Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

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The estimated measure of the percentage by which a share price is expected to fluctuate during a period. Volatility also may be defined as a probability-weighted measure of the dispersion of returns about the mean. The volatility of a share price is the standard deviation of the continuously compounded rates of return on the share over a specified period. That is the same as the standard deviation of the differences in the natural logarithms of the stock prices plus dividends, if any, over the period.

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- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

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Note 5 - Long-term Incentive Plan (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Note 5 - Long-term Incentive Plan (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense (in Dollars)	$ 26,000	$ 52,000	$ 206,000	$ 145,000
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized (in Dollars)	$ 300,000		$ 300,000
Avalon Holdings Corporation 2009 Long-term Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized (in Shares)	1,300,000		1,300,000
Block One [Member] \| Begins Vesting After Grant Date [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period			12 months
Block One [Member] \| Ends Vesting After Grant Date [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period			48 months
Block One [Member]
Predetermined Vesting Price (in Dollars per share)	$ 3.43		$ 3.43
Block Two [Member] \| Begins Vesting After Grant Date [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period			24 months
Block Two [Member] \| Ends Vesting After Grant Date [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period			60 months
Block Two [Member]
Predetermined Vesting Price (in Dollars per share)	$ 4.69		$ 4.69
Block Three [Member] \| Begins Vesting After Grant Date [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period			36 months
Block Three [Member] \| Ends Vesting After Grant Date [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period			72 months
Block Three [Member]
Predetermined Vesting Price (in Dollars per share)	$ 6.43		$ 6.43
Block Four [Member] \| Begins Vesting After Grant Date [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period			48 months
Block Four [Member] \| Ends Vesting After Grant Date [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period			84 months
Block Four [Member]
Predetermined Vesting Price (in Dollars per share)	$ 8.81		$ 8.81
Block Five [Member] \| Begins Vesting After Grant Date [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period			60 months
Block Five [Member] \| Ends Vesting After Grant Date [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period			96 months
Block Five [Member]
Predetermined Vesting Price (in Dollars per share)	$ 12.07		$ 12.07
Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate			60.90%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate			2.06%
Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate			61.70%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate			2.28%
Weighted Average [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate			61.20%