Credit Available Subject to Percentage of Accounts Receivable

No definition available.

Name:	clh_CreditAvailableSubjecttoPercentageofAccountsReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	clh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Credit Available Subject to Percentage of Cash Deposited

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	clh_CreditAvailableSubjecttoPercentageofCashDeposited
Namespace Prefix:	clh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the redemption price as a percentage of the principal amount, at which the entity may redeem some or all of the debt instruments prior to August 15, 2012.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	clh_LongTermDebtRedemptionPriceAsPercentageOfPrincipalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	clh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The reference rate for the variable rate of the debt instrument, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

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 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

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

- Definition

Fair value amount of debt instrument that was repurchased.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

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 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_BaseRateMember
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Balance Type:
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=clh_UnsecuredSeniorNotes2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=clh_UnsecuredSeniorNotes2021Member
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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=clh_SafetyKleenMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
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Period Type:

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS (Details) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS (Details) - USD ($)	Jan. 17, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 07, 2012	Jul. 30, 2012
Financing arrangements
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity		$ 178,500,000	$ 238,400,000
Letters of credit outstanding, amount		$ 144,600,000	134,500,000
LIBOR loans
Financing arrangements
Variable interest rate, basis	LIBOR
Base rate loans
Financing arrangements
Variable interest rate, basis	BofA's base rate
Clean Harbors, Inc.
Financing arrangements
Credit available, subject to percentage of accounts receivable		85.00%
Credit available, subject to percentage of cash deposited		100.00%
Canadian subsidiaries
Financing arrangements
Credit available, subject to percentage of accounts receivable		85.00%
Credit available, subject to percentage of cash deposited		100.00%
Senior secured notes \| Senior unsecured notes, at 5.25%, due August 1, 2020
Financing arrangements
Debt instrument, face amount					$ 800,000,000
Senior secured notes, interest rate (as a percent)					5.25%
Long-term debt, fair value		$ 812,000,000	804,000,000
Senior secured notes \| Senior unsecured notes, at 5.125%, due June 1, 2021
Financing arrangements
Debt instrument, face amount				$ 600,000,000.0
Long-term debt, fair value		599,500,000	$ 595,000,000
Repurchased amount		$ 5,000,000
Long-term debt redemption, price as percentage of principal amount		100.00%
Senior secured notes \| Senior unsecured notes, at 5.125%, due June 1, 2021 \| Safety-Kleen
Financing arrangements
Senior secured notes, interest rate (as a percent)				5.125%
Revolving credit facility
Financing arrangements
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 400,000,000
Revolving credit facility \| Minimum \| LIBOR loans
Financing arrangements
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate	1.50%
Revolving credit facility \| Minimum \| Base rate loans
Financing arrangements
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate	0.50%
Revolving credit facility \| Maximum \| LIBOR loans
Financing arrangements
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate	2.00%
Revolving credit facility \| Maximum \| Base rate loans
Financing arrangements
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate	1.00%
Revolving credit facility \| Clean Harbors, Inc.
Financing arrangements
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 300,000,000
Revolving credit facility \| Canadian subsidiaries
Financing arrangements
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	100,000,000
Letters of credit
Financing arrangements
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	325,000,000
Letters of credit \| Clean Harbors, Inc.
Financing arrangements
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	250,000,000
Letters of credit \| Canadian subsidiaries
Financing arrangements
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 75,000,000