Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 segment agreement	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Discount rate for purposes of computing layers for final capping, closure and post-closure obligations	5.75%	5.75%
Inflation rate for purposes of computing layers for final capping, closure and post-closure obligations	2.50%	2.50%
Life of Company's owned landfills and landfills operated under life of site operating agreements min range	5 years
Life of Company's owned landfills and landfills operated under life of site operating agreements max range	191 years
Average remaining landfill life based on permitted capacity, projected annual disposal volumes and probable expansion capacity	40 years
Restricted asset balance for purposes of securing our performance of future final capping, closure and post-closure obligations	$ 38,107
Cell processing reserve, current	6,136	7,013
Cell processing reserve, noncurrent	2,409	2,416
Perpetual revenue growth rate	3.20%
Weighted average cost of capital	5.20%
Number of geographic operating segments	3
Number of operating segments	4
Goodwill write-down	0	0
Forecasts period used for discounted cash flow analyses	10 years
Indefinite-lived intangible asset write-down	0	0
Number of interest rate swap agreements	7
Number of fuel hedge agreements	1
Assumed forfeiture rate	0.00%
Contractual life of warrants	5 years
Equity-based compensation expense	18,446	15,397	17,289
Equity-based compensation expense, net of taxes	11,372	9,508	11,803
Advertising costs	3,479	3,704	3,737
Accrual for self insured liabilities	44,849	42,732
Self-insurance expense	51,702	48,032	47,834
Minimum [Member]
Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Expected term of related agreements	1 year
Maximum [Member]
Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Expected term of related agreements	56 years
Fuel [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member]
Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Ineffectiveness recognized on hedge	0	0	0
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested awards	28,709
Restriced stock unit awards, vesting final year	2018
Weighted average remaining vesting period	1 year 2 months 12 days
Performance Shares [Member]
Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested awards	$ 1,661
Restriced stock unit awards, vesting final year	2016
Weighted average remaining vesting period	2 years