GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 248,635	$ 229,836	$ 523,614	$ 260,723
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Other current assets	893,139	856,957
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,615,427	1,531,763
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Other long-term assets	1,199,651	1,207,250
Total assets	3,956,852	3,825,806
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	669,532	569,052
Intercompany payables	0	0
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	191,848	197,347
Long-term obligations	1,400,000	1,400,000
Capital lease obligations, net	1,669	2,879
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	217,683	224,456
Total liabilities	2,480,732	2,393,734
Stockholders' equity	1,476,120	1,432,072
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,956,852	3,825,806
Clean Harbors, Inc.
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	1,006	35,214	327,020	91,581
Intercompany receivables	336,356	296,023
Other current assets	12,144	38,295
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	2,601,246	2,528,699
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Other long-term assets	20,842	21,141
Total assets	2,971,594	2,919,372
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	40,600	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	51,173	51,013
Total liabilities	1,495,474	1,487,300
Stockholders' equity	1,476,120	1,432,072
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	2,971,594	2,919,372
U.S. Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	187,926	140,683	114,602	128,071
Intercompany receivables	2,369	17,704
Other current assets	589,065	526,354
Property, plant and equipment, net	942,331	886,032
Investments in subsidiaries	929,111	850,011
Intercompany debt receivable	508,524	508,067
Other long-term assets	900,617	896,991
Total assets	4,059,943	3,825,842
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	472,178	402,990
Intercompany payables	510,906	412,594
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	158,366	161,175
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	231	301
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	124,441	134,393
Total liabilities	1,266,122	1,111,453
Stockholders' equity	2,793,821	2,714,389
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	4,059,943	3,825,842
Foreign Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	59,703	53,939	81,992	41,071
Intercompany receivables	174,609	116,571
Other current assets	291,930	292,308
Property, plant and equipment, net	673,096	645,731
Investments in subsidiaries	144,953	144,953
Intercompany debt receivable	3,701	3,701
Other long-term assets	278,192	289,118
Total assets	1,626,184	1,546,321
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	156,754	133,476
Intercompany payables	2,428	17,704
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	33,482	36,172
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	1,438	2,578
Intercompany debt payable	508,524	508,067
Other long-term liabilities	42,069	39,050
Total liabilities	744,695	737,047
Stockholders' equity	881,489	809,274
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	1,626,184	1,546,321
Consolidating Adjustments
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Intercompany receivables	(513,334)	(430,298)
Other current assets	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	(3,675,310)	(3,523,663)
Intercompany debt receivable	(512,225)	(511,768)
Other long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	(4,700,869)	(4,465,729)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	0	0
Intercompany payables	(513,334)	(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	(512,225)	(511,768)
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	(1,025,559)	(942,066)
Stockholders' equity	(3,675,310)	(3,523,663)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ (4,700,869)	$ (4,465,729)