CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 3,562,342	$ 2,985,908	$ 2,555,601
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation shown below)	1,971,842	1,658,081	1,404,712
Depreciation - cost of revenues	88,546	61,642	56,478
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	904,179	712,803	489,937
Depreciation – SG&A	34,700	20,272	15,446
Amortization	129,300	45,498	32,692
Total Costs and Expenses	3,128,567	2,498,296	1,999,265
Income from Operations	433,775	487,612	556,336
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	78	224	120
Interest expense	(97,787)	(77,498)	(66,142)
Other (expense)/income, net	(7,921)	569	(2,746)
Total Other Expense	(105,630)	(76,705)	(68,768)
Income Before Income Taxes	328,145	410,907	487,568
Income tax expense	120,246	142,894	159,422
Net Income	207,899	268,013	328,146
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,540	967	1,690
Net Income Attributable to Stericycle, Inc.	206,359	267,046	326,456
Mandatory convertible preferred stock dividend	39,414	10,106	0
Gain on repurchase of preferred stock	(11,285)	0	0
Net Income Attributable to Stericycle, Inc. Common Shareholders	$ 178,230	$ 256,940	$ 326,456
Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to Stericycle, Inc. Common Shareholders:
Basic	$ 2.10	$ 3.02	$ 3.84
Diluted	$ 2.08	$ 2.98	$ 3.79
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic	84,932,402	84,944,841	84,932,792
Diluted	85,610,219	86,162,609	86,233,612