED_EXPENSES_Tables

ACCRUED EXPENSES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accrued Expenses [ABSTRACT]	'
Accrued expenses	'
	Accrued expenses consisted of the following (in thousands):
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Insurance	$	54,105	$	48,243
	Interest	17,900		20,061
	Accrued disposal costs	1,498		1,835
	Accrued compensation and benefits	71,030		70,250
	Income, real estate, sales and other taxes	54,403		35,640
	Other	57,877		56,400
	Total accrued expenses	$	256,813	$	232,429

CLOSURE_AND_POSTCLOSURE_LIABIL1

CLOSURE AND POST-CLOSURE LIABILITIES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of closure and post-closure liabilities	'
	The changes to closure and post-closure liabilities (also referred to as “asset retirement obligations”) for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):
		Landfill			Non-Landfill			Total
		Retirement			Retirement
		Liability			Liability
	Balance at January 1, 2013	$	26,658		$	27,590		$	54,248
	Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	—			659			659
	Adjustments during the measurement period related to acquisitions	—			(10,201		)	(10,201		)
	New asset retirement obligations	3,321			—			3,321
	Accretion	2,255			1,281			3,536
	Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	(398		)	99			(299		)
	Changes in estimates recorded to balance sheet	299			—			299
	Expenditures	(3,527		)	(310		)	(3,837		)
	Currency translation and other	(152		)	(80		)	(232		)
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	28,456		$	19,038		$	47,494

REMEDIAL_LIABILITIES_Tables

REMEDIAL LIABILITIES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Environmental Remediation Obligations [Abstract]	'
Changes to remedial liabilities	'
	The changes to remedial liabilities for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):
		Remedial			Remedial			Remedial			Total
		Liabilities for			Liabilities for			Liabilities
		Landfill Sites			Inactive Sites			(Including
								Superfund) for
								Non-Landfill
								Operations
	Balance at January 1, 2013	$	5,829		$	71,079		$	90,312		$	167,220
	Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	—			—			2,384			$	2,384
	Adjustments during the measurement period related to acquisitions	—			8,855			3,726			12,581
	Accretion	210			2,505			2,377			5,092
	Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	(62		)	(2,341		)	285			(2,118		)
	Expenditures	(67		)	(6,307		)	(5,717		)	(12,091		)
	Currency translation and other	(108		)	(54		)	(815		)	(977		)
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	5,802		$	73,737		$	92,552		$	172,091

FINANCING_ARRANGEMENTS_Tables

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Summary of the entity's financial arrangements	'
	The following table is a summary of the Company’s financing arrangements (in thousands):
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Senior unsecured notes, at 5.25%, due August 1, 2020	$	800,000	$	800,000
	Senior unsecured notes, at 5.125%, due June 1, 2021	600,000		600,000
	Revolving credit facility, due January 17, 2018	—		—
	Long-term obligations	$	1,400,000	$	1,400,000

EARNINGS_PER_SHARE_Tables

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Reconciliation of basic and diluted earnings per share computations	'
	The following are computations of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands except for per share amounts):
		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share:
	Net income	$	35,361	$	12,359	$	68,765	$	67,800
	Denominator:
	Basic shares outstanding	60,610		53,374		60,542		53,303
	Dilutive effect of equity-based compensation awards	150		191		150		216
	Dilutive shares outstanding	60,760		53,565		60,692		53,519
	Basic earnings per share:	$	0.58	$	0.23	$	1.14	$	1.27
	Diluted earnings per share:	$	0.58	$	0.23	$	1.13	$	1.27

ACCUMULATED_OTHER_COMPREHENSIV1

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
	The components of other comprehensive income (loss) and related tax effects for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were as follows (in thousands):
			For the Three Months Ended												For the Three Months Ended
			September 30, 2013												September 30, 2012
			Gross				Tax Effect				Net of Tax				Gross		Tax Effect			Net of Tax
	Foreign currency translation		$	20,731			$	—			$	20,731			$	29,086	$	—		$	29,086
	Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities		1,227				(153		)		1,074				1,040		(146		)	894
	Other comprehensive income (loss)		$	21,958			$	(153	)		$	21,805			$	30,126	$	(146	)	$	29,980
			For the Nine Months Ended												For the Nine Months Ended
			September 30, 2013												September 30, 2012
			Gross				Tax Effect				Net of Tax				Gross		Tax Effect			Net of Tax
	Foreign currency translation		$	(37,921	)		$	—			$	(37,921	)		$	27,393	$	—		$	27,393
	Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities		420				(61		)		359				373		(63		)	310
	Other comprehensive income (loss)		$	(37,501	)		$	(61	)		$	(37,562	)		$	27,766	$	(63	)	$	27,703
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
	The components of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, were as follows (in thousands):
		Foreign Currency Translation				Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available-For-Sale Securities				Unfunded Pension Liability				Total
	Balance at January 1, 2013	$	50,627			$	660			$	(1,655	)		$	49,632
	Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(37,921		)		359				—				(37,562		)
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	12,706			$	1,019			$	(1,655	)		$	12,070

STOCKBASED_COMPENSATION_Tables

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Summary of the total number, weighted average grant-date fair value, and types of awards granted	'
	The following table summarizes the total number and type of awards granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, as well as the related weighted-average grant-date fair values:
		Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
		September 30, 2013			September 30, 2013
		Shares	Weighted Average		Shares	Weighted Average
			Grant-Date			Grant-Date
			Fair Value			Fair Value
	Restricted stock awards	27,890	$	57.88	287,882	$	55.21
	Performance stock awards	1,468	$	55.29	114,453	$	54.27
	Total awards	29,358			402,335

SEGMENT_REPORTING_Tables

SEGMENT REPORTING (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Reconciliation of third party revenues to direct revenues	'
		For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Technical			Oil Re-refining and Recycling			SK Environmental Services			Industrial and Field			Oil and Gas Field			Corporate			Totals
		Services									Services			Services			Items
	Third party revenues	$	269,465		$	151,565		$	150,535		$	227,754		$	107,627		$	589		$	907,535
	Intersegment revenues, net	35,406			(64,918		)	36,516			(7,322		)	318			—			—
	Corporate Items, net	964			—			—			73			(114		)	(923		)	—
	Direct revenues	$	305,835		$	86,647		$	187,051		$	220,505		$	107,831		$	(334	)	$	907,535
		For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
		Technical			Oil Re-refining and Recycling			SK Environmental Services			Industrial and Field			Oil and Gas Field			Corporate			Totals
		Services									Services			Services			Items
	Third party revenues	$	247,355		$	—		$	—		$	203,371		$	82,812		$	268		$	533,806
	Intersegment revenues, net	6,951			—			—			(8,877		)	1,926			—			—
	Corporate Items, net	665			—			—			100			(98		)	(667		)	—
	Direct revenues	$	254,971		$	—		$	—		$	194,594		$	84,640		$	(399	)	$	533,806
		For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Technical			Oil Re-refining and Recycling			SK Environmental Services			Industrial and Field			Oil and Gas Field			Corporate			Totals
		Services									Services			Services			Items
	Third party revenues	$	759,666		$	438,191		$	453,325		$	693,667		$	294,183		$	(8,806	)	$	2,630,226
	Intersegment revenues, net	85,614			(186,053		)	126,441			(32,316		)	6,314			—			—
	Corporate Items, net	3,155			—			84			184			(314		)	(3,109		)	—
	Direct revenues	$	848,435		$	252,138		$	579,850		$	661,535		$	300,183		$	(11,915	)	$	2,630,226
		For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
		Technical			Oil Re-refining and Recycling			SK Environmental Services			Industrial and Field			Oil and Gas Field			Corporate			Totals
		Services									Services			Services			Items
	Third party revenues	$	712,313		$	—		$	—		$	608,768		$	306,566		$	1,299		$	1,628,946
	Intersegment revenues, net	24,235			—			—			(31,246		)	7,011			—			—
	Corporate Items, net	1,805			—			—			48			(391		)	(1,462		)	—
	Direct revenues	$	738,353		$	—		$	—		$	577,570		$	313,186		$	(163	)	$	1,628,946
Reconciliation to consolidated statements of income to adjusted EBITDA	'
	The following table presents information used by management by reportable segment (in thousands). The Company does not allocate interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, accretion of environmental liabilities, pre-tax, non-cash acquisition accounting adjustments, and other (income) expense, to its segments.
		For the Three Months Ended						For the Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Adjusted EBITDA:
	Technical Services	$	78,849		$	68,241		$	208,284		$	188,673
	Oil Re-refining and Recycling	18,892			—			46,861			—
	SK Environmental Services	22,951			—			84,162			—
	Industrial and Field Services	48,096			43,278			138,638			117,914
	Oil and Gas Field Services	20,854			14,132			52,372			62,299
	Corporate Items	(43,690		)	(25,124		)	(149,547		)	(78,710		)
	Total	$	145,952		$	100,527		$	380,770		$	290,176
	Reconciliation to Consolidated Statements of Income:
	Pre-tax, non-cash acquisition accounting adjustments	$	—		$	—		$	13,559		$	—
	Accretion of environmental liabilities	2,914			2,488			8,628			7,409
	Depreciation and amortization	69,430			41,300			196,904			116,794
	Income from operations	73,608			56,739			161,679			165,973
	Other expense (income)	150			91			(2,030		)	465
	Loss on early extinguishment of debt	—			26,385			—			26,385
	Interest expense, net of interest income	19,326			11,596			58,784			33,836
	Income before provision for income taxes	$	54,132		$	18,667		$	104,925		$	105,287
PP&E and intangible assets by segment	'
	The following table presents assets by reportable segment and in the aggregate (in thousands):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Property, plant and equipment, net
	Technical Services	$	398,778		$	402,260
	Oil Re-refining and Recycling	262,745			224,289
	SK Environmental Services	193,760			195,172
	Industrial and Field Services	410,776			371,335
	Oil and Gas Field Services	240,863			257,985
	Corporate Items	108,505			80,722
	Total property, plant and equipment, net	$	1,615,427		$	1,531,763
	Intangible assets:
	Technical Services
	Goodwill	$	47,917		$	48,157
	Permits and other intangibles, net	81,689			85,842
	Total Technical Services	129,606			133,999
	Oil Re-refining and Recycling
	Goodwill	215,816			215,704
	Permits and other intangibles, net	233,259			222,182
	Total Oil Re-refining and Recycling	449,075			437,886
	SK Environmental Services
	Goodwill	146,956			148,422
	Permits and other intangibles, net	186,043			190,472
	Total SK Environmental Services	332,999			338,894
	Industrial and Field Services
	Goodwill	140,927			141,726
	Permits and other intangibles, net	36,854			41,143
	Total Industrial and Field Services	177,781			182,869
	Oil and Gas Field Services
	Goodwill	38,536			39,762
	Permits and other intangibles, net	29,931			33,178
	Total Oil and Gas Field Services	68,467			72,940
	Total	$	1,157,928		$	1,166,588
Total assets by segment	'
	The following table presents total assets by reportable segment (in thousands):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Technical Services	$	699,713		$	714,777
	Oil Re-refining and Recycling	833,336			797,650
	SK Environmental Services	642,557			647,746
	Industrial and Field Services	645,183			607,654
	Oil and Gas Field Services	310,481			348,771
	Corporate Items	825,582			709,208
	Total	$	3,956,852		$	3,825,806
Total assets by geographical area	'
	The following table presents total assets by geographical area (in thousands):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	United States	$	2,665,328		$	2,564,609
	Canada	1,287,090			1,260,421
	Other foreign	4,434			776
	Total	$	3,956,852		$	3,825,806

GUARANTOR_AND_NONGUARANTOR_SUB1

GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Financial Information [Abstract]	'
Schedule of condensed consolidating balance sheet	'
	Following is the condensed consolidating balance sheet at September 30, 2013 (in thousands):
		Clean			U.S. Guarantor			Foreign			Consolidating			Total
		Harbors, Inc.			Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor			Adjustments
								Subsidiaries
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,006		$	187,926		$	59,703		$	—		$	248,635
	Intercompany receivables	336,356			2,369			174,609			(513,334		)	—
	Other current assets	12,144			589,065			291,930			—			893,139
	Property, plant and equipment, net	—			942,331			673,096			—			1,615,427
	Investments in subsidiaries	2,601,246			929,111			144,953			(3,675,310		)	—
	Intercompany debt receivable	—			508,524			3,701			(512,225		)	—
	Other long-term assets	20,842			900,617			278,192			—			1,199,651
	Total assets	$	2,971,594		$	4,059,943		$	1,626,184		$	(4,700,869	)	$	3,956,852
	Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
	Current liabilities	$	40,600		$	472,178		$	156,754		$	—		$	669,532
	Intercompany payables	—			510,906			2,428			(513,334		)	—
	Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	—			158,366			33,482			—			191,848
	Long-term obligations	1,400,000			—			—			—			1,400,000
	Capital lease obligations, net	—			231			1,438			—			1,669
	Intercompany debt payable	3,701			—			508,524			(512,225		)	—
	Other long-term liabilities	51,173			124,441			42,069			—			217,683
	Total liabilities	1,495,474			1,266,122			744,695			(1,025,559		)	2,480,732
	Stockholders’ equity	1,476,120			2,793,821			881,489			(3,675,310		)	1,476,120
	Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,971,594		$	4,059,943		$	1,626,184		$	(4,700,869	)	$	3,956,852
	Following is the condensed consolidating balance sheet at December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
		Clean			U.S. Guarantor			Foreign			Consolidating			Total
		Harbors, Inc.			Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor			Adjustments
								Subsidiaries
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	35,214		$	140,683		$	53,939		$	—		$	229,836
	Intercompany receivables	296,023			17,704			116,571			(430,298		)	—
	Other current assets	38,295			526,354			292,308			—			856,957
	Property, plant and equipment, net	—			886,032			645,731			—			1,531,763
	Investments in subsidiaries	2,528,699			850,011			144,953			(3,523,663		)	—
	Intercompany debt receivable	—			508,067			3,701			(511,768		)	—
	Other long-term assets	21,141			896,991			289,118			—			1,207,250
	Total assets	$	2,919,372		$	3,825,842		$	1,546,321		$	(4,465,729	)	$	3,825,806
	Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
	Current liabilities	$	32,586		$	402,990		$	133,476		$	—		$	569,052
	Intercompany payables	—			412,594			17,704			(430,298		)	—
	Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	—			161,175			36,172			—			197,347
	Long-term obligations	1,400,000			—			—			—			1,400,000
	Capital lease obligations, net	—			301			2,578			—			2,879
	Intercompany debt payable	3,701			—			508,067			(511,768		)	—
	Other long-term liabilities	51,013			134,393			39,050			—			224,456
	Total liabilities	1,487,300			1,111,453			737,047			(942,066		)	2,393,734
	Stockholders’ equity	1,432,072			2,714,389			809,274			(3,523,663		)	1,432,072
	Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,919,372		$	3,825,842		$	1,546,321		$	(4,465,729	)	$	3,825,806
Schedule of consolidating statement of income	'
	Following is the consolidating statement of income (loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2013 (in thousands):
		Clean			U.S. Guarantor			Foreign			Consolidating			Total
		Harbors, Inc.			Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor			Adjustments
								Subsidiaries
	Revenues
	Service revenues	$	—		$	445,165		$	256,812		$	56		$	702,033
	Product revenues	—			169,743			35,815			(56		)	205,502
	Total revenues	—			614,908			292,627			—			907,535
	Cost of revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)
	Service cost of revenues	—			300,859			177,519			56			478,434
	Product cost of revenues	—			139,683			29,058			(56		)	168,685
	Total cost of revenues	—			440,542			206,577			—			647,119
	Selling, general and administrative expenses	29			81,496			32,939			—			114,464
	Accretion of environmental liabilities	—			2,478			436			—			2,914
	Depreciation and amortization	—			45,533			23,897			—			69,430
	Income from operations	(29		)	44,859			28,778			—			73,608
	Other expense	—			(111		)	(39		)	—			(150		)
	Interest (expense) income	(19,844		)	137			381			—			(19,326		)
	Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	58,919			21,064			—			(79,983		)	—
	Intercompany dividend income (expense)	—			—			3,063			(3,063		)	—
	Intercompany interest income (expense)	—			10,107			(10,107		)	—			—
	Income before provision for income taxes	39,046			76,056			22,076			(83,046		)	54,132
	Provision for income taxes	3,685			8,218			6,868			—			18,771
	Net income	35,361			67,838			15,208			(83,046		)	35,361
	Other comprehensive (loss) income	21,805			21,805			(10,072		)	(11,733		)	21,805
	Comprehensive (loss) income	$	57,166		$	89,643		$	5,136		$	(94,779	)	$	57,166
	Following is the consolidating statement of income (loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2012 (in thousands):
		Clean			U.S. Guarantor			Foreign			Consolidating			Total
		Harbors, Inc.			Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor			Adjustments
								Subsidiaries
	Revenues
	Service revenues	$	—		$	290,295		$	218,304		$	(4,871	)	$	503,728
	Product revenues	—			24,527			5,678			(127		)	30,078
	Total revenues	—			314,822			223,982			(4,998		)	533,806
	Cost of revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)
	Service cost of revenues	—			198,793			154,836			(4,871		)	348,758
	Product cost of revenues	—			19,904			4,405			(127		)	24,182
	Total cost of revenues	—			218,697			159,241			(4,998		)	372,940
	Selling, general and administrative expenses	9			35,810			24,520			—			60,339
	Accretion of environmental liabilities	—			2,150			338			—			2,488
	Depreciation and amortization	—			20,778			20,522			—			41,300
	Income from operations	(9		)	37,387			19,361			—			56,739
	Other (expense) income	—			(8		)	(83		)	—			(91		)
	Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(26,385		)	—			—			—			(26,385		)
	Interest expense	(11,247		)	180			(529		)	—			(11,596		)
	Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	50,039			15,869			—			(65,908		)	—
	Intercompany dividend income (expense)	—			—			3,439			(3,439		)	—
	Intercompany interest income (expense)	—			10,290			(10,290		)	—			—
	Income before provision for income taxes	12,398			63,718			11,898			(69,347		)	18,667
	Provision for income taxes	39			3,831			2,438			—			6,308
	Net income	12,359			59,887			9,460			(69,347		)	12,359
	Other comprehensive income (loss)	29,980			29,980			13,042			(43,022		)	29,980
	Comprehensive income (loss)	$	42,339		$	89,867		$	22,502		$	(112,369	)	$	42,339
	Following is the consolidating statement of income (loss) for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 (in thousands):
		Clean			U.S. Guarantor			Foreign			Consolidating			Total
		Harbors, Inc.			Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor			Adjustments
								Subsidiaries
	Revenues
	Service revenues	$	—		$	1,295,525		$	755,856		$	(2,854	)	$	2,048,527
	Product revenues	—			463,301			119,267			(869		)	581,699
	Total revenues	—			1,758,826			875,123			(3,723		)	2,630,226
	Cost of revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)
	Service cost of revenues	—			873,945			531,318			(2,854		)	1,402,409
Product cost of revenues	—			395,891			100,038			(869		)	495,060
Total cost of revenues	—			1,269,836			631,356			(3,723		)	1,897,469
Selling, general and administrative expenses	84			266,941			98,521			—			365,546
Accretion of environmental liabilities	—			7,315			1,313			—			8,628
Depreciation and amortization	—			127,042			69,862			—			196,904
Income from operations	(84		)	87,692			74,071			—			161,679
Other income (expense)	—			2,858			(828		)	—			2,030
Interest (expense) income	(59,408		)	137			487			—			(58,784		)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	134,246			57,040			—			(191,286		)	—
Intercompany dividend income (expense)	—			—			10,031			(10,031		)	—
Intercompany interest income (expense)	—			30,414			(30,414		)	—			—
Income before provision for income taxes	74,754			178,141			53,347			(201,317		)	104,925
Provision for income taxes	5,989			14,753			15,418			—			36,160
Net income	68,765			163,388			37,929			(201,317		)	68,765
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(37,562		)	(37,562		)	20,385			17,177			(37,562		)
Comprehensive (loss) income	$	31,203		$	125,826		$	58,314		$	(184,140	)	$	31,203
Following is the consolidating statement of income (loss) for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 (in thousands):
	Clean			U.S. Guarantor			Foreign			Consolidating			Total
	Harbors, Inc.			Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor			Adjustments
							Subsidiaries
Revenues
Service revenues	$	—		$	850,737		$	687,924		$	(14,894	)	$	1,523,767
Product revenues	—			69,364			36,608			(793		)	105,179
Total revenues	—			920,101			724,532			(15,687		)	1,628,946
Cost of revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)
Service cost of revenues	—			575,006			496,062			(14,894		)	1,056,174
Product cost of revenues	—			55,646			29,851			(793		)	84,704
Total cost of revenues	—			630,652			525,913			(15,687		)	1,140,878
Selling, general and administrative expenses	27			122,167			75,698			—			197,892
Accretion of environmental liabilities	—			6,430			979			—			7,409
Depreciation and amortization	—			56,568			60,226			—			116,794
Income from operations	(27		)	104,284			61,716			—			165,973
Other (expense) income	—			(333		)	(132		)	—			(465		)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(26,385		)	—			—			—			(26,385		)
Interest expense	(32,679		)	—			(1,157		)	—			(33,836		)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	124,965			49,236			—			(174,201		)	—
Intercompany dividend income (expense)	10,010			—			10,354			(20,364		)	—
Intercompany interest income (expense)	—			30,894			(30,894		)	—			—
Income before provision for income taxes	75,884			184,081			39,887			(194,565		)	105,287
Provision for income taxes	8,084			19,473			9,930			—			37,487
Net income	67,800			164,608			29,957			(194,565		)	67,800
Other comprehensive income (loss)	27,703			27,703			11,370			(39,073		)	27,703
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	95,503		$	192,311		$	41,327		$	(233,638	)	$	95,503
Schedule of condensed consolidating statement of cash flows	'
	Following is the condensed consolidating statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 (in thousands):
		Clean			U.S. Guarantor			Foreign			Total
		Harbors, Inc.			Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor
								Subsidiaries
	Net cash from operating activities	$	(38,228	)	$	176,844		$	141,498		$	280,114
	Cash flows from investing activities:
	Additions to property, plant and equipment	—			(101,813		)	(105,828		)	(207,641		)
	Proceeds from sales of fixed assets	—			819			2,881			3,700
	Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	—			(59,458		)	—			(59,458		)
	Costs to obtain or renew permits	—			(221		)	(4,136		)	(4,357		)
	Other	—			—			(11		)	(11		)
	Net cash from investing activities	—			(160,673		)	(107,094		)	(267,767		)
	Cash flows from financing activities:
	Change in uncashed checks	—			9,427			327			9,754
	Proceeds from exercise of stock options	399			—			—			399
	Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan	5,327			—			—			5,327
	Remittance of shares, net	(599		)	—			—			(599		)
	Excess tax benefit of stock-based compensation	1,589			—			—			1,589
	Deferred financing costs paid	(2,446		)	—			—			(2,446		)
	Payments on capital leases	—			(178		)	(3,918		)	(4,096		)
	Issuance costs related to 2012 issuance of common stock	(250		)							(250		)
	Dividends (paid) / received	—			(10,284		)	10,284			—
	Interest (payments) / received	—			32,107			(32,107		)	—
	Net cash from financing activities	4,020			31,072			(25,414		)	9,678
	Effect of exchange rate change on cash	—			—			(3,226		)	(3,226		)
	(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(34,208		)	47,243			5,764			18,799
	Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	35,214			140,683			53,939			229,836
	Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	1,006		$	187,926		$	59,703		$	248,635
	Following is the condensed consolidating statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 (in thousands):
		Clean			U.S. Guarantor			Foreign			Total
		Harbors, Inc.			Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor
								Subsidiaries
	Net cash from operating activities	$	(49,918	)	$	98,497		$	184,113		$	232,692
	Cash flows from investing activities:
	Additions to property, plant and equipment	—			(75,664		)	(54,662		)	(130,326		)
	Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	—			3,411			779			4,190
	Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	—			(51,424		)	(41,051		)	(92,475		)
	Costs to obtain or renew permits	—			(625		)	(1,784		)	(2,409		)
	Purchase of available for sale securities	—			—			(10,517		)	(10,517		)
	Other				603			4,517			5,120
	Net cash from investing activities	—			(123,699		)	(102,718		)	(226,417		)
	Cash flows from financing activities:
	Change in uncashed checks	—			(7,771		)	(6,184		)	(13,955		)
	Proceeds from exercise of stock options	231			—			—			231
	Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan	4,627			—			—			4,627
	Remittance of shares, net	(1,604		)	—			—			(1,604		)
	Excess tax benefit of stock-based compensation	1,786			—			—			1,786
	Deferred financing costs paid	(9,638		)	—			—			(9,638		)
	Payments of capital leases	—			(781		)	(4,522		)	(5,303		)
	Distribution of cash earned on employee participation plan	(55		)	—			—			(55		)
	Principal payment on debt	$	(520,000	)	$	—		$	—		(520,000		)
	Issuance of senior unsecured notes	800,000			—			—			800,000
	Dividends (paid) / received	10,010			(23,669		)	13,659			—
	Interest (payments) / received	—			43,954			(43,954		)	—
	Net cash from financing activities	285,357			11,733			(41,001		)	256,089
	Effect of exchange rate change on cash	—			—			527			527
	Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	235,439			(13,469		)	40,921			262,891
	Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	91,581			128,071			41,071			260,723
	Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	327,020		$	114,602		$	81,992		$	523,614

BASIS_OF_PRESENTATION_Details

BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
	segment
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Number of reportable segments	5

SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNTING_POLICIE2

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Safety-Kleen Acquisition (Details) (Safety-Kleen [Member])	Dec. 28, 2012
Safety-Kleen [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Outstanding common shares acquired (as a percent)	100.00%

SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNTING_POLICIE3

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue (Details) (S K Environmental Services [Member])	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Parts cleaning services [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'
Service period	'49 days
Parts cleaning services [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'
Service period	'98 days
Containerized waste services [Member]	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'
Revenue deferral period	'two and one-half weeks

BUSINESS_COMBINATIONS_Evergree

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS (Evergreen Oil, Inc) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 13, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 13, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 13, 2013
			Evergreen Oil, Inc. [Member]	Oil Re-Refining and Recycling [Member]	Oil Re-Refining and Recycling [Member]	Oil Re-Refining and Recycling [Member]	S K Environmental Services [Member]	S K Environmental Services [Member]	S K Environmental Services [Member]
			operation			Evergreen Oil, Inc. [Member]			Evergreen Oil, Inc. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Outstanding common shares acquired (as a percent)	'	'	100.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'
Purchase price	'	'	$57,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
All-cash portion of purchase price	'	'	60,500,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net working capital adjustment included in purchase price	'	'	3,500,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Threshold for working capital adjustment	'	'	1,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Goodwill	$590,152,000	$593,771,000	'	$215,816,000	$215,704,000	$2,800,000	$146,956,000	$148,422,000	$400,000
Number of oil re-refining operations owned by the acquiree	'	'	1	'	'	'	'	'	'

BUSINESS_COMBINATIONS_SafetyKl

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS (Safety-Kleen) (Details) (Safety-Kleen [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 28, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'		'	'	'
Outstanding common shares acquired (as a percent)	'	'	'		'	'	100.00%
Combined purchase price	'	'	'		'	'	$1,300,000,000
Net working capital adjustment included in purchase price	'	'	'		'	'	13,300,000
Threshold for working capital adjustment	'	'	'		'	'	50,000,000
Acquisition-related costs	900,000	'	2,200,000		'	'	'
Existing cash used to finance the acquisition	'	'	'		'	300,000,000	1,250,000,000
Net proceeds from a public offering of shares used to finance the acquisition	'	'	'		'	369,300,000	'
Number of shares sold in the public offering	'	'	'		'	6.9	'
Net proceeds from a private debt offering used to finance the acquisition	'	'	'		'	589,000,000	'
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]	'	'	'		'	'	'
Inventories and supplies	'	'	'		'	'	107,376,000
Other current assets	'	'	'		'	'	152,564,000	[1]
Property, plant and equipment	'	'	'		'	'	515,491,000
Permits and other intangibles	'	'	'		'	'	425,977,000
Other assets	'	'	'		'	'	3,874,000
Current liabilities	'	'	'		'	'	-197,733,000
Remedial liabilities, less current portion	'	'	'		'	'	-48,947,000
Closure and post-closure liabilities, less current portion	'	'	'		'	'	-7,553,000
Deferred taxes, unrecognized tax benefits and other long-term liabilities	'	'	'		'	'	-121,197,000
Total identifiable net assets	'	'	'		'	'	829,852,000
Goodwill	'	'	'		'	'	433,432,000	[2]
Total	'	'	'		'	'	1,263,284,000
Inventories and supplies, Measurement Period Adjustment	'	'	5,037,000		'	'	'
Other current assets, Measurement Period Adjustment	'	'	319,000	[1]	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, Measurement Period Adjustment	'	'	779,000		'	'	'
Permits and other intangibles, Measurement Period Adjustment	'	'	4,577,000		'	'	'
Other assets, Measurement Period Adjustment	'	'	-1,111,000		'	'	'
Current liabilities, Measurement Period Adjustment	'	'	-5,081,000		'	'	'
Closure and post-closure liabilities, less current portion, Measurement Period Adjustments	'	'	8,221,000		'	'	'
Remedial liabilities, less current portion, Measurement Period Adjustments	'	'	-10,577,000		'	'	'
Deferred taxes, unrecognized tax benefits and other long-term liabilities, Measurement Period Adjustments	'	'	7,178,000		'	'	'
Total identiiable net assets, Measurement Period Adjustments	'	'	9,342,000		'	'	'
Goodwill, Measurement Period Adjustments	'	'	-3,317,000	[2]	'	'	'
Total, Measurement Period Adjustments	'	'	6,025,000		'	'	'
Preliminary fair value of customer receivables	'	'	'		'	'	133,700,000
Gross amounts of customer receivables	'	'	'		'	'	143,700,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]	'	'	'		'	'	'
Pro forma combined revenues	'	851,376,000	'		2,691,025,000	'	'
Pro forma combined net income	'	13,480,000	'		90,546,000	'	'
Unsecured Senior Notes 2021 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]	'	'	'		'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'		'	'	'
Face amount of long-term debt issued in private offering	'	'	'		'	600,000,000	'
Stated interest rate	'	'	'		'	5.13%	'
Oil Re-Refining and Recycling [Member]	'	'	'		'	'	'
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]	'	'	'		'	'	'
Goodwill	'	'	'		'	'	214,100,000
S K Environmental Services [Member]	'	'	'		'	'	'
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]	'	'	'		'	'	'
Goodwill	'	'	'		'	'	147,300,000
Industrial and Field Services [Member]	'	'	'		'	'	'
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]	'	'	'		'	'	'
Goodwill	'	'	'		'	'	69,900,000
Technical Services [Member]	'	'	'		'	'	'
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]	'	'	'		'	'	'
Goodwill	'	'	'		'	'	2,100,000
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	'	'	'		'	'	'
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]	'	'	'		'	'	'
Inventories and supplies	'	'	'		'	'	102,339,000
Other current assets	'	'	'		'	'	152,245,000	[1]
Property, plant and equipment	'	'	'		'	'	514,712,000
Permits and other intangibles	'	'	'		'	'	421,400,000
Other assets	'	'	'		'	'	4,985,000
Current liabilities	'	'	'		'	'	-192,652,000
Remedial liabilities, less current portion	'	'	'		'	'	-38,370,000
Closure and post-closure liabilities, less current portion	'	'	'		'	'	-15,774,000
Deferred taxes, unrecognized tax benefits and other long-term liabilities	'	'	'		'	'	-128,375,000
Total identifiable net assets	'	'	'		'	'	820,510,000
Goodwill	'	'	'		'	'	436,749,000	[2]
Total	'	'	'		'	'	$1,257,259,000
[1]	The fair value of the assets acquired includes customer receivables with a preliminary aggregate fair value of $133.7 million. Combined gross amounts due were $143.7 million.
[2]	Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired over the purchase price. Goodwill of $214.1 million, $147.3 million, $69.9 million, and $2.1 million has been recorded on a preliminary basis in the Oil Re-refining and Recycling, SK Environmental Services, Industrial and Field Services and Technical Services segments, respectively. None of the goodwill related to this acquisition will be deductible for tax purposes.

BUSINESS_COMBINATIONS_Other_20

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS (Other 2012 Acquisitions) (Details) (Other 2012 Acquisitions [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'		'	'
Combined purchase price	'	'		'	$108,900,000
Assumption of long-term debt	'	'		'	7,700,000
Post-closing adjustment to purchase price	'	'		'	-2,100,000
Purchase Price Allocation	'	'		'	'
Current assets	'	'		'	20,387,000	[1]
Property, plant and equipment	'	'		'	51,893,000
Customer relationships and other intangibles	'	'		'	21,769,000
Other assets	'	'		'	57,000
Current liabilities	'	'		'	-5,299,000
Deferred taxes, unrecognized tax benefits and other long-term liabilities	'	'		'	-5,212,000
Total identifiable net assets	'	'		'	83,595,000
Goodwill	'	'		'	25,264,000	[2]
Total	'	'		'	108,859,000
Other current assets, Measurement Period Adjustment	'	117,000	[1]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, Measurement Period Adjustment	'	-8,000		'	'
Permits and other intangibles, Measurement Period Adjustment	'	-1,000		'	'
Other assets, Measurement Period Adjustment	'	4,000		'	'
Current liabilities, Measurement Period Adjustment	'	-22,000		'	'
Other liabilities, Measurement Period Adjustments	'	-79,000		'	'
Total identiiable net assets, Measurement Period Adjustments	'	11,000		'	'
Goodwill, Measurement Period Adjustments	'	1,308,000	[2]	'	'
Total, Measurement Period Adjustments	'	1,319,000		'	'
Preliminary fair value of customer receivables	'	'		'	13,200,000
Gross amounts of customer receivables	'	'		'	13,500,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]	'	'		'	'
Pro forma combined revenues	545,393,000	'		1,698,246,000	'
Pro forma combined net income	11,982,000	'		72,351,000	'
Acquisition-related costs	'	200,000		'	'
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	'	'		'	'
Purchase Price Allocation	'	'		'	'
Current assets	'	'		'	20,270,000	[1]
Property, plant and equipment	'	'		'	51,901,000
Customer relationships and other intangibles	'	'		'	21,770,000
Other assets	'	'		'	53,000
Current liabilities	'	'		'	-5,277,000
Deferred taxes, unrecognized tax benefits and other long-term liabilities	'	'		'	-5,133,000
Total identifiable net assets	'	'		'	83,584,000
Goodwill	'	'		'	23,956,000	[2]
Total	'	'		'	$107,540,000
[1]	The fair value of the financial assets acquired included customer receivables with an aggregate fair value of $13.2 million. Combined gross amounts due were $13.5 million.
[2]	Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired over the purchase price attributed to expected operating and cross selling synergies. The goodwill has been assigned to the Industrial and Field Services segment and will not be deductible for tax purposes.

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Detail

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis	'		'	'		'	'
Auction rate securities	$4,352,000		'	$4,352,000		'	$4,354,000
Marketable securities	11,787,000		'	11,787,000		'	11,778,000
Temporary decline in fair value of securities	-300,000		'	-300,000		'	'
Changes in the entity's auction rate securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)	'		'	'		'	'
Unrealized gain (loss) included in other comprehensive income - less than $0.1m for six months ended 2013	'		'	-100,000		100,000	'
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Total	'		'	'		'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis	'		'	'		'	'
Auction rate securities	4,352,000	[1]	'	4,352,000	[1]	'	4,354,000	[1]
Derivative Assets	60,000	[2]	'	60,000	[2]	'	165,000	[2]
Marketable securities	11,787,000	[3]	'	11,787,000	[3]	'	11,778,000	[3]
Derivative Liabilities	239,000	[2]	'	239,000	[2]	'	1,242,000	[2]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'		'	'		'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis	'		'	'		'	'
Auction rate securities	'	[1]	'	'	[1]	'	'	[1]
Derivative Assets	'	[2]	'	'	[2]	'	0	[2]
Marketable securities	11,787,000	[3]	'	11,787,000	[3]	'	11,778,000	[3]
Derivative Liabilities	0	[2]	'	0	[2]	'	0	[2]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'		'	'		'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis	'		'	'		'	'
Auction rate securities	'	[1]	'	'	[1]	'	'	[1]
Derivative Assets	60,000	[2]	'	60,000	[2]	'	165,000	[2]
Marketable securities	'	[3]	'	'	[3]	'	'	[3]
Derivative Liabilities	239,000	[2]	'	239,000	[2]	'	1,242,000	[2]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'		'	'		'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis	'		'	'		'	'
Auction rate securities	4,352,000	[1]	'	4,352,000	[1]	'	4,354,000	[1]
Derivative Assets	0	[2]	'	0	[2]	'	0	[2]
Marketable securities	'	[3]	'	'	[3]	'	'	[3]
Derivative Liabilities	0	[2]	'	0	[2]	'	0	[2]
Changes in the entity's auction rate securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)	'		'	'		'	'
Balance at the beginning of the period	4,352,000		4,326,000	4,354,000		4,245,000	'
Unrealized gain (loss) included in other comprehensive income - less than $0.1m for six months ended 2013	0		0	-2,000		81,000	'
Balance at the end of the period	4,352,000		4,326,000	4,352,000		4,326,000	'
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes 2020 [Member]	'		'	'		'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis	'		'	'		'	'
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	780,900,000		'	780,900,000		'	816,000,000
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes 2021 [Member]	'		'	'		'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis	'		'	'		'	'
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	$573,100,000		'	$573,100,000		'	$623,500,000
[1]	The auction rate securities are classified as available-for-sale and the fair value of these securities was estimated utilizing a probability discounted cash flow analysis. As of September 30, 2013, all of the Company's auction rate securities continue to have AAA underlying ratings. The Company attributes the $0.3 million decline in the fair value of the securities from the original cost basis to external liquidity issues rather than credit issues. The Company assessed the decline in value to be temporary because it does not intend to sell and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell the securities before their maturity. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded an unrealized pre-tax loss of less than $0.1 million and a pre-tax gain of $0.1 million, respectively, on its auction rate securities.
[2]	The fair value of derivatives is recorded based on the present value of cash flows using a crude oil forward rate curve.
[3]	The fair value of marketable securities is recorded based on quoted market prices and changes in fair value were included in other comprehensive income.

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Deriva

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Derivative Financial Instruments) (Details) (Cashless Collar Contract [Member], USD $)

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 11, 2013

Aug. 13, 2013

Jul. 08, 2013

Jun. 10, 2013

6-May-13

Apr. 02, 2013

Mar. 07, 2013

Feb. 07, 2013

Jan. 08, 2013

Dec. 07, 2012

Nov. 09, 2012

Oct. 04, 2012

Sep. 11, 2012

Aug. 03, 2012

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

bbl

bbl

bbl

bbl

bbl

bbl

bbl

bbl

bbl

bbl

bbl

bbl

bbl

bbl

Derivative [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Barrels of oil per Month

'

148,810

148,810

148,810

148,810

148,810

148,810

148,810

148,810

148,810

148,810

148,810

148,810

148,810

148,810

Floor

'

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

Cap

'

124

122.6

120.75

120.65

122

130

125.75

134.7

129

124.7

130

127.5

137.5

130

Assets, Fair Value

$60

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liabilities, Fair Value

239

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Trade Date, February 7, 2012 [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assets, Fair Value

24

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Trade Date, April 2, 2013 [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assets, Fair Value

21

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Trade Date, September 11, 2013 [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assets, Fair Value

15

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Trade Date September 11, 2012 [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liabilities, Fair Value

3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Trade Date December 7, 2012 [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liabilities, Fair Value

33

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Trade Date, March 7, 2013 [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liabilities, Fair Value

10

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Trade Date, May 6, 2013 [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liabilities, Fair Value

37

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Trade Date, July 8, 2013 [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liabilities, Fair Value

39

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Trade Date August 3, 2012 [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liabilities, Fair Value

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Trade Date October 4, 2012 [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liabilities, Fair Value

14

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Trade Date November 9, 2012 [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liabilities, Fair Value

13

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Trade Date January 8, 2013 [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liabilities, Fair Value

10

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Trade Date, June 10, 2013 [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liabilities, Fair Value

66

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Trade Date, August 13, 2013 [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liabilities, Fair Value

$14

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

INVENTORIES_AND_SUPPLIES_Detai

INVENTORIES AND SUPPLIES (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Oil and oil products	$63,450	$77,735
Supplies and drums	61,888	63,540
Solvent and solutions	11,508	9,398
Other	18,455	20,768
Total inventories and supplies	$155,301	$171,441

PROPERTY_PLANT_AND_EQUIPMENT_D

PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$2,383,056	$2,144,682
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization	767,629	612,919
Total property, plant and equipment, net	1,615,427	1,531,763
Land	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	100,133	106,037
Asset retirement costs (non-landfill)	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	10,748	10,450
Landfill assets	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	93,104	77,952
Building and improvements	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	324,646	329,617
Camp equipment	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	135,377	135,827
Vehicles	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	419,581	385,172
Equipment	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	1,164,838	1,061,090
Furniture and fixtures	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	5,244	6,757
Construction in progress	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$129,385	$31,780

GOODWILL_AND_OTHER_INTANGIBLE_2

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Rollforward of Goodwill) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'
Balance at January 1, 2013	$593,771
Acquired from acquisitions	3,179
Decrease from adjustments during the measurement period related to acquisitions	-2,009
Foreign currency translation	-4,789
Balance at September 30, 2013	$590,152

GOODWILL_AND_OTHER_INTANGIBLE_3

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Amortizable Other Intangible Assets) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Finite-lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Cost	$563,009	$543,439
Accumulated Amortization	110,738	86,142
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	452,271	457,297
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)	'12 years 6 months	'13 years 7 months 6 days
Intangible Assets, Gross (Excluding Goodwill)	678,514	658,959
Total permits and other intangible assets, Net	567,776	572,817
Trademarks and trade names	'	'
Schedule of Finite-lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	115,505	115,520
Permits	'	'
Schedule of Finite-lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Cost	157,578	148,661
Accumulated Amortization	49,818	46,282
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	107,760	102,379
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)	'18 years 9 months 18 days	'21 years 9 months 18 days
Customer and supplier relationships	'	'
Schedule of Finite-lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Cost	377,334	372,751
Accumulated Amortization	46,372	27,739
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	330,962	345,012
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)	'12 years 6 months	'13 years 2 months 12 days
Other intangible assets	'	'
Schedule of Finite-lived and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Cost	28,097	22,027
Accumulated Amortization	14,548	12,121
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	$13,549	$9,906
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)	'3 years 6 months	'3 years 7 months 6 days

GOODWILL_AND_OTHER_INTANGIBLE_4

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Expected Future Amortization) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Amortization Expense, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]	'	'
2013 (three months)	$10,816	'
2014	42,308	'
2015	40,704	'
2016	39,210	'
2017	36,528	'
Thereafter	282,705	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	$452,271	$457,297

ACCRUED_EXPENSES_Details

ACCRUED EXPENSES (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accrued Expenses [ABSTRACT]	'	'
Insurance	$54,105	$48,243
Interest	17,900	20,061
Accrued disposal costs	1,498	1,835
Accrued compensation and benefits	71,030	70,250
Income, real estate, sales and other taxes	54,403	35,640
Other	57,877	56,400
Total accrued expenses	$256,813	$232,429

CLOSURE_AND_POSTCLOSURE_LIABIL2

CLOSURE AND POST-CLOSURE LIABILITIES (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Changes to post-closure liabilities	'
Balance at January 1, 2013	$54,248
Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	659
Adjustments during the measurement period related to acquisitions	-10,201
New asset retirement obligations	3,321
Accretion	3,536
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	-299
Changes in estimates recorded to balance sheet	299
Expenditures	-3,837
Currency translation and other	-232
Balance at September 30, 2013	47,494
Credit-adjusted risk-free rate (as a percent)	6.60%
Landfill Retirement Liability	'
Changes to post-closure liabilities	'
Balance at January 1, 2013	26,658
Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	0
Adjustments during the measurement period related to acquisitions	0
New asset retirement obligations	3,321
Accretion	2,255
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	-398
Changes in estimates recorded to balance sheet	299
Expenditures	-3,527
Currency translation and other	-152
Balance at September 30, 2013	28,456
Non-Landfill Retirement Liability	'
Changes to post-closure liabilities	'
Balance at January 1, 2013	27,590
Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	659
Adjustments during the measurement period related to acquisitions	-10,201
New asset retirement obligations	'
Accretion	1,281
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	99
Changes in estimates recorded to balance sheet	0
Expenditures	-310
Currency translation and other	-80
Balance at September 30, 2013	$19,038

REMEDIAL_LIABILITIES_Details

REMEDIAL LIABILITIES (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies [Roll Forward]	'
Balance at January 1, 2013	$167,220
Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	2,384
Adjustments during the measurement period related to acquisitions	12,581
Accretion	5,092
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	-2,118
Expenditures	-12,091
Currency translation and other	-977
Balance at September 30, 2013	172,091
Remedial Liabilities for Landfill Sites	'
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies [Roll Forward]	'
Balance at January 1, 2013	5,829
Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	0
Adjustments during the measurement period related to acquisitions	0
Accretion	210
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	-62
Expenditures	-67
Currency translation and other	-108
Balance at September 30, 2013	5,802
Remedial Liabilities for Inactive Sites	'
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies [Roll Forward]	'
Balance at January 1, 2013	71,079
Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	0
Adjustments during the measurement period related to acquisitions	8,855
Accretion	2,505
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	-2,341
Expenditures	-6,307
Currency translation and other	-54
Balance at September 30, 2013	73,737
Remedial Liabilities (Including Superfund) for Non-Landfill Operations	'
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies [Roll Forward]	'
Balance at January 1, 2013	90,312
Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	2,384
Adjustments during the measurement period related to acquisitions	3,726
Accretion	2,377
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	285
Expenditures	-5,717
Currency translation and other	-815
Balance at September 30, 2013	$92,552

FINANCING_ARRANGEMENTS_Details

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 17, 2013	Jan. 17, 2013
			Unsecured Debt [Member]	Unsecured Debt [Member]	Unsecured Debt [Member]	Unsecured Debt [Member]	Line of Credit [Member]	Letter of Credit [Member]
			Unsecured Senior Notes 2020 [Member]	Unsecured Senior Notes 2020 [Member]	Unsecured Senior Notes 2021 [Member]	Unsecured Senior Notes 2021 [Member]
Financing arrangements	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Senior unsecured notes	'	'	$800,000,000	$800,000,000	$600,000,000	$600,000,000	'	'
Revolving credit facility due January 17, 2018	0	0	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-term obligations	1,400,000,000	1,400,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	'	'	'	'	'	'	400,000,000	325,000,000
Line of credit facility available borrowing capacity	262,300,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Letters of credit amount outstanding	137,700,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Senior unsecured notes principal amount	'	'	$800,000,000	'	$600,000,000	'	'	'
Stated interest rate	'	'	5.25%	'	5.13%	'	'	'

INCOME_TAXES_Details

INCOME TAXES (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
The Company's effective tax rate (as a percent)	34.70%	33.80%	34.50%	35.60%	'
Unrecognized tax benefits	$3.90	'	$3.90	'	$3.50
Unrecognized tax benefits, interest	1.6	'	1.6	'	1.4
Foreign and State [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Unrecognized tax benefits, interest	1.3	'	1.3	'	'
Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits that, if realized, will impact the effective tax rate	$3.80	'	$3.80	'	'

EARNINGS_PER_SHARE_Details

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share:	'	'	'	'
Net income	$35,361	$12,359	$68,765	$67,800
Denominator:	'	'	'	'
Basic shares outstanding (in shares)	60,610	53,374	60,542	53,303
Dilutive effect of equity-based compensation awards (in shares)	150	191	150	216
Dilutive shares outstanding (in shares)	60,760	53,565	60,692	53,519
Basic earnings per share:	'	'	'	'
Basic earnings per share (in USD per share)	$0.58	$0.23	$1.14	$1.27
Diluted earnings per share:	'	'	'	'
Diluted earnings per share (in USD per share)	$0.58	$0.23	$1.13	$1.27

EARNINGS_PER_SHARE_Text_Detail

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Text) (Details) (Outstanding Stock Awards [Member])	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Outstanding Stock Awards [Member]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Shares excluded from computation of earning per share (in shares)	173	66	173	66

ACCUMULATED_OTHER_COMPREHENSIV2

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation, Gross	$20,731	$29,086	($37,921)	$27,393
Foreign currency translation, Tax Effect	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation, Net of Tax	20,731	29,086	-37,921	27,393
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, Gross	1,227	1,040	420	373
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, Tax Effect	-153	-146	-61	-63
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, Net of Tax	1,074	894	359	310
Other comprehensive (loss) income, Gross	21,958	30,126	-37,501	27,766
Other comprehensive (loss) income, Tax Effect	153	146	61	63
Other comprehensive income (loss)	21,805	29,980	-37,562	27,703
Components of Other Accumulated Income, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	'	'	49,632	'
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	21,805	29,980	-37,562	27,703
Ending balance	12,070	'	12,070	'
Foreign Currency Translation [Member]	'	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'	-37,921	'
Components of Other Accumulated Income, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	'	'	50,627	'
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	'	'	-37,921	'
Ending balance	12,706	'	12,706	'
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available-For-Sale Securities [Member]	'	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'	359	'
Components of Other Accumulated Income, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	'	'	660	'
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	'	'	359	'
Ending balance	1,019	'	1,019	'
Unfunded Pension Liability [Member]	'	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'	0	'
Components of Other Accumulated Income, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	'	'	-1,655	'
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	'	'	0	'
Ending balance	($1,655)	'	($1,655)	'

STOCKBASED_COMPENSATION_Detail

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Awards granted	'	'
Number of Shares	29,358	402,335
Restricted stock awards	'	'
Awards granted	'	'
Number of Shares	27,890	287,882
Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value (in USD per share)	57.88	55.21
Performance stock awards	'	'
Awards granted	'	'
Number of Shares	1,468	114,453
Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value (in USD per share)	55.29	54.27

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES_

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details)

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 1999

Dec. 31, 1968

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Oct. 31, 2010

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 26, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2002

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

USD ($)

USD ($)

Legal and Administrative Proceedings

Ville Mercier

Ville Mercier

Ville Mercier

Ville Mercier

Ville Mercier

Product Liability Cases [Member]

Fees Class Action Claims [Member]

Superfund Proceedings

Superfund Proceedings

Superfund Proceedings

Superfund Proceedings

Wichita Property [Member]

Marine Shale Site [Member]

Marine Shale Site [Member]

Certain Other Third Party Sites [Member]

Certain Other Third Party Sites [Member]

Federal and State Enforcement Actions [Member]

Federal and State Enforcement Actions [Member]

USD ($)

CAD

Municipalities

Permits

USD ($)

USD ($)

Safety-Kleen [Member]

Safety-Kleen [Member]

USD ($)

McKesson Corporation [Member]

The Company [Member]

Safety-Kleen [Member]

A

USD ($)

USD ($)

Sites

ChemWaste [Member]

USD ($)

Proceedings

Municipalities

claims

customer

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Sites

Proceedings

Lawsuits

Contingencies [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Reserves relating to legal and administrative proceedings

$41,800,000

$38,600,000

$35,100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$6,700,000

'

Possible increase in legal and administrative proceedings

3,400,000

3,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of permits issued by government, for dumping organic liquid

'

'

'

'

'

2

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of neighboring municipalities filing separate legal proceedings against the Mercier Subsidiary and the Government of Quebec

'

'

'

'

3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total number of municipalities filings separate legal proceedings

'

'

'

4

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Damages claimed by municipalities

'

'

'

1,600,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Suit against alleged past costs

'

'

'

17,400,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Accrued remedial liabilities

172,091,000

167,220,000

'

'

'

'

13,900,000

14,200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of lawsuits filed

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Third party sites arising out of acquisition of assets

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

35

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Third party sites requiring expenditure on remediation

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of pending personal injury claims allegedly resulting from the used of Safety-Kleen's products

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

62

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5

4

Number of product liability claims settled or dismissed

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

26

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of sites owned by third party excluded from cleanup or related liabilities

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

122

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of sites owned by the entity subject to proceedings under federal or state superfund laws

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Remaining reserves relating to listed third party sites

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,500,000

4,400,000

'

'

'

'

Indemnification agreement with third party sites

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5

'

'

'

'

'

16

11

'

'

Notices received from owners of third party sites seeking indemnification from the company

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

120

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of sites where potential liability could exceed the $100,000 threshold

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

12

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amount that a potential clean up liability could exceed

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$100,000

'

Number of sites owned by a third party where Company was notified it is a PRP or potential PRP

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

69

50

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of sites for which environmental remediation expense is settled

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

13

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of sites not currently requiring expenditures on remediation

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

16

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of sites owned by third party excluded from cleanup or related liabilities

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

State-designated superfund site acquired, total acres

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,400

'

'

'

'

'

'

SEGMENT_REPORTING_Details

SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
			segment
Segment reporting information	'	'	'	'	'
Number of reportable segments	'	'	5	'	'
Number of operations for which the revenues are insignificant	'	'	2	'	'
Third party revenues	$907,535	$533,806	$2,630,226	$1,628,946	'
Intersegment revenues, net	'	'	'	'	'
Corporate Items, net	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	907,535	533,806	2,630,226	1,628,946	'
Adjusted EBITDA, Total	145,952	100,527	380,770	290,176	'
Reconciliation to Consolidated Statements of Income:	'	'	'	'	'
Pre-tax, non-cash acquisition accounting adjustments	0	0	13,559	0	'
Accretion of environmental liabilities	2,914	2,488	8,628	7,409	'
Depreciation and amortization	69,430	41,300	196,904	116,794	'
Income from operations	73,608	56,739	161,679	165,973	'
Other (income) expense	150	91	-2,030	465	'
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	26,385	0	26,385	'
Interest expense, net of interest income	19,326	11,596	58,784	33,836	'
Income before provision for income taxes	54,132	18,667	104,925	105,287	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,615,427	'	1,615,427	'	1,531,763
Goodwill	590,152	'	590,152	'	593,771
Permits and other intangibles, net	567,776	'	567,776	'	572,817
Total assets	3,956,852	'	3,956,852	'	3,825,806
United States	'	'	'	'	'
Reconciliation to Consolidated Statements of Income:	'	'	'	'	'
Total assets	2,665,328	'	2,665,328	'	2,564,609
Canada	'	'	'	'	'
Reconciliation to Consolidated Statements of Income:	'	'	'	'	'
Total assets	1,287,090	'	1,287,090	'	1,260,421
Other foreign	'	'	'	'	'
Reconciliation to Consolidated Statements of Income:	'	'	'	'	'
Total assets	4,434	'	4,434	'	776
Reportable Segment [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Reconciliation to Consolidated Statements of Income:	'	'	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,615,427	'	1,615,427	'	1,531,763
Total Intangible assets	1,157,928	'	1,157,928	'	1,166,588
Total assets	3,956,852	'	3,956,852	'	3,825,806
Technical Services [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment reporting information	'	'	'	'	'
Third party revenues	269,465	247,355	759,666	712,313	'
Intersegment revenues, net	35,406	6,951	85,614	24,235	'
Corporate Items, net	964	665	3,155	1,805	'
Total revenues	305,835	254,971	848,435	738,353	'
Adjusted EBITDA, Total	78,849	68,241	208,284	188,673	'
Reconciliation to Consolidated Statements of Income:	'	'	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	398,778	'	398,778	'	402,260
Goodwill	47,917	'	47,917	'	48,157
Permits and other intangibles, net	81,689	'	81,689	'	85,842
Total Intangible assets	129,606	'	129,606	'	133,999
Total assets	699,713	'	699,713	'	714,777
Oil Re-Refining and Recycling [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment reporting information	'	'	'	'	'
Third party revenues	151,565	0	438,191	0	'
Intersegment revenues, net	-64,918	0	-186,053	0	'
Corporate Items, net	0	0	0	0	'
Total revenues	86,647	0	252,138	0	'
Adjusted EBITDA, Total	18,892	0	46,861	0	'
Reconciliation to Consolidated Statements of Income:	'	'	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	262,745	'	262,745	'	224,289
Goodwill	215,816	'	215,816	'	215,704
Permits and other intangibles, net	233,259	'	233,259	'	222,182
Total Intangible assets	449,075	'	449,075	'	437,886
Total assets	833,336	'	833,336	'	797,650
S K Environmental Services [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment reporting information	'	'	'	'	'
Third party revenues	150,535	0	453,325	0	'
Intersegment revenues, net	36,516	0	126,441	0	'
Corporate Items, net	0	0	84	0	'
Total revenues	187,051	0	579,850	0	'
Adjusted EBITDA, Total	22,951	0	84,162	0	'
Reconciliation to Consolidated Statements of Income:	'	'	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	193,760	'	193,760	'	195,172
Goodwill	146,956	'	146,956	'	148,422
Permits and other intangibles, net	186,043	'	186,043	'	190,472
Total Intangible assets	332,999	'	332,999	'	338,894
Total assets	642,557	'	642,557	'	647,746
Industrial and Field Services [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment reporting information	'	'	'	'	'
Third party revenues	227,754	203,371	693,667	608,768	'
Intersegment revenues, net	-7,322	-8,877	-32,316	-31,246	'
Corporate Items, net	73	100	184	48	'
Total revenues	220,505	194,594	661,535	577,570	'
Adjusted EBITDA, Total	48,096	43,278	138,638	117,914	'
Reconciliation to Consolidated Statements of Income:	'	'	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	410,776	'	410,776	'	371,335
Goodwill	140,927	'	140,927	'	141,726
Permits and other intangibles, net	36,854	'	36,854	'	41,143
Total Intangible assets	177,781	'	177,781	'	182,869
Total assets	645,183	'	645,183	'	607,654
Oil and Gas Field Services [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment reporting information	'	'	'	'	'
Third party revenues	107,627	82,812	294,183	306,566	'
Intersegment revenues, net	318	1,926	6,314	7,011	'
Corporate Items, net	-114	-98	-314	-391	'
Total revenues	107,831	84,640	300,183	313,186	'
Adjusted EBITDA, Total	20,854	14,132	52,372	62,299	'
Reconciliation to Consolidated Statements of Income:	'	'	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	240,863	'	240,863	'	257,985
Goodwill	38,536	'	38,536	'	39,762
Permits and other intangibles, net	29,931	'	29,931	'	33,178
Total Intangible assets	68,467	'	68,467	'	72,940
Total assets	310,481	'	310,481	'	348,771
Corporate Items [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment reporting information	'	'	'	'	'
Third party revenues	589	268	-8,806	1,299	'
Intersegment revenues, net	0	0	0	0	'
Corporate Items, net	-923	-667	-3,109	-1,462	'
Total revenues	-334	-399	-11,915	-163	'
Adjusted EBITDA, Total	-43,690	-25,124	-149,547	-78,710	'
Reconciliation to Consolidated Statements of Income:	'	'	'	'	'
Pre-tax, non-cash acquisition accounting adjustments	'	'	10,200	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	108,505	'	108,505	'	80,722
Total assets	$825,582	'	$825,582	'	$709,208

GUARANTOR_AND_NONGUARANTOR_SUB2

GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
ASSETS	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$248,635	$229,836	$523,614	$260,723
Intercompany receivables	0	0	'	'
Other current assets	893,139	856,957	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,615,427	1,531,763	'	'
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0	'	'
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0	'	'
Other long-term assets	1,199,651	1,207,250	'	'
Total assets	3,956,852	3,825,806	'	'
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	'	'	'	'
Current liabilities	669,532	569,052	'	'
Intercompany payables	0	0	'	'
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	191,848	197,347	'	'
Long-term obligations	1,400,000	1,400,000	'	'
Capital lease obligations, net	1,669	2,879	'	'
Intercompany debt payable	0	0	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	217,683	224,456	'	'
Total liabilities	2,480,732	2,393,734	'	'
Stockholders' equity	1,476,120	1,432,072	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,956,852	3,825,806	'	'
Clean Harbors, Inc.	'	'	'	'
ASSETS	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	1,006	35,214	327,020	91,581
Intercompany receivables	336,356	296,023	'	'
Other current assets	12,144	38,295	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0	'	'
Investments in subsidiaries	2,601,246	2,528,699	'	'
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0	'	'
Other long-term assets	20,842	21,141	'	'
Total assets	2,971,594	2,919,372	'	'
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	'	'	'	'
Current liabilities	40,600	32,586	'	'
Intercompany payables	0	0	'	'
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0	'	'
Long-term obligations	1,400,000	1,400,000	'	'
Capital lease obligations, net	0	0	'	'
Intercompany debt payable	3,701	3,701	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	51,173	51,013	'	'
Total liabilities	1,495,474	1,487,300	'	'
Stockholders' equity	1,476,120	1,432,072	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	2,971,594	2,919,372	'	'
U.S. Guarantor Subsidiaries	'	'	'	'
ASSETS	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	187,926	140,683	114,602	128,071
Intercompany receivables	2,369	17,704	'	'
Other current assets	589,065	526,354	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	942,331	886,032	'	'
Investments in subsidiaries	929,111	850,011	'	'
Intercompany debt receivable	508,524	508,067	'	'
Other long-term assets	900,617	896,991	'	'
Total assets	4,059,943	3,825,842	'	'
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	'	'	'	'
Current liabilities	472,178	402,990	'	'
Intercompany payables	510,906	412,594	'	'
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	158,366	161,175	'	'
Long-term obligations	0	0	'	'
Capital lease obligations, net	231	301	'	'
Intercompany debt payable	0	0	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	124,441	134,393	'	'
Total liabilities	1,266,122	1,111,453	'	'
Stockholders' equity	2,793,821	2,714,389	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	4,059,943	3,825,842	'	'
Foreign Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries	'	'	'	'
ASSETS	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	59,703	53,939	81,992	41,071
Intercompany receivables	174,609	116,571	'	'
Other current assets	291,930	292,308	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	673,096	645,731	'	'
Investments in subsidiaries	144,953	144,953	'	'
Intercompany debt receivable	3,701	3,701	'	'
Other long-term assets	278,192	289,118	'	'
Total assets	1,626,184	1,546,321	'	'
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	'	'	'	'
Current liabilities	156,754	133,476	'	'
Intercompany payables	2,428	17,704	'	'
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	33,482	36,172	'	'
Long-term obligations	0	0	'	'
Capital lease obligations, net	1,438	2,578	'	'
Intercompany debt payable	508,524	508,067	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	42,069	39,050	'	'
Total liabilities	744,695	737,047	'	'
Stockholders' equity	881,489	809,274	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	1,626,184	1,546,321	'	'
Consolidating Adjustments	'	'	'	'
ASSETS	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	'	'
Intercompany receivables	-513,334	-430,298	'	'
Other current assets	0	0	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0	'	'
Investments in subsidiaries	-3,675,310	-3,523,663	'	'
Intercompany debt receivable	-512,225	-511,768	'	'
Other long-term assets	0	0	'	'
Total assets	-4,700,869	-4,465,729	'	'
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	'	'	'	'
Current liabilities	0	0	'	'
Intercompany payables	-513,334	-430,298	'	'
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0	'	'
Long-term obligations	0	0	'	'
Capital lease obligations, net	0	0	'	'
Intercompany debt payable	-512,225	-511,768	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	0	0	'	'
Total liabilities	-1,025,559	-942,066	'	'
Stockholders' equity	-3,675,310	-3,523,663	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	($4,700,869)	($4,465,729)	'	'

GUARANTOR_AND_NONGUARANTOR_SUB3

GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Loss)) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Consolidating statement of income	'	'	'	'
Service revenues	$702,033	$503,728	$2,048,527	$1,523,767
Product revenues	205,502	30,078	581,699	105,179
Total revenues	907,535	533,806	2,630,226	1,628,946
Service cost of revenues	478,434	348,758	1,402,409	1,056,174
Product cost of revenues	168,685	24,182	495,060	84,704
Total cost of revenues	647,119	372,940	1,897,469	1,140,878
Selling, general and administrative expenses	114,464	60,339	365,546	197,892
Accretion of environmental liabilities	2,914	2,488	8,628	7,409
Depreciation and amortization	69,430	41,300	196,904	116,794
Income from operations	73,608	56,739	161,679	165,973
Other (expense) income	-150	-91	2,030	-465
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	-26,385	0	-26,385
Interest (expense) income	-19,326	-11,596	-58,784	-33,836
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Intercompany dividend income (expense)	0	0	0	0
Intercompany interest income (expense)	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	54,132	18,667	104,925	105,287
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	18,771	6,308	36,160	37,487
Net income	35,361	12,359	68,765	67,800
Other comprehensive (loss) income	21,805	29,980	-37,562	27,703
Comprehensive (loss) income	57,166	42,339	31,203	95,503
Clean Harbors, Inc.	'	'	'	'
Consolidating statement of income	'	'	'	'
Service revenues	0	0	0	0
Product revenues	0	0	0	0
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Service cost of revenues	0	0	0	0
Product cost of revenues	0	0	0	0
Total cost of revenues	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	29	9	84	27
Accretion of environmental liabilities	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Income from operations	-29	-9	-84	-27
Other (expense) income	0	0	0	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	'	-26,385	'	-26,385
Interest (expense) income	-19,844	-11,247	-59,408	-32,679
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	58,919	50,039	134,246	124,965
Intercompany dividend income (expense)	0	0	0	10,010
Intercompany interest income (expense)	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	39,046	12,398	74,754	75,884
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	3,685	39	5,989	8,084
Net income	35,361	12,359	68,765	67,800
Other comprehensive (loss) income	21,805	29,980	-37,562	27,703
Comprehensive (loss) income	57,166	42,339	31,203	95,503
U.S. Guarantor Subsidiaries	'	'	'	'
Consolidating statement of income	'	'	'	'
Service revenues	445,165	290,295	1,295,525	850,737
Product revenues	169,743	24,527	463,301	69,364
Total revenues	614,908	314,822	1,758,826	920,101
Service cost of revenues	300,859	198,793	873,945	575,006
Product cost of revenues	139,683	19,904	395,891	55,646
Total cost of revenues	440,542	218,697	1,269,836	630,652
Selling, general and administrative expenses	81,496	35,810	266,941	122,167
Accretion of environmental liabilities	2,478	2,150	7,315	6,430
Depreciation and amortization	45,533	20,778	127,042	56,568
Income from operations	44,859	37,387	87,692	104,284
Other (expense) income	-111	-8	2,858	-333
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	'	0	'	0
Interest (expense) income	137	180	137	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	21,064	15,869	57,040	49,236
Intercompany dividend income (expense)	0	0	0	0
Intercompany interest income (expense)	10,107	10,290	30,414	30,894
Income before provision for income taxes	76,056	63,718	178,141	184,081
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	8,218	3,831	14,753	19,473
Net income	67,838	59,887	163,388	164,608
Other comprehensive (loss) income	21,805	29,980	-37,562	27,703
Comprehensive (loss) income	89,643	89,867	125,826	192,311
Foreign Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries	'	'	'	'
Consolidating statement of income	'	'	'	'
Service revenues	256,812	218,304	755,856	687,924
Product revenues	35,815	5,678	119,267	36,608
Total revenues	292,627	223,982	875,123	724,532
Service cost of revenues	177,519	154,836	531,318	496,062
Product cost of revenues	29,058	4,405	100,038	29,851
Total cost of revenues	206,577	159,241	631,356	525,913
Selling, general and administrative expenses	32,939	24,520	98,521	75,698
Accretion of environmental liabilities	436	338	1,313	979
Depreciation and amortization	23,897	20,522	69,862	60,226
Income from operations	28,778	19,361	74,071	61,716
Other (expense) income	-39	-83	-828	-132
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	'	0	'	0
Interest (expense) income	381	-529	487	-1,157
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Intercompany dividend income (expense)	3,063	3,439	10,031	10,354
Intercompany interest income (expense)	-10,107	-10,290	-30,414	-30,894
Income before provision for income taxes	22,076	11,898	53,347	39,887
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	6,868	2,438	15,418	9,930
Net income	15,208	9,460	37,929	29,957
Other comprehensive (loss) income	-10,072	13,042	20,385	11,370
Comprehensive (loss) income	5,136	22,502	58,314	41,327
Consolidating Adjustments	'	'	'	'
Consolidating statement of income	'	'	'	'
Service revenues	56	-4,871	-2,854	-14,894
Product revenues	-56	-127	-869	-793
Total revenues	0	-4,998	-3,723	-15,687
Service cost of revenues	56	-4,871	-2,854	-14,894
Product cost of revenues	-56	-127	-869	-793
Total cost of revenues	0	-4,998	-3,723	-15,687
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Accretion of environmental liabilities	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Income from operations	0	0	0	0
Other (expense) income	0	0	0	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	'	0	'	0
Interest (expense) income	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	-79,983	-65,908	-191,286	-174,201
Intercompany dividend income (expense)	-3,063	-3,439	-10,031	-20,364
Intercompany interest income (expense)	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	-83,046	-69,347	-201,317	-194,565
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	-83,046	-69,347	-201,317	-194,565
Other comprehensive (loss) income	-11,733	-43,022	17,177	-39,073
Comprehensive (loss) income	($94,779)	($112,369)	($184,140)	($233,638)

GUARANTOR_AND_NONGUARANTOR_SUB4

GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed consolidating statement of cash flows	'	'
Net cash from operating activities	$280,114	$232,692
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Additions to property, plant and equipment	-207,641	-130,326
Proceeds from sales of fixed assets	3,700	4,190
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	-59,458	-92,475
Costs to obtain or renew permits	-4,357	-2,409
Purchase of marketable securities	0	-10,517
Other	-11	5,120
Net cash used in investing activities	-267,767	-226,417
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Change in uncashed checks	9,754	-13,955
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	399	231
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan	5,327	4,627
Remittance of shares, net	-599	-1,604
Excess tax benefit of stock-based compensation	1,589	1,786
Deferred financing costs paid	-2,446	-9,638
Payments on capital leases	-4,096	-5,303
Issuance costs related to 2012 issuance of common stock	-250	0
Distribution of cash earned on employee participation plan	0	-55
Principal payment on debt	0	-520,000
Issuance of senior unsecured notes	0	800,000
Dividends (paid) / received	0	0
Interest (payments) / received	0	0
Net cash from financing activities	9,678	256,089
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	-3,226	527
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	18,799	262,891
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	229,836	260,723
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	248,635	523,614
Clean Harbors, Inc.	'	'
Condensed consolidating statement of cash flows	'	'
Net cash from operating activities	-38,228	-49,918
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Additions to property, plant and equipment	0	0
Proceeds from sales of fixed assets	0	0
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0
Costs to obtain or renew permits	0	0
Purchase of marketable securities	'	0
Other	0	'
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Change in uncashed checks	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	399	231
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan	5,327	4,627
Remittance of shares, net	-599	-1,604
Excess tax benefit of stock-based compensation	1,589	1,786
Deferred financing costs paid	-2,446	-9,638
Payments on capital leases	0	0
Issuance costs related to 2012 issuance of common stock	-250	'
Distribution of cash earned on employee participation plan	'	-55
Principal payment on debt	'	-520,000
Issuance of senior unsecured notes	'	800,000
Dividends (paid) / received	0	10,010
Interest (payments) / received	0	0
Net cash from financing activities	4,020	285,357
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	0	0
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	-34,208	235,439
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	35,214	91,581
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,006	327,020
U.S. Guarantor Subsidiaries	'	'
Condensed consolidating statement of cash flows	'	'
Net cash from operating activities	176,844	98,497
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Additions to property, plant and equipment	-101,813	-75,664
Proceeds from sales of fixed assets	819	3,411
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	-59,458	-51,424
Costs to obtain or renew permits	-221	-625
Purchase of marketable securities	'	0
Other	0	603
Net cash used in investing activities	-160,673	-123,699
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Change in uncashed checks	9,427	-7,771
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan	0	0
Remittance of shares, net	0	0
Excess tax benefit of stock-based compensation	0	0
Deferred financing costs paid	0	0
Payments on capital leases	-178	-781
Distribution of cash earned on employee participation plan	'	0
Principal payment on debt	'	0
Issuance of senior unsecured notes	'	0
Dividends (paid) / received	-10,284	-23,669
Interest (payments) / received	32,107	43,954
Net cash from financing activities	31,072	11,733
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	0	0
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	47,243	-13,469
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	140,683	128,071
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	187,926	114,602
Foreign Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries	'	'
Condensed consolidating statement of cash flows	'	'
Net cash from operating activities	141,498	184,113
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Additions to property, plant and equipment	-105,828	-54,662
Proceeds from sales of fixed assets	2,881	779
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	-41,051
Costs to obtain or renew permits	-4,136	-1,784
Purchase of marketable securities	'	-10,517
Other	-11	4,517
Net cash used in investing activities	-107,094	-102,718
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Change in uncashed checks	327	-6,184
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan	0	0
Remittance of shares, net	0	0
Excess tax benefit of stock-based compensation	0	0
Deferred financing costs paid	0	0
Payments on capital leases	-3,918	-4,522
Distribution of cash earned on employee participation plan	'	0
Principal payment on debt	'	0
Issuance of senior unsecured notes	'	0
Dividends (paid) / received	10,284	13,659
Interest (payments) / received	-32,107	-43,954
Net cash from financing activities	-25,414	-41,001
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	-3,226	527
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	5,764	40,921
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	53,939	41,071
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$59,703	$81,992