BUSINESS COMBINATION (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 item	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 item	Sep. 30, 2011	May 31, 2012
Additional information
Revenue	$ 45,739,000	$ 39,670,000	$ 118,732,000	$ 113,350,000
Operating income	12,393,000	9,567,000	29,824,000	21,962,000
Operating Disposal Facilities
Additional information
Revenue	45,734,000	39,664,000	118,716,000	113,333,000
Operating income	15,771,000	12,416,000	39,833,000	30,234,000
US Ecology Michigan
BUSINESS COMBINATION
Percentage of outstanding shares acquired					100.00%
Consideration paid and the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Current assets	2,214,000		2,214,000
Property and equipment	6,552,000		6,552,000
Identifiable intangible assets	1,940,000		1,940,000
Current liabilities	(1,268,000)		(1,268,000)
Total identifiable net assets	9,438,000		9,438,000
Goodwill	1,327,000		1,327,000
Total purchase price	10,765,000		10,765,000
Additional information
Number of employees	40		40
Number of years the acquired entity existed			40 years
Revenue	2,900,000		4,000,000
Operating income	1,000		74,000
Acquisition-related costs included in selling, general and administrative expenses	125,000		262,000
Pro forma combined:
Revenue	45,739,000	43,982,000	124,233,000	124,863,000
Net income	8,662,000	4,050,000	19,402,000	12,681,000
Earnings per share - Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.22	$ 1.06	$ 0.70
Earnings per share - Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.22	$ 1.06	$ 0.70
US Ecology Michigan | Initial Purchase Price Allocation
Consideration paid and the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Current assets					2,281,000
Property and equipment					6,552,000
Identifiable intangible assets					1,940,000
Current liabilities					(1,268,000)
Total identifiable net assets					9,505,000
Goodwill					1,745,000
Total purchase price					11,250,000
US Ecology Michigan | Working Capital Adjustments
Consideration paid and the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Current assets	(67,000)		(67,000)
Total identifiable net assets	(67,000)		(67,000)
Goodwill	(418,000)		(418,000)
Total purchase price	$ (485,000)		$ (485,000)
US Ecology Michigan | Operating Disposal Facilities
Additional information
Amortization period of goodwill recognized and expected to be deductible for income tax purposes			15 years