Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.18)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 12
-Article 7

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Assets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for purchases of and capital improvements on property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Revenues
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=ecol_TreatmentAndDisposalMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=ecol_TransportationAndLogisticsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=ecol_IndustrialCleaningMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=ecol_TechnicalServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=ecol_RemediationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=ecol_OtherServiceRevenueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ecol_EnvironmentalServicesSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ecol_FieldAndIndustrialServicesSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

OPERATING SEGMENTS (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
OPERATING SEGMENTS (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Number of reportable segments \| segment	2
Total revenue	$ 113,318	$ 136,651
Depreciation, amortization & accretion	9,538	11,816
Capital expenditures	7,219	9,231
Total assets	768,225	877,828	$ 771,987
Treatment and Disposal Revenue
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Total revenue	69,476	75,014
Transportation and Logistics
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Total revenue	20,187	25,080
Industrial Cleaning
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Total revenue	4,271	19,807
Technical Services
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Total revenue	17,605	14,520
Remediation
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Total revenue	838	1,659
Other
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Total revenue	941	571
Corporate
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Depreciation, amortization & accretion	122	135
Capital expenditures	880	542
Total assets	60,661	70,118
Environmental Services \| Operating Segment
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Total revenue	81,524	87,382
Depreciation, amortization & accretion	8,079	8,634
Capital expenditures	5,839	6,886
Total assets	586,668	595,664
Environmental Services \| Operating Segment \| Treatment and Disposal Revenue
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Total revenue	66,724	71,918
Environmental Services \| Operating Segment \| Transportation and Logistics
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Total revenue	14,800	15,464
Field & Industrial Services \| Operating Segment
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Total revenue	31,794	49,269
Depreciation, amortization & accretion	1,337	3,047
Capital expenditures	500	1,803
Total assets	120,896	212,046
Field & Industrial Services \| Operating Segment \| Treatment and Disposal Revenue
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Total revenue	2,752	3,096
Field & Industrial Services \| Operating Segment \| Transportation and Logistics
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Total revenue	5,387	9,616
Field & Industrial Services \| Operating Segment \| Industrial Cleaning
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Total revenue	4,271	19,807
Field & Industrial Services \| Operating Segment \| Technical Services
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Total revenue	17,605	14,520
Field & Industrial Services \| Operating Segment \| Remediation
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Total revenue	838	1,659
Field & Industrial Services \| Operating Segment \| Other
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Total revenue	$ 941	$ 571