Condensed Consolidated Statements of Net Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 546,551	$ 503,646	$ 1,552,953	$ 1,442,918
Operating expenses:
Cost of operations	297,849	274,141	847,860	794,588
Selling, general and administrative	57,991	53,536	170,163	159,690
Depreciation	58,998	55,863	171,920	162,277
Amortization of intangibles	6,702	6,211	20,158	18,861
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets and impairments	9,000	(1,725)	7,535	11,895
Operating income	116,011	115,620	335,317	295,607
Interest expense	(15,815)	(17,911)	(48,666)	(55,851)
Other income (expense), net	(389)	845	(252)	(119)
Income before income tax provision	99,807	98,554	286,399	239,637
Income tax provision	(39,523)	(37,641)	(113,992)	(93,049)
Net income	60,284	60,913	172,407	146,588
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(200)	(207)	(644)	(359)
Net income attributable to Waste Connections	$ 60,084	$ 60,706	$ 171,763	$ 146,229
Earnings per common share attributable to Waste Connections' common stockholders:
Basic	$ 0.48	$ 0.49	$ 1.38	$ 1.18
Diluted	$ 0.48	$ 0.49	$ 1.38	$ 1.18
Shares used in the per share calculations:
Basic	124,342,493	123,676,936	124,179,478	123,557,317
Diluted	124,769,981	124,279,666	124,778,292	124,089,422
Cash dividends per common share	$ 0.115	$ 0.10	$ 0.345	$ 0.30