CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 715,689	$ 640,822	$ 1,379,008	$ 1,210,777
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation shown below)	396,793	350,416	764,133	652,176
Depreciation - cost of revenues	14,072	15,102	28,720	27,828
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	181,752	117,547	323,115	229,727
Depreciation – selling, general and administrative expenses	4,387	3,977	8,505	7,292
Amortization	8,921	8,402	17,718	15,717
Total Costs and Expenses	605,925	495,444	1,142,191	932,740
Income from Operations	109,764	145,378	236,817	278,037
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	39	50	74	70
Interest expense	(16,429)	(16,418)	(35,062)	(31,336)
Other expense, net	(1,604)	(392)	(2,202)	(1,092)
Total Other Expense	(17,994)	(16,760)	(37,190)	(32,358)
Income Before Income Taxes	91,770	128,618	199,627	245,679
Income Tax Expense	30,874	45,941	62,921	83,232
Net Income	60,896	82,677	136,706	162,447
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	447	741	799	1,362
Net Income Attributable to Stericycle, Inc.	$ 60,449	$ 81,936	$ 135,907	$ 161,085
Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to Stericycle, Inc. Common Shareholders:
Basic	$ 0.71	$ 0.97	$ 1.60	$ 1.90
Diluted	$ 0.70	$ 0.95	$ 1.57	$ 1.87
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic	84,961,907	84,699,043	85,000,723	84,982,966
Diluted	86,221,034	85,982,588	86,292,816	86,300,292