CLOSURE AND POST-CLOSURE LIABILITIES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012
Changes to post-closure liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 34,881
New asset retirement obligations	639
Accretion	927
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	1
Other changes in estimates recorded to balance sheet	(2,210)
Expenditures	(82)
Currency translation and other	(58)
Balance at the end of the period	34,098
Credit-adjusted risk-free rate (as a percent)	8.56%
Inflation rate (as a percent)	1.02%
Landfill Retirement Liability
Changes to post-closure liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	25,764
New asset retirement obligations	639
Accretion	665
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	0
Other changes in estimates recorded to balance sheet	(2,221)
Expenditures	(41)
Currency translation and other	60
Balance at the end of the period	24,866
Non-Landfill Retirement Liability
Changes to post-closure liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	9,117
New asset retirement obligations
Accretion	262
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	1
Other changes in estimates recorded to balance sheet	11
Expenditures	(41)
Currency translation and other	(118)
Balance at the end of the period	$ 9,232