EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE - Computation of Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Numerator:
Numerator for basic earnings per share net income attributable to Stericycle, Inc.	$ 60,449	$ 81,936	$ 135,907	$ 161,085
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share-weighted average shares	84,961,907	84,699,043	85,000,723	84,982,966
Effect of diluted securities:
Employee stock options	1,259,127	1,283,545	1,292,093	1,317,326
Denominator for diluted earnings per share-adjusted weighted average shares and after assumed exercises	86,221,034	85,982,588	86,292,816	86,300,292
Earnings per share – Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.71	$ 0.97	$ 1.60	$ 1.90
Earnings per share – Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70	$ 0.95	$ 1.57	$ 1.87