GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 222,104	$ 229,836	$ 241,527	$ 260,723
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Other current assets	851,478	856,957
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,549,806	1,531,763
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Other long-term assets	1,179,990	1,207,250
Total assets	3,803,378	3,825,806
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	564,045	569,052
Intercompany payables	0	0
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	198,346	197,347
Long-term obligations	1,400,000	1,400,000
Capital lease obligations, net	2,154	2,879
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	215,365	224,456
Total liabilities	2,379,910	2,393,734
Stockholders' equity	1,423,468	1,432,072
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,803,378	3,825,806
Clean Harbors, Inc.
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	3,536	35,214	85,524	91,581
Intercompany receivables	306,330	296,023
Other current assets	12,143	38,295
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	2,561,127	2,528,699
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Other long-term assets	22,577	21,141
Total assets	2,905,713	2,919,372
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	27,526	32,586
Intercompany payables	0	0
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations	1,400,000	1,400,000
Capital lease obligations, net	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	3,701	3,701
Other long-term liabilities	51,018	51,013
Total liabilities	1,482,245	1,487,300
Stockholders' equity	1,423,468	1,432,072
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	2,905,713	2,919,372
U.S. Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	165,156	140,683	118,456	128,071
Intercompany receivables	1,857	17,704
Other current assets	558,912	526,354
Property, plant and equipment, net	890,852	886,032
Investments in subsidiaries	885,889	850,011
Intercompany debt receivable	516,002	508,067
Other long-term assets	870,915	896,991
Total assets	3,889,583	3,825,842
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	399,657	402,990
Intercompany payables	482,259	412,594
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	163,696	161,175
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	190	301
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	121,628	134,393
Total liabilities	1,167,430	1,111,453
Stockholders' equity	2,722,153	2,714,389
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,889,583	3,825,842
Foreign Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	53,412	53,939	37,547	41,071
Intercompany receivables	175,993	116,571
Other current assets	280,423	292,308
Property, plant and equipment, net	658,954	645,731
Investments in subsidiaries	144,954	144,953
Intercompany debt receivable	3,701	3,701
Other long-term assets	286,498	289,118
Total assets	1,603,935	1,546,321
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	136,862	133,476
Intercompany payables	1,921	17,704
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	34,650	36,172
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	1,964	2,578
Intercompany debt payable	516,002	508,067
Other long-term liabilities	42,719	39,050
Total liabilities	734,118	737,047
Stockholders' equity	869,817	809,274
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	1,603,935	1,546,321
Consolidating Adjustments
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Intercompany receivables	(484,180)	(430,298)
Other current assets	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	(3,591,970)	(3,523,663)
Intercompany debt receivable	(519,703)	(511,768)
Other long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	(4,595,853)	(4,465,729)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	0	0
Intercompany payables	(484,180)	(430,298)
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	(519,703)	(511,768)
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	(1,003,883)	(942,066)
Stockholders' equity	(3,591,970)	(3,523,663)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ (4,595,853)	$ (4,465,729)