CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues	$ 1,676,048		$ 1,439,388		$ 1,177,736
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation shown below)	874,169		734,936		596,312
Depreciation-cost of revenues	41,135		37,025		29,028
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	311,522		279,884		226,245
Depreciation-SG&A	8,642		6,941		5,572
Amortization	16,269		9,919		5,390
Total Costs and Expenses	1,251,737		1,068,705		862,547
Income from Operations	424,311		370,683		315,189
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	799		266		201
Interest expense	(49,431)		(37,081)		(34,333)
Other expense, net	(3,355)		(2,015)		(3,369)
Total Other Expense	(51,987)		(38,830)		(37,501)
Income Before Income Taxes	372,324		331,853		277,688
Income Tax Expense	134,981		121,396		101,299
Net Income	237,343		210,457		176,389
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,592		2,578		698
Net income attributable to Stericycle, Inc.	$ 234,751		$ 207,879		$ 175,691
Earnings Per Common Share:
Basic	$ 2.75	[1]	$ 2.44	[1]	$ 2.07
Diluted	$ 2.69	[1]	$ 2.39	[1]	$ 2.03
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic	85,467,421		85,057,775		84,769,912
Diluted	87,367,712		86,962,651		86,744,003

[1] EPS calculated on a quarterly basis, and, as such, the amounts may not total the calculated full-year EPS.