SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 888,304	$ 718,596	$ 715,689	$ 663,319	$ 676,947	$ 667,877	$ 640,822	$ 569,955	$ 2,985,908	$ 2,555,601	$ 2,142,807
Gross profit	380,355	299,675	304,824	281,331	284,969	278,669	275,304	255,469	1,266,185	1,094,411
Acquisition expenses	818	(33,674)	(2,986)	(3,296)	(2,661)	(3,472)	(3,979)	(3,221)	(39,138)	(13,333)	(10,300)
Integration expenses	(20,432)	(13,447)	(8,924)	(8,886)	(11,343)	(7,461)	(4,679)	(2,485)	(51,689)	(25,968)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	0	0	(35)	675	5,405	0	836	(4,789)	640	1,452
Impairment of intangible assets	(1,781)	0	0	0					(1,781)
Restructuring and plant conversion expenses	(4,667)	(2,721)	(3,058)	(12,302)	(10,495)	(2,380)	(1,115)	(574)	(22,748)	(14,564)
Litigation expenses	(645)	(12,056)	(44,827)	(2,123)	(3,331)	(1,342)	(396)	(1,505)	(59,651)	(6,574)
Net income attributable to Stericycle, Inc.	78,876	52,263	60,449	75,458	$ 82,526	$ 82,845	$ 81,936	$ 79,149	267,046	326,456	311,372
Mandatory convertible preferred stock	(10,106)	0	0	0					(10,106)	0	0
Net Income Attributable to Stericycle, Inc. Common Shareholders	$ 68,770	$ 52,263	$ 60,449	$ 75,458					$ 256,940	$ 326,456	$ 311,372
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.81	$ 0.62	$ 0.71	$ 0.89	$ 0.97	$ 0.98	$ 0.97	$ 0.93	$ 3.02	$ 3.84	$ 3.62
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.80	$ 0.60	$ 0.70	$ 0.87	$ 0.96	$ 0.96	$ 0.95	$ 0.91	$ 2.98	$ 3.79	$ 3.56