EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE - Computation of Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Stericycle, Inc.	$ 18,744	$ 64,795	$ 46,034	$ 76,786	$ 80,827	$ 69,449	$ 87,830	$ 28,940	$ 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	$ 12,721	$ 61,536	$ 37,293	$ 66,680	$ 70,721	$ 69,449	$ 87,830	$ 28,940	$ 178,230	$ 256,940	$ 326,456
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share-weighted average shares (in shares)									84,932,402	84,944,841	84,932,792
Effect of diluted securities:
Employee stock based awards (in shares)									677,817	1,217,768	1,300,820
Mandatory convertible preferred stock (in shares)									0	0	0
Denominator for diluted earnings per share-adjusted weighted average shares and after assumed exercises (in shares)									85,610,219	86,162,609	86,233,612
Earnings per share - Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ 0.72	$ 0.44	$ 0.79	$ 0.83	$ 0.82	$ 1.03	$ 0.34	$ 2.10	$ 3.02	$ 3.84
Earnings per share - Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ 0.72	$ 0.43	$ 0.78	$ 0.82	$ 0.81	$ 1.02	$ 0.34	$ 2.08	$ 2.98	$ 3.79