Name:	srcl_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	srcl_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16265-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of operating segments. An operating segment is a component of an enterprise: (a) that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses (including revenues and expenses relating to transactions with other components of the same enterprise), (b) whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the enterprise's chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and (c) for which discrete financial information is available. An operating segment may engage in business activities for which it has yet to earn revenues, for example, start-up operations may be operating segments before earning revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of fair value of reporting unit in excess of carrying amount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReportingUnitPercentageOfFairValueInExcessOfCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis=srcl_MarketApproachGoodwillImpairmentTestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=srcl_OperatingPermitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsegmentsAxis=srcl_DomesticRegulatedandComplianceServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsegmentsAxis=srcl_DomesticRegulatedRecallandReturnsManagementServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsegmentsAxis=srcl_InternationalRegulatedandComplianceServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 Reporting_unit	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2014
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Number of geographical reportable segments	2us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments
Number of reporting units	3us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments
Goodwill	$ 2,418,832,000us-gaap_Goodwill	$ 2,231,582,000us-gaap_Goodwill	$ 2,065,103,000us-gaap_Goodwill
Aggregate amortization expense	32,692,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	27,067,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	22,054,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Covenants not-to-compete \| Minimum
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life	3 years
Covenants not-to-compete \| Maximum [Member]
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life	14 years
Customer relationships
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Finite lived intangible assets, weighted average remaining useful life	23 years 9 months 18 days
Customer relationships \| Minimum
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life	10 years
Customer relationships \| Maximum [Member]
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life	40 years
Trade names \| Minimum
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life	10 years
Trade names \| Maximum [Member]
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life	40 years
Market Approach Goodwill Impairment Test [Member]
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Reporting Unit, Percentage of Fair Value in Excess of Carrying Amount	100.00%
Domestic Regulated and Compliance Services [Member] \| Income Approach Goodwill Impairment Test [Member]
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Reporting Unit, Percentage of Fair Value in Excess of Carrying Amount	100.00%
Domestic Regulated Recall and Returns Management Services [Member] \| Income Approach Goodwill Impairment Test [Member]
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Reporting Unit, Percentage of Fair Value in Excess of Carrying Amount	100.00%
International Regulated and Compliance Services [Member]
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Goodwill				576,700,000
International Regulated and Compliance Services [Member] \| Income Approach Goodwill Impairment Test [Member]
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Reporting Unit, Percentage of Fair Value in Excess of Carrying Amount				85.00%
Operating permits
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Write off of permit intangibles	$ 9,900,000	$ 2,900,000