CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 718,596	$ 667,877	$ 2,097,604	$ 1,878,654
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation shown below)	404,918	373,973	1,169,051	1,026,149
Depreciation - cost of revenues	14,003	15,235	42,723	43,063
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	185,932	125,603	509,047	355,330
Depreciation – selling, general and administrative expenses	4,248	5,033	12,753	12,325
Amortization	9,239	8,497	26,957	24,214
Total Costs and Expenses	618,340	528,341	1,760,531	1,461,081
Income from Operations	100,256	139,536	337,073	417,573
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	8	27	82	97
Interest expense	(17,386)	(16,644)	(52,448)	(47,980)
Other expense, net	(1,754)	(477)	(3,956)	(1,569)
Total Other Expense	(19,132)	(17,094)	(56,322)	(49,452)
Income Before Income Taxes	81,124	122,442	280,751	368,121
Income Tax Expense	28,404	39,401	91,325	122,633
Net Income	52,720	83,041	189,426	245,488
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	457	196	1,256	1,558
Net Income Attributable to Stericycle, Inc.	52,263	82,845	188,170	243,930
Less: mandatory convertible preferred stock dividend	1,684	0	1,684	0
Net Income Attributable to Stericycle, Inc. Common Shareholders	$ 50,579	$ 82,845	$ 186,486	$ 243,930
Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to Stericycle, Inc. Common Shareholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.60	$ 0.98	$ 2.19	$ 2.87
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.59	$ 0.96	$ 2.16	$ 2.83
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	84,884,599	84,858,360	84,960,955	84,940,975
Diluted (in shares)	86,120,315	86,116,455	86,234,859	86,237,202