CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 2,985,908	$ 2,555,601	$ 2,142,807
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation shown below)	1,658,081	1,404,712	1,128,170
Depreciation - cost of revenues	61,642	56,478	50,003
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	712,803	489,937	390,610
Depreciation – SG&A	20,272	15,446	11,338
Amortization	45,498	32,692	27,067
Total Costs and Expenses	2,498,296	1,999,265	1,607,188
Income from Operations	487,612	556,336	535,619
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	224	120	294
Interest expense	(77,498)	(66,142)	(55,243)
Other income/ (expense), net	569	(2,746)	(2,924)
Total Other Expense	(76,705)	(68,768)	(57,873)
Income Before Income Taxes	410,907	487,568	477,746
Income tax expense	142,894	159,422	164,662
Net Income	268,013	328,146	313,084
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	967	1,690	1,712
Net Income Attributable to Stericycle, Inc.	267,046	326,456	311,372
Less: mandatory convertible preferred stock dividend	10,106	0	0
Net Income Attributable to Stericycle, Inc. Common Shareholders	$ 256,940	$ 326,456	$ 311,372
Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to Stericycle, Inc. Common Shareholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.02	$ 3.84	$ 3.62
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.98	$ 3.79	$ 3.56
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic (shares)	84,944,841	84,932,792	85,902,550
Diluted (shares)	86,162,609	86,233,612	87,391,988