Net Income Per Share Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Waste Connections for basic and diluted earnings per share	$ 31,303	$ 36,539
Denominator:
Basic shares outstanding	115,188,134	113,519,266
Dilutive effect of stock options and warrants	339,747	476,624
Dilutive effect of restricted stock units	348,580	405,414
Diluted shares outstanding	115,876,461	114,401,304
Net Income Per Share Information (Textual) [Abstract]
Stock options and warrants to purchase common stock shares	8,641

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Antidilution

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505113

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 07-4

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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Diluted Earnings Per Share

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510752

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 260

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Contingent Stock Agreement

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6508534

+ Details

- Definition

Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of call options and warrants using the treasury stock method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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-SubTopic 10

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-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

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-Publisher FASB

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-Glossary Treasury Stock Method

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6527216

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-Glossary Warrant

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6528364

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Call Option

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506649

+ Details

- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

+ References

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Paragraph 1

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-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

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-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

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-Appendix A

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Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Glossary Other Comprehensive Income

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6519514

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Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Net Income

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6518256

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.19)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 19

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Reference 16: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 20

-Article 9

+ Details

- Definition

The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6528421

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+ Details