GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of changes to goodwill

The changes to goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in thousands):

	2012		2011
Balance at January 1	$	122,392	$	60,252
Acquired from acquisitions	464,581		65,049
Increase from adjustments related to the acquisitions during the measurement period	5,037		—
Foreign currency translation	1,761		(2,909		)
Balance at December 31	$	593,771	$	122,392

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class

Below is a summary of permits and other intangible assets (in thousands):

	December 31, 2012							December 31, 2011
	Cost		Accumulated Amortization		Net		Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)	Cost		Accumulated Amortization		Net		Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)
Permits	$	148,661	$	46,282	$	102,379	21.8	$	106,939	$	45,629	$	61,310	17.9
Customer and supplier relationships	372,751		27,739		345,012		13.2	83,721		17,650		66,071		7.9
Other intangible    assets	22,027		12,121		9,906		3.6	19,321		9,265		10,056		5.3
Total amortizable permits and other intangible assets	543,439		86,142		457,297		13.6	209,981		72,544		137,437		10
Trademarks and trade names	115,520		—		115,520		Indefinite	$	2,207	$	—	$	2,207	Indefinite
Total permits and other intangible assets	$	658,959	$	86,142	$	572,817		$	212,188	$	72,544	$	139,644

Schedule of Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class

The total amounts assigned and the weighted average amortization period by major intangible asset classes as it relates to these acquisitions as of December 31, 2012, were as follows:

	Safety-Kleen Total Amount Assigned		Safety-Kleen Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)	Other 2012 Acquisitions Total Amount Assigned		Other Acquisitions Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)
Permits	$	36,600	30.0	$	4,101	30.0
Customer and supplier relationships	271,000		18.0	17,626		7.1
Other intangible assets	—		—	854		1.4
Total Amortizable permits and other intangible assets	307,600		18.9	22,581		7.4
Trademarks and trade names	113,800		Indefinite	—
Total permits and other intangible assets	$	421,400		$	22,581

Schedule of expected amortization for the net carrying amount of finite lived intangible assets

Below is the expected amortization of the net carrying amount of finite-lived intangible assets at December 31, 2012 (in thousands):

Years Ending December 31,	Expected Amortization
2013	$	33,990
2014	32,879
2015	32,103
2016	31,354
2017	30,387
Thereafter	296,584
	$	457,297