Intangible Assets, Period Increase (Decrease)

No definition available.

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- Definition

Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16265-109275

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65885119&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of goodwill arising from a business combination that is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 23
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73531572&loc=d3e1043-128460

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase in assets, excluding financial assets, lacking physical substance with a definite life, from an acquisition.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) from adjustments after acquisition date under purchase accounting of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 16
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73531572&loc=d3e961-128460

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of businesses acquired by the entity during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash outflow representing an adjustment to the purchase price of a previous acquisition.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=srcl_ShredItAcquisitionMember
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ACQUISITIONS - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) Entity	Mar. 31, 2016 Entity	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) Entity	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of acquisitions \| Entity	10	7		17
Net increase in goodwill related to current year				$ 33,593		$ 1,450,950
Increase (Decrease) in goodwill due to purchase price and valuation adjustments				(224,123)		(28,277)
Effect of goodwill on income taxes	$ 28,800			28,800
Net increase in Intangible Assets				18,900
Acquisition related expenses	$ 2,607		$ 2,986	5,597	$ 6,282
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition related expenses				5,600	$ 6,300
Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets				$ 18,100
Customer relationships \| Minimum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, useful life				10 years
Customer relationships \| Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, useful life				40 years
Covenants not-to-compete
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets				$ 800
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, useful life				5 years
Shred-It Acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Additional cash consideration paid				$ 9,500
Romania
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of acquisitions \| Entity				2
Spain
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of acquisitions \| Entity				2
Republic of Korea
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of acquisitions \| Entity				1
United Kingdom
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of acquisitions \| Entity				1
United States \| Secure information destruction business
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of acquisitions \| Entity	3	4
United States \| Acquisition One \| Regulated and Compliance Solutions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of acquisitions \| Entity		1
Business acquisition, ownership percentage acquired		100.00%
United States \| Acquisition Three \| Regulated and Compliance Solutions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of acquisitions \| Entity	3
International \| Romania \| Regulated and Compliance Solutions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of acquisitions \| Entity	1	1
International \| Spain \| Regulated and Compliance Solutions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of acquisitions \| Entity	1	1
International \| Republic of Korea \| Regulated and Compliance Solutions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of acquisitions \| Entity	1
International \| United Kingdom \| Regulated and Compliance Solutions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of acquisitions \| Entity	1
Domestic Regulated Waste and Compliance Services
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net increase (decrease) in goodwill				$ (29,200)
Net increase in goodwill related to current year				29,171		1,150,437
Increase (Decrease) in goodwill due to purchase price and valuation adjustments				(128,076)		(6,221)
International Regulated Waste and Compliance Services
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net increase (decrease) in goodwill				(4,400)
Net increase in goodwill related to current year				4,422		273,519
Increase (Decrease) in goodwill due to purchase price and valuation adjustments				$ (97,197)		$ (19,072)