REMEDIAL LIABILITIES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 137,613		$ 145,486
Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	100
Accretion	6,298		6,507
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	(1,438)		(8,190)
Settlement of obligations	(6,787)		(7,049)
Currency translation and other	(466)		859
Balance at the end of the period	135,320		137,613
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
2012	11,044
2013	12,315
2014	9,893
2015	8,011
2016	10,628
Thereafter	121,365
Undiscounted Remedial Liabilities	173,256
Less: discount	(37,936)
Remedial Liability	135,320
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Threshold For Discloure	5.00%
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Percent of Tota	100.00%
Environmental Exit Costs, Reasonably Possible Additional Losses	19,742	[1]
Remedial Liabilities for Landfill Sites
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	5,511		5,337
Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	0
Accretion	271		261
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	(55)		(115)
Settlement of obligations	(71)		(103)
Currency translation and other	(56)		131
Balance at the end of the period	5,600		5,511
Remedial Liabilities for Inactive Sites
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	82,354		86,761
Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	0
Accretion	3,780		3,895
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	(3,825)		(4,491)
Settlement of obligations	(3,852)		(3,838)
Currency translation and other	(8)		27
Balance at the end of the period	78,449		82,354
Remedial Liabilities (Including Superfund) for Non-Landfill Operations
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	49,748		53,388
Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	100
Accretion	2,247		2,351
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	2,442		(3,584)
Settlement of obligations	(2,864)		(3,108)
Currency translation and other	(402)		701
Balance at the end of the period	51,271		49,748
Active Landfill Facilities [Member]
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	49,720
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Percent of Tota	36.70%
Environmental Exit Costs, Reasonably Possible Additional Losses	9,114
Inactive Landfill Facilities [Member]
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	78,450
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Percent of Tota	58.00%
Environmental Exit Costs, Reasonably Possible Additional Losses	9,913	[1]
Superfund Landfill Sites Owned By Third Parties [Member]
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	7,150
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Percent of Tota	5.30%
Environmental Exit Costs, Reasonably Possible Additional Losses	715	[1]
Baton Rouge La [Member] | Closed Incinerator And Landfill [Member]
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	37,200	[2]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Percent of Tota	27.50%	[2]
Environmental Exit Costs, Reasonably Possible Additional Losses	5,219	[2]
Bridgeport NJ [Member] | Closed Incinerator [Member]
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	21,547
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Percent of Tota	15.90%
Environmental Exit Costs, Reasonably Possible Additional Losses	2,822
Mercier Quebec [Member] | Idled Incinerator And Legal Proceedings [Member]
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	13,616	[2]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Percent of Tota	10.10%	[2]
Environmental Exit Costs, Reasonably Possible Additional Losses	1,459	[2]
San Jose Ca [Member] | Open Treatment Storage Or Disposal Facilities [Member]
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	9,223
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Percent of Tota	6.80%
Environmental Exit Costs, Reasonably Possible Additional Losses	949
Various [Member] | Superfund Landfill Sites Owned By Third Parties [Member]
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	7,150	[2]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Percent of Tota	5.30%	[2]
Environmental Exit Costs, Reasonably Possible Additional Losses	715	[2]
Various [Member] | All Other Incinerators Landfills Wastwater Threatment Facilities And Service Centers [Member]
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	46,584	[2]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Percent of Tota	34.40%	[2]
Environmental Exit Costs, Reasonably Possible Additional Losses	8,578	[2]
Legal and Administrative Proceedings
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	26,700
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Environmental Exit Costs, Reasonably Possible Additional Losses	$ 2,700

[1] (1)Amounts represent the high end of the range of management's best estimate of the reasonably possible additional liabilities.

[2] $26.7 million of the $135.3 million remedial liabilities and $2.7 million of the $19.7 million reasonably possible additional liabilities include estimates of remediation liabilities related to the legal and administrative proceedings discussed in Note 14, "Commitments and Contingencies," as well as other such estimated remedial liabilities.