Financial Information Relating to Operations by Geographic Area (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
Net sales:
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
Long-lived assets:
Long-lived assets	1,064,708								849,720								1,064,708	849,720
United States
Net sales:
Net sales																	2,767,293	2,627,539	2,636,213
Long-lived assets:
Long-lived assets	689,705								681,862								689,705	681,862
Europe
Net sales:
Net sales																	563,991	269,513	268,964
Long-lived assets:
Long-lived assets	301,001								103,168								301,001	103,168
Canada
Net sales:
Net sales																	128,882	121,494	105,247
Long-lived assets:
Long-lived assets	42,021								48,157								42,021	48,157
Other foreign
Net sales:
Net sales																	49,061	52,999	56,335
Long-lived assets:
Long-lived assets	31,981								16,533								31,981	16,533
Total foreign operations
Net sales:
Net sales																	741,934	444,006	430,546
Long-lived assets:
Long-lived assets	$ 375,003								$ 167,858								$ 375,003	$ 167,858

[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.