GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION Balance Sheet (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 229,836	$ 260,723	$ 302,210	$ 233,546
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,531,763	903,947
Other long-term assets	1,207,250	289,988
Total assets	3,825,806	2,085,803
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	569,052	381,742
Long-term obligations	1,400,000	524,203
Capital lease obligations, net	2,879	6,375
Other long-term liabilities	224,456	117,354
Stockholders' equity	1,432,072	900,987	780,827	613,825
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,825,806	2,085,803
Clean Harbors, Inc.
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	35,214	91,581	100,476	141,338
Intercompany receivables	296,023	319,444
Other current assets	38,295	43,687
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	2,528,699	1,064,966
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Other long-term assets	21,141	13,228
Total assets	2,919,372	1,532,906
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	32,586	15,612
Intercompany payables	0	0
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations	1,400,000	524,203
Capital lease obligations, net	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	3,701	3,701
Other long-term liabilities	51,013	88,403
Total liabilities	1,487,300	631,919
Stockholders' equity	1,432,072	900,987
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,919,372	1,532,906
U.S. Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	140,683	128,071	124,582	50,408
Intercompany receivables	17,704	0
Other current assets	526,354	324,607
Property, plant and equipment, net	886,032	392,566
Investments in subsidiaries	850,011	421,648
Intercompany debt receivable	508,067	472,929
Other long-term assets	896,991	111,104
Total assets	3,825,842	1,850,925
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	402,990	220,968
Intercompany payables	412,594	446,267
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	161,175	133,773
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	301	475
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	134,393	7,588
Total liabilities	1,111,453	809,071
Stockholders' equity	2,714,389	1,041,854
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,825,842	1,850,925
Foreign Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	53,939	41,071	77,152	41,800
Intercompany receivables	116,571	126,823
Other current assets	292,308	262,851
Property, plant and equipment, net	645,731	511,381
Investments in subsidiaries	144,953	91,654
Intercompany debt receivable	3,701	3,701
Other long-term assets	289,118	165,656
Total assets	1,546,321	1,203,137
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	133,476	145,162
Intercompany payables	17,704	0
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	36,172	21,369
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	2,578	5,900
Intercompany debt payable	508,067	472,929
Other long-term liabilities	39,050	21,363
Total liabilities	737,047	666,723
Stockholders' equity	809,274	536,414
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,546,321	1,203,137
Consolidating Adjustments
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Intercompany receivables	(430,298)	(446,267)
Other current assets	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	(3,523,663)	(1,578,268)
Intercompany debt receivable	(511,768)	(476,630)
Other long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	(4,465,729)	(2,501,165)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	0	0
Intercompany payables	(430,298)	(446,267)
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	(511,768)	(476,630)
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	(942,066)	(922,897)
Stockholders' equity	(3,523,663)	(1,578,268)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	(4,465,729)	(2,501,165)
Parent [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	229,836	260,723	302,210	233,546
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Other current assets	856,957	631,145
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,531,763	903,947
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Other long-term assets	1,207,250	289,988
Total assets	3,825,806	2,085,803
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	569,052	381,742
Intercompany payables	0	0
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	197,347	155,142
Long-term obligations	1,400,000	524,203
Capital lease obligations, net	2,879	6,375
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	224,456	117,354
Total liabilities	2,393,734	1,184,816
Stockholders' equity	1,432,072	900,987
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 3,825,806	$ 2,085,803