Reportable Business Segment Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2010		Mar. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 835,908	[1]	$ 1,148,008	[1]	$ 822,224	[1]	$ 703,087	[1]	$ 711,603	[2]	$ 1,002,056	[2]	$ 693,849	[2]	$ 664,037	[2]	$ 3,509,227		$ 3,071,545		$ 3,066,759
Depreciation and amortization																	158,801		142,949		145,265
Rationalization charges	2,900		600		2,400		1,700		18,500		1,000		700		2,000		7,717		22,214		1,491
Segment income from operations																	354,121	[3],[4]	283,319	[5],[6]	298,598
Segment assets	2,944,744								2,136,168								2,944,744		2,136,168		2,195,397
Capital expenditures																	173,009		105,395		99,584
Metal Containers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales																	2,211,549		1,864,157		1,916,239
Depreciation and amortization																	79,655		67,114		69,141
Rationalization charges																	1,378		694
Segment income from operations																	256,336	[3],[4]	232,620	[5],[6]	206,378
Segment assets	1,714,516								931,244								1,714,516		931,244		1,042,141
Capital expenditures																	108,394		47,836		49,668
Closures
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales																	687,801		618,805		609,056
Depreciation and amortization																	33,232		28,771		28,334
Rationalization charges																	1,805		9,212		1,341
Segment income from operations																	75,897	[3],[4]	58,557	[5],[6]	74,078
Segment assets	632,048								627,006								632,048		627,006		584,083
Capital expenditures																	24,637		15,769		14,841
Plastic Containers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales																	609,877		588,583		541,464
Depreciation and amortization																	44,237		45,385		46,107
Rationalization charges																	3,996		12,308		150
Segment income from operations																	12,639	[3],[4]	10,291	[5],[6]	31,276
Segment assets	561,312								537,978								561,312		537,978		527,238
Capital expenditures																	39,904		41,707		35,071
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization																	1,677		1,679		1,683
Rationalization charges																	538
Segment income from operations																	9,249	[3],[4]	(18,149)	[5],[6]	(13,134)
Segment assets	36,868								39,940								36,868		39,940		41,935
Capital expenditures																	$ 74		$ 83		$ 4

[1] The first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2011 include rationalization charges of $1.7 million, $2.4 million, $0.6 million and $2.9 million, respectively. The first quarter of 2011 includes costs attributable to announced acquisitions of $1.8 million. The second quarter of 2011 includes income of $27.0 million for proceeds received as a result of the termination of the merger agreement with Graham Packaging, net of costs associated with certain corporate development activities, and a charge for the resolution of a past product liability dispute of $3.3 million. The third quarter of 2011 includes a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $1.0 million.

[2] The first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2010 include rationalization charges of $2.0 million, $0.7 million, $1.0 million and $18.5 million, respectively. The third and fourth quarters of 2010 include losses on early extinguishment of debt of $4.5 million and $3.0 million, respectively. The first quarter of 2010 includes a charge of $3.2 million for the remeasurement of net assets in the Venezuela operations. The third and fourth quarters of 2010 include costs attributable to announced acquisitions of $0.5 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

[3] Metal containers includes a charge for the resolution of a past product liability dispute of $3.3 million.

[4] Corporate includes income of $25.2 million for proceeds received as a result of the termination of the merger agreement with Graham Packaging, net of costs associated with certain corporate development activities.

[5] Closures includes a charge of $3.2 million for the remeasurement of net assets in Venezuela.

[6] Corporate includes costs attributable to announced acquisitions of $2.7 million.