SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per 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
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 676,947	$ 667,877	$ 640,822	$ 569,955	$ 567,899	$ 534,579	$ 526,525	$ 513,804	$ 2,555,601	$ 2,142,807	$ 1,913,149
Gross profit	284,969	278,669	275,304	255,469	253,285	241,403	237,852	232,094	1,094,411	964,634
Acquisition expenses	(2,661)	(3,472)	(3,979)	(3,221)	(4,037)	(2,111)	(2,324)	(1,803)	(13,333)	(10,275)	(7,900)
Integration expenses	(11,343)	(7,461)	(4,679)	(2,485)	(2,819)	(1,423)	(1,383)	(896)	(25,968)	(6,521)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	5,405	0	836	(4,789)	1,971	185	122	0	1,452	2,278	(752)
Restructuring costs and plant closure expense	(10,495)	(2,380)	(1,115)	(574)	(2,012)	(787)	(104)	0	(14,564)	(2,903)
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)					(1,405)	0	0	0		(1,405)
Litigation settlement	(3,331)	(1,342)	(396)	(1,505)	(2,120)	(12)	2	(106)	(6,574)	(2,236)
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
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.97	$ 0.98	$ 0.97	$ 0.93	$ 0.91	$ 0.94	$ 0.91	$ 0.87	$ 3.84	$ 3.62	$ 3.14
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.96	$ 0.96	$ 0.95	$ 0.91	$ 0.90	$ 0.92	$ 0.89	$ 0.85	$ 3.79	$ 3.56	$ 3.08