GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 446,366	$ 306,997	$ 352,923	$ 184,708
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Accounts receivables, net	512,375	496,226
Other current assets	275,993	289,648
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,602,453	1,611,827
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Goodwill	472,819	465,154
Permits and other intangibles, net	482,828	498,721
Other long-term assets	13,448	13,347
Total assets	3,806,282	3,681,920
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	619,300	504,668
Intercompany payables	0	0
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	162,252	166,322
Long-term obligations, less current portion	1,626,505	1,633,272
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	297,288	293,417
Total liabilities	2,705,345	2,597,679
Stockholders’ equity	1,100,937	1,084,241
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,806,282	3,681,920
Reportable Legal Entities | Clean Harbors, Inc.
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	51,391	51,417	51,291	11,017
Intercompany receivables	220,885	200,337
Accounts receivables, net	0	0
Other current assets	897	3,096
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	2,893,232	2,851,571
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Permits and other intangibles, net	0	0
Other long-term assets	2,363	2,446
Total assets	3,168,768	3,108,867
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	123,095	21,805
Intercompany payables	314,530	365,848
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations, less current portion	1,626,505	1,633,272
Intercompany debt payable	3,701	3,701
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	2,067,831	2,024,626
Stockholders’ equity	1,100,937	1,084,241
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,168,768	3,108,867
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	303,996	155,943	224,493	83,479
Intercompany receivables	314,705	354,836
Accounts receivables, net	419,338	417,029
Other current assets	222,283	234,408
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,198,630	1,211,210
Investments in subsidiaries	570,837	580,124
Intercompany debt receivable	89,441	86,409
Goodwill	416,775	412,638
Permits and other intangibles, net	421,793	435,594
Other long-term assets	7,555	7,582
Total assets	3,965,353	3,895,773
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	375,919	366,831
Intercompany payables	257,453	237,058
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	145,777	150,682
Long-term obligations, less current portion	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	21,000	21,000
Other long-term liabilities	278,833	275,649
Total liabilities	1,078,982	1,051,220
Stockholders’ equity	2,886,371	2,844,553
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,965,353	3,895,773
Reportable Legal Entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	90,979	99,637	77,139	90,212
Intercompany receivables	38,312	49,055
Accounts receivables, net	93,037	79,197
Other current assets	59,658	69,257
Property, plant and equipment, net	403,823	400,617
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany debt receivable	24,701	24,701
Goodwill	56,044	52,516
Permits and other intangibles, net	61,035	63,127
Other long-term assets	4,598	4,387
Total assets	832,187	842,494
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	127,131	133,145
Intercompany payables	1,919	1,322
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	16,475	15,640
Long-term obligations, less current portion	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	89,441	86,409
Other long-term liabilities	19,523	18,836
Total liabilities	254,489	255,352
Stockholders’ equity	577,698	587,142
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	832,187	842,494
Consolidating Adjustments
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	$ 0	$ 0
Intercompany receivables	(573,902)	(604,228)
Accounts receivables, net	0	0
Other current assets	(6,845)	(17,113)
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	(3,464,069)	(3,431,695)
Intercompany debt receivable	(114,142)	(111,110)
Goodwill	0	0
Permits and other intangibles, net	0	0
Other long-term assets	(1,068)	(1,068)
Total assets	(4,160,026)	(4,165,214)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	(6,845)	(17,113)
Intercompany payables	(573,902)	(604,228)
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations, less current portion	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	(114,142)	(111,110)
Other long-term liabilities	(1,068)	(1,068)
Total liabilities	(695,957)	(733,519)
Stockholders’ equity	(3,464,069)	(3,431,695)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ (4,160,026)	$ (4,165,214)