Acquisitions (Details Textual) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011 Agreement Landfill Market Facility Station Operation	Sep. 30, 2011 ton Segment Business Agreement Landfill Market Facility Station Operation	Sep. 30, 2010 Business	Sep. 30, 2011 Agreement Landfill Market Facility Station Operation
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Amount paid for purchased operations		$ 247,862	$ 247,862	$ 17,391	$ 247,862
Acquisitions (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of collection operations		6	6		6
Number of transfer stations		3	3		3
Number of recycling facilities		1	1		1
Operations across number of markets		6	6		6
Revenue from wholly owned subsidiary		63,693
Total pre-tax earnings from wholly owned subsidiary		5,917
Initial term of operating agreement	25 years
Initial payment for operating equipment and right to operate landfill	23,860
Total additional consideration, in current dollars	55,470
Additional consideration	11,500
Contingent consideration, current dollars	43,970
Assumption of closure liabilities from acquisitions, current dollars	21,287
Assumption of closure liabilities from acquisitions	1,429		1,429
Total additional consideration recognized at purchase date	32,928
Notes issued to sellers	10,656	10,656	10,656	0	10,656
Contingent consideration	22,272	22,272	22,272	0	22,272
Number of individual businesses acquired that are not specifically described			7	13
Total purchase price, expected range, minimum	115,000
Total purchase price, expected range, maximum	125,000
Fair value of acquired working capital is provisional					2
Goodwill expected to be deductible for tax purposes		16,739	16,739	4,382	16,739
Trade receivables acquired in business combination gross contractual amount		10,019	10,019	1,470	10,019
Trade receivables acquired In business combination expected to be uncollectible amount		607	607	284	607
Third-party acquisition-related costs			1,278	1,177
Hudson Valley Waste Holding [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Amount paid for purchased operations		$ 299,000	$ 299,000		$ 299,000
Hudson Valley Waste Holding Inc & County Waste and Recycling Service Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition of interest		100.00%	100.00%		100.00%
Russell Sweepers LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition of interest		50.00%	50.00%		50.00%
Business combination percentage of noncontrolling interest		50.00%	50.00%		50.00%