GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Financial Information [Abstract]
Subsidiary or equity method investee, cumulative percentage ownership after all transactions	100.00%
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 184,708	$ 246,879	$ 310,073	$ 229,836
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	496,004	557,131
Other current assets	240,484	322,423
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,532,467	1,558,834
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Goodwill	453,105	452,669	570,960
Permits and other intangibles, net	506,818	530,080
Other long-term assets	17,842	21,407
Total assets	3,431,428	3,689,423	3,936,430
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Current liabilities	517,120	572,471
Intercompany payables	0	0
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	167,846	183,731
Long-term obligations	1,382,543	1,380,145
Capital lease obligations, net	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	267,637	290,205
Total liabilities	2,335,146	2,426,552
Stockholders' equity	1,096,282	1,262,871	1,475,639	1,432,072
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,431,428	3,689,423
Clean Harbors, Inc.
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	11,017	1,006	1,006	35,214
Intercompany receivables	164,709	133,219
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Other current assets	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	2,547,307	2,694,727
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Permits and other intangibles, net	0	0
Other long-term assets	1,068	1,946
Total assets	2,724,101	2,830,898
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Current liabilities	20,813	20,820
Intercompany payables	220,762	163,361
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations	1,382,543	1,380,145
Capital lease obligations, net	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	3,701	3,701
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	1,627,819	1,568,027
Stockholders' equity	1,096,282	1,262,871
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,724,101	2,830,898
U.S. Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	83,479	154,147	235,505	140,683
Intercompany receivables	213,243	156,920
Accounts receivable, net	404,580	414,205
Other current assets	179,969	241,232
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,082,466	970,757
Investments in subsidiaries	522,067	663,191
Intercompany debt receivable	260,957	327,634
Goodwill	367,306	324,930
Permits and other intangibles, net	435,080	435,906
Other long-term assets	10,274	12,959
Total assets	3,559,421	3,701,881
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Current liabilities	424,588	444,059
Intercompany payables	195,287	164,231
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	153,190	158,622
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	239,049	240,242
Total liabilities	1,012,114	1,007,154
Stockholders' equity	2,547,307	2,694,727
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,559,421	3,701,881
Foreign Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	90,212	91,726	73,562	53,939
Intercompany receivables	39,804	39,724
Accounts receivable, net	91,424	142,926
Other current assets	60,515	81,191
Property, plant and equipment, net	450,001	588,077
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany debt receivable	3,701	3,701
Goodwill	85,799	127,739
Permits and other intangibles, net	71,738	94,174
Other long-term assets	6,500	6,502
Total assets	899,694	1,175,760
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Current liabilities	71,719	107,592
Intercompany payables	1,707	2,271
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	14,656	25,109
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	260,957	327,634
Other long-term liabilities	28,588	49,963
Total liabilities	377,627	512,569
Stockholders' equity	522,067	663,191
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	899,694	1,175,760
Consolidating Adjustments
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	$ 0	$ 0
Intercompany receivables	(417,756)	(329,863)
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Other current assets	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	(3,069,374)	(3,357,918)
Intercompany debt receivable	(264,658)	(331,335)
Goodwill	0	0
Permits and other intangibles, net	0	0
Other long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	(3,751,788)	(4,019,116)
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Current liabilities	0	0
Intercompany payables	(417,756)	(329,863)
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	(264,658)	(331,335)
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	(682,414)	(661,198)
Stockholders' equity	(3,069,374)	(3,357,918)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (3,751,788)	$ (4,019,116)