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Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Fair Values of Derivative Instruments Designated as Cash Flow Hedges) (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, asset derivatives $ 250us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset $ 2,199us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, liability derivatives (9,323)us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability (5,226)us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
Accrued Liabilities [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, liability derivatives   (3,373)us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
Other Long-term Liabilities [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, liability derivatives   (1,853)us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= wcn_OtherLongtermLiabilitiesMember
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Accrued Liabilities [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, liability derivatives (4,044)us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
(3,373)us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Other Long-term Liabilities [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, liability derivatives (3,300)us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= wcn_OtherLongtermLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
(1,853)us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= wcn_OtherLongtermLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Other Assets [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, asset derivatives 250us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
 
Fuel [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member] | Accrued Liabilities [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, liability derivatives (1,979)us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_EnergyAxis
= us-gaap_FuelMember
[1]  
Fuel [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member] | Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, asset derivatives   1,304us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_PrepaidExpensesAndOtherCurrentAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_EnergyAxis
= us-gaap_FuelMember
Fuel [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member] | Other Assets [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, asset derivatives   $ 895us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_EnergyAxis
= us-gaap_FuelMember
[1] Represents the estimated amount of the existing unrealized losses on the fuel hedge as of December 31, 2014 (based on the forward DOE diesel fuel index curve at that date), included in AOCL expected to be reclassified into pre-tax earnings within the next 12 months.  The actual amounts reclassified into earnings are dependent on future movements in diesel fuel prices.