Stockholders' Equity (Summary of Warrant Activity) (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Warrant
Granted	574,017
Forfeited	(48,428)
Stock Purchase Warrants [Member]
Warrant
Outstanding at December 31, 2012	117,461
Forfeited	(18,383)
Exercised	(8,577)
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	90,501
Weighed Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2012	$ 29.69
Forfeited	$ 25.93
Exercised	$ 24.85
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	$ 30.92

The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that were forfeited during the reporting period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The weighted average exercise price at which equity-based instrument holders acquired shares when converting their equity-based instruments, other than options, into shares.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wcn_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentOtherThanOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	wcn_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The weighted average exercise price of equity instruments other than options that were forfeited.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wcn_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentOtherThanOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	wcn_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	wcn_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	wcn_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that were exercised during the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wcn_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsExercisesInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	wcn_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of equity-based instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wcn_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsOutstandingNumber
Namespace Prefix:	wcn_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The weighted average exercise price as of the balance sheet date at which grantees could acquire the underlying shares with respect to equity-based instruments, other than options, outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wcn_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	wcn_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	wcn_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePriceAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	wcn_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration