XML 22 R55.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Acquisitions (Contingent Consideration of Obligations Related to Previous Acquisitions) (Detail) (R360 Environmental Solutions Inc [Member], USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2012
Oct. 25, 2012
Nov. 30, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Contingent consideration $ 37,293us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability $ 37,293us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability  
Prairie Disposal [Member]
     
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Contingent consideration 24,376us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= wcn_RThreeHundredSixtyEnvironmentalSolutionsIncMember
/ wcn_BusinessAcquisitionSecondaryAxis
= wcn_PrairieDisposalMember
   
Oilfield Holdings [Member]
     
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Contingent consideration 8,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= wcn_RThreeHundredSixtyEnvironmentalSolutionsIncMember
/ wcn_BusinessAcquisitionSecondaryAxis
= wcn_OilfieldHoldingsMember
  8,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= wcn_RThreeHundredSixtyEnvironmentalSolutionsIncMember
/ wcn_BusinessAcquisitionSecondaryAxis
= wcn_OilfieldHoldingsMember
Calpet [Member]
     
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Contingent consideration 4,176us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= wcn_RThreeHundredSixtyEnvironmentalSolutionsIncMember
/ wcn_BusinessAcquisitionSecondaryAxis
= wcn_CalpetMember
   
Claco Services [Member]
     
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Contingent consideration $ 741us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= wcn_RThreeHundredSixtyEnvironmentalSolutionsIncMember
/ wcn_BusinessAcquisitionSecondaryAxis
= wcn_ClacoServicesMember