Aggregate dividends paid during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

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Stockholders' Equity (Narrative) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Repurchase of common stock			428,669	0
Aggregate cost of stock repurchased			$ 18,366
Cash dividend per share	$ 0.13	$ 0.115	$ 0.13	$ 0.115
Cash dividend per common share, increase	$ 0.015wcn_CashDividendPerCommonShareIncrease
Cash dividends on common stock			16,156us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash	14,242us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash
Repurchase of common stock, maximum value			1,200,000
Remaining value of common stock authorized under repurchase program			$ 390,277
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average grant-date fair value of award			$ 46.43
Vested deferred RSUs outstanding			256,621	223,752
Performance Shares [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average grant-date fair value of award			$ 46.47
Performance period end date			Dec. 31, 2017
Performance Shares [Member] \| Executive Officer [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period of award			3 years
Performance Shares [Member] \| Officer [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period of award			4 years