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Segment Reporting (Changes in Goodwill by Reportable Segment) (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items]    
Goodwill, Beginning Balance $ 1,675,154us-gaap_Goodwill $ 1,636,557us-gaap_Goodwill
Goodwill acquired 18,778us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod 39,901us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Goodwill divested (143)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit (1,304)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
Goodwill, Ending Balance 1,693,789us-gaap_Goodwill 1,675,154us-gaap_Goodwill
Western [Member]    
Goodwill [Line Items]    
Goodwill, Beginning Balance   373,143us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_WesternMember
Goodwill acquired   521us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_WesternMember
Goodwill divested   (749)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_WesternMember
Goodwill, Ending Balance 372,915us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_WesternMember
372,915us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_WesternMember
Central [Member]    
Goodwill [Line Items]    
Goodwill, Beginning Balance 459,054us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_CentralMember
430,412us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_CentralMember
Goodwill transferred   (9,196)us-gaap_GoodwillTransfers
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_CentralMember
Goodwill acquired 1,470us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_CentralMember
37,838us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_CentralMember
Goodwill divested (143)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_CentralMember
 
Goodwill, Ending Balance 460,381us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_CentralMember
459,054us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_CentralMember
Eastern [Member]    
Goodwill [Line Items]    
Goodwill, Beginning Balance 380,570us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_EasternMember
380,561us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_EasternMember
Goodwill acquired 11,853us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_EasternMember
564us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_EasternMember
Goodwill divested   (555)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_EasternMember
Goodwill, Ending Balance 392,423us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_EasternMember
380,570us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_EasternMember
Exploration and Production [Member]    
Goodwill [Line Items]    
Goodwill, Beginning Balance 462,615us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_ExplorationAndProductionMember
452,441us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_ExplorationAndProductionMember
Goodwill transferred   9,196us-gaap_GoodwillTransfers
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_ExplorationAndProductionMember
Goodwill acquired 5,455us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_ExplorationAndProductionMember
978us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_ExplorationAndProductionMember
Goodwill, Ending Balance $ 468,070us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_ExplorationAndProductionMember
$ 462,615us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wcn_ExplorationAndProductionMember