EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE - Computation of Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Share (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Numerator:
Numerator for basic earnings per share net income attributable to Stericycle, Inc.	$ 82,526	$ 82,845	$ 81,936	$ 79,149	$ 78,164	$ 80,547	$ 78,044	$ 74,617	$ 326,456	$ 311,372	$ 267,996
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share-weighted average shares									84,932,792	85,902,550	85,401,365
Effect of diluted securities:
Employee stock options									1,300,820	1,489,438	1,617,108
Denominator for diluted earnings per share-adjusted weighted average shares and after assumed exercises									86,233,612	87,391,988	87,018,473
Earnings per share – Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.97	$ 0.98	$ 0.97	$ 0.93	$ 0.91	$ 0.94	$ 0.91	$ 0.87	$ 3.84	$ 3.62	$ 3.14
Earnings per share – Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.96	$ 0.96	$ 0.95	$ 0.91	$ 0.90	$ 0.92	$ 0.89	$ 0.85	$ 3.79	$ 3.56	$ 3.08