Segment Reporting (Total Reported Revenues by Service Line) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 506,100		$ 481,710
Percentage of reported revenue	100.00%		100.00%
Solid Waste Collection [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	326,086		305,156
Percentage of reported revenue	57.60%		56.60%
Solid Waste Disposal and Transfer [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	86,104		83,055
Percentage of reported revenue	25.10%		25.10%
E&P Waste Treatment, Recovery and Disposal [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	68,558		68,553
Percentage of reported revenue	12.80%		13.60%
Solid Waste Recycling [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	10,848		14,285
Percentage of reported revenue	1.90%		2.70%
Intermodal and Other [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	14,504		10,661
Percentage of reported revenue	2.60%		2.00%
Intercompany Revenues [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	(61,464)	[1]	(58,950)	[1]
Intercompany Revenues [Member] | Solid Waste Collection [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	(919)		(847)
Intercompany Revenues [Member] | Solid Waste Disposal and Transfer [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	(56,326)		(52,508)
Intercompany Revenues [Member] | E&P Waste Treatment, Recovery and Disposal [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	(3,998)		(4,765)
Intercompany Revenues [Member] | Solid Waste Recycling [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	(221)		(619)
Intercompany Revenues [Member] | Intermodal and Other [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues			(211)
Operating Segments [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	567,564		540,660
Operating Segments [Member] | Solid Waste Collection [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	327,005		306,003
Operating Segments [Member] | Solid Waste Disposal and Transfer [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	142,430		135,563
Operating Segments [Member] | E&P Waste Treatment, Recovery and Disposal [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	72,556		73,318
Operating Segments [Member] | Solid Waste Recycling [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	11,069		14,904
Operating Segments [Member] | Intermodal and Other [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 14,504		$ 10,872

[1] Intercompany revenues reflect each segment’s total intercompany sales, including intercompany sales within a segment and between segments.  Transactions within and between segments are generally made on a basis intended to reflect the market value of the service.