Segment Information - Revenue and Asset Information by Geography and Service Line (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues by product and service lines
Total Revenues	$ 752,427	$ 746,529	$ 759,734	$ 749,286	$ 777,978	$ 782,697	$ 786,892	$ 770,126	$ 3,007,976	$ 3,117,693	$ 3,024,623
Long-Lived Assets	5,492,675				5,605,546				5,492,675	5,605,546	5,673,791
Records Management
Revenues by product and service lines
Total Revenues									2,255,206	2,329,546	2,244,494
Data Management
Revenues by product and service lines
Total Revenues									509,261	531,516	527,091
Information Destruction
Revenues by product and service lines
Total Revenues									243,509	256,631	253,038
United States
Revenues by product and service lines
Total Revenues									1,973,872	1,967,169	1,938,307
Long-Lived Assets	3,710,301				3,586,577				3,710,301	3,586,577	3,603,320
United Kingdom
Revenues by product and service lines
Total Revenues									250,123	280,020	275,343
Long-Lived Assets	434,461				464,311				434,461	464,311	520,255
Canada
Revenues by product and service lines
Total Revenues									215,232	231,979	240,716
Long-Lived Assets	345,783				406,571				345,783	406,571	410,415
Other International
Revenues by product and service lines
Total Revenues									568,749	638,525	570,257
Long-Lived Assets	$ 1,002,130				$ 1,148,087				$ 1,002,130	$ 1,148,087	$ 1,139,801