GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 263,478	$ 229,836	$ 296,758	$ 260,723
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Other current assets	841,713	856,957
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,554,972	1,531,763
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Other long-term assets	1,171,950	1,207,250
Total assets	3,832,113	3,825,806
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	604,187	569,052
Intercompany payables	0	0
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	195,879	197,347
Long-term obligations	1,400,000	1,400,000
Capital lease obligations, net	2,140	2,879
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	215,187	224,456
Total liabilities	2,417,393	2,393,734
Stockholders' equity	1,414,720	1,432,072
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,832,113	3,825,806
Clean Harbors, Inc.
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	1,006	35,214	94,960	91,581
Intercompany receivables	264,860	296,023
Other current assets	12,144	38,295
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	2,608,979	2,528,699
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Other long-term assets	21,685	21,141
Total assets	2,908,674	2,919,372
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	39,230	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	51,023	51,013
Total liabilities	1,493,954	1,487,300
Stockholders' equity	1,414,720	1,432,072
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	2,908,674	2,919,372
U.S. Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	214,427	140,683	138,482	128,071
Intercompany receivables	2,872	17,704
Other current assets	573,520	526,354
Property, plant and equipment, net	903,619	886,032
Investments in subsidiaries	920,014	850,011
Intercompany debt receivable	503,110	508,067
Other long-term assets	878,799	896,991
Total assets	3,996,361	3,825,842
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	445,011	402,990
Intercompany payables	499,376	412,594
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	163,144	161,175
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	153	301
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	123,113	134,393
Total liabilities	1,230,797	1,111,453
Stockholders' equity	2,765,564	2,714,389
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,996,361	3,825,842
Foreign Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	48,045	53,939	63,316	41,071
Intercompany receivables	234,576	116,571
Other current assets	256,049	292,308
Property, plant and equipment, net	651,353	645,731
Investments in subsidiaries	144,953	144,953
Intercompany debt receivable	3,701	3,701
Other long-term assets	271,466	289,118
Total assets	1,610,143	1,546,321
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	119,946	133,476
Intercompany payables	2,932	17,704
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	32,735	36,172
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	1,987	2,578
Intercompany debt payable	503,110	508,067
Other long-term liabilities	41,051	39,050
Total liabilities	701,761	737,047
Stockholders' equity	908,382	809,274
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	1,610,143	1,546,321
Consolidating Adjustments
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Intercompany receivables	(502,308)	(430,298)
Other current assets	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	(3,673,946)	(3,523,663)
Intercompany debt receivable	(506,811)	(511,768)
Other long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	(4,683,065)	(4,465,729)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	0	0
Intercompany payables	(502,308)	(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	(506,811)	(511,768)
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	(1,009,119)	(942,066)
Stockholders' equity	(3,673,946)	(3,523,663)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ (4,683,065)	$ (4,465,729)