CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 2,142,807		$ 1,913,149		$ 1,676,048
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation shown below)	1,128,170		1,011,213		874,169
Depreciation - cost of revenues	50,003		44,631		41,135
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	390,610		356,817		311,522
Depreciation – selling, general and administrative expenses	11,338		9,598		8,642
Amortization	27,067		22,054		16,269
Total Costs and Expenses	1,607,188		1,444,313		1,251,737
Income from Operations	535,619		468,836		424,311
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	294		404		799
Interest expense	(55,243)		(51,674)		(49,431)
Other expense, net	(2,924)		(369)		(3,355)
Total Other Expense	(57,873)		(51,639)		(51,987)
Income Before Income Taxes	477,746		417,197		372,324
Income Tax Expense	164,662		147,256		134,981
Net Income	313,084		269,941		237,343
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests			1,945		2,592
Net Income Attributable to Stericycle, Inc.	$ 311,372		$ 267,996		$ 234,751
Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to Stericycle, Inc. Common Shareholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.62	[1]	$ 3.14	[1]	$ 2.75
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 3.56	[1]	$ 3.08	[1]	$ 2.69
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	85,902,550		85,401,365		85,467,421
Diluted (in shares)	87,391,988		87,018,473		87,367,712

[1] EPS calculated on a quarterly basis, and, as such, the amounts may not total the calculated full-year EPS.