GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed consolidating statement of cash flows
Net cash from operating activities	$ 280,114	$ 232,692
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(207,641)	(130,326)
Proceeds from sales of fixed assets	3,700	4,190
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(59,458)	(92,475)
Costs to obtain or renew permits	(4,357)	(2,409)
Purchase of marketable securities	0	(10,517)
Other	(11)	5,120
Net cash used in investing activities	(267,767)	(226,417)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Change in uncashed checks	9,754	(13,955)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	399	231
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan	5,327	4,627
Remittance of shares, net	(599)	(1,604)
Excess tax benefit of stock-based compensation	1,589	1,786
Deferred financing costs paid	(2,446)	(9,638)
Payments on capital leases	(4,096)	(5,303)
Issuance costs related to 2012 issuance of common stock	(250)	0
Distribution of cash earned on employee participation plan	0	(55)
Principal payment on debt	0	(520,000)
Issuance of senior unsecured notes	0	800,000
Dividends (paid) / received	0	0
Interest (payments) / received	0	0
Net cash from financing activities	9,678	256,089
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	(3,226)	527
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	18,799	262,891
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	229,836	260,723
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	248,635	523,614
Clean Harbors, Inc.
Condensed consolidating statement of cash flows
Net cash from operating activities	(38,228)	(49,918)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	0	0
Proceeds from sales of fixed assets	0	0
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0
Costs to obtain or renew permits	0	0
Purchase of marketable securities		0
Other	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Change in uncashed checks	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	399	231
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan	5,327	4,627
Remittance of shares, net	(599)	(1,604)
Excess tax benefit of stock-based compensation	1,589	1,786
Deferred financing costs paid	(2,446)	(9,638)
Payments on capital leases	0	0
Issuance costs related to 2012 issuance of common stock	(250)
Distribution of cash earned on employee participation plan		(55)
Principal payment on debt		(520,000)
Issuance of senior unsecured notes		800,000
Dividends (paid) / received	0	10,010
Interest (payments) / received	0	0
Net cash from financing activities	4,020	285,357
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	0	0
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	(34,208)	235,439
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	35,214	91,581
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,006	327,020
U.S. Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed consolidating statement of cash flows
Net cash from operating activities	176,844	98,497
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(101,813)	(75,664)
Proceeds from sales of fixed assets	819	3,411
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(59,458)	(51,424)
Costs to obtain or renew permits	(221)	(625)
Purchase of marketable securities		0
Other	0	603
Net cash used in investing activities	(160,673)	(123,699)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Change in uncashed checks	9,427	(7,771)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan	0	0
Remittance of shares, net	0	0
Excess tax benefit of stock-based compensation	0	0
Deferred financing costs paid	0	0
Payments on capital leases	(178)	(781)
Distribution of cash earned on employee participation plan		0
Principal payment on debt		0
Issuance of senior unsecured notes		0
Dividends (paid) / received	(10,284)	(23,669)
Interest (payments) / received	32,107	43,954
Net cash from financing activities	31,072	11,733
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	0	0
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	47,243	(13,469)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	140,683	128,071
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	187,926	114,602
Foreign Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed consolidating statement of cash flows
Net cash from operating activities	141,498	184,113
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(105,828)	(54,662)
Proceeds from sales of fixed assets	2,881	779
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	(41,051)
Costs to obtain or renew permits	(4,136)	(1,784)
Purchase of marketable securities		(10,517)
Other	(11)	4,517
Net cash used in investing activities	(107,094)	(102,718)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Change in uncashed checks	327	(6,184)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan	0	0
Remittance of shares, net	0	0
Excess tax benefit of stock-based compensation	0	0
Deferred financing costs paid	0	0
Payments on capital leases	(3,918)	(4,522)
Distribution of cash earned on employee participation plan		0
Principal payment on debt		0
Issuance of senior unsecured notes		0
Dividends (paid) / received	10,284	13,659
Interest (payments) / received	(32,107)	(43,954)
Net cash from financing activities	(25,414)	(41,001)
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	(3,226)	527
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	5,764	40,921
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	53,939	41,071
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 59,703	$ 81,992