GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 179,191	$ 246,879	$ 258,021	$ 310,073
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	600,283	557,131
Other current assets	293,081	322,423
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,531,548	1,558,834
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Goodwill	447,918	452,669
Permits and other intangibles, net	518,995	530,080
Other long-term assets	28,845	36,262
Total assets	3,599,861	3,704,278
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	625,016	572,471
Intercompany payables	0	0
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	174,677	183,731
Long-term obligations	1,395,000	1,395,000
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	282,447	290,205
Total liabilities	2,477,140	2,441,407
Stockholders’ equity	1,122,721	1,262,871
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,599,861	3,704,278
Clean Harbors, Inc.
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	11,008	1,006	1,006	1,006
Intercompany receivables	156,833	133,219
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Other current assets	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	2,566,095	2,694,727
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Permits and other intangibles, net	0	0
Other long-term assets	14,342	16,801
Total assets	2,748,278	2,845,753
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	18,558	20,820
Intercompany payables	208,298	163,361
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations	1,395,000	1,395,000
Intercompany debt payable	3,701	3,701
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	1,625,557	1,582,882
Stockholders’ equity	1,122,721	1,262,871
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	2,748,278	2,845,753
U.S. Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	66,074	154,147	164,527	235,445
Intercompany receivables	210,159	156,920
Accounts receivable, net	493,459	414,205
Other current assets	220,901	241,232
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,056,190	970,757
Investments in subsidiaries	547,520	663,191
Intercompany debt receivable	285,385	327,634
Goodwill	359,068	324,930
Permits and other intangibles, net	441,639	435,906
Other long-term assets	9,039	12,959
Total assets	3,689,434	3,701,881
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	523,971	444,059
Intercompany payables	187,406	164,231
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	155,386	158,622
Long-term obligations	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	256,576	240,242
Total liabilities	1,123,339	1,007,154
Stockholders’ equity	2,566,095	2,694,727
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,689,434	3,701,881
Foreign Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	102,109	91,726	$ 92,488	$ 73,622
Intercompany receivables	30,572	39,724
Accounts receivable, net	106,824	142,926
Other current assets	72,180	81,191
Property, plant and equipment, net	475,358	588,077
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany debt receivable	3,701	3,701
Goodwill	88,850	127,739
Permits and other intangibles, net	77,356	94,174
Other long-term assets	5,464	6,502
Total assets	962,414	1,175,760
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	82,487	107,592
Intercompany payables	1,860	2,271
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	19,291	25,109
Long-term obligations	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	285,385	327,634
Other long-term liabilities	25,871	49,963
Total liabilities	414,894	512,569
Stockholders’ equity	547,520	663,191
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	962,414	1,175,760
Consolidating Adjustments
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Intercompany receivables	(397,564)	(329,863)
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Other current assets	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	(3,113,615)	(3,357,918)
Intercompany debt receivable	(289,086)	(331,335)
Goodwill	0	0
Permits and other intangibles, net	0	0
Other long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	(3,800,265)	(4,019,116)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	0	0
Intercompany payables	(397,564)	(329,863)
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	(289,086)	(331,335)
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	(686,650)	(661,198)
Stockholders’ equity	(3,113,615)	(3,357,918)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ (3,800,265)	$ (4,019,116)