GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)	13 years 7 months 6 days	10 years
Permits and other intangibles, net	$ 572,817	$ 139,644
Expected amortization
2013	33,990
2014	32,879
2015	32,103
2016	31,354
2017	30,387
Thereafter	296,584
Total	457,297
Other Acquisitions
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets
Total Amount Assigned finite-lived	22,581
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)	7 years 4 months 24 days
Permits and other intangibles, net	22,581
Safety-Kleen [Member]
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets
Total Amount Assigned finite-lived	307,600
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)	18 years 10 months 24 days
Permits and other intangibles, net	421,400
Trademarks and trade names [Member]
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets
Total Amount Assigned Indefinite-lived	115,520	2,207
Trademarks and trade names [Member] | Safety-Kleen [Member]
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets
Total Amount Assigned Indefinite-lived	113,800
Permits [Member]
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)	21 years 9 months 18 days	17 years 10 months 24 days
Permits and other intangibles, net	102,379	61,310
Permits [Member] | Other Acquisitions
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets
Total Amount Assigned finite-lived	4,101
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)	30 years
Permits [Member] | Safety-Kleen [Member]
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets
Total Amount Assigned finite-lived	36,600
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)	30 years
Customer and supplier relationships
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)	13 years 2 months 12 days	7 years 10 months 24 days
Permits and other intangibles, net	345,012	66,071
Customer and supplier relationships | Other Acquisitions
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets
Total Amount Assigned finite-lived	17,626
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)	7 years 1 month 6 days
Customer and supplier relationships | Safety-Kleen [Member]
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets
Total Amount Assigned finite-lived	271,000
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)	18 years
Other intangible assets
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)	3 years 7 months 6 days	5 years 3 months 18 days
Permits and other intangibles, net	9,906	10,056
Other intangible assets | Other Acquisitions
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets
Total Amount Assigned finite-lived	854
Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years)	1 year 4 months 24 days
Other intangible assets | Safety-Kleen [Member]
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets
Total Amount Assigned finite-lived	$ 0