EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE - Computation of Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Stericycle, Inc.	$ 58,189	$ 76,786
Mandatory convertible preferred stock dividend	9,364	10,106
Gain on repurchase of preferred stock	(4,563)	0
Net Income Attributable to Stericycle, Inc. Common Shareholders	$ 53,388	$ 66,680
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share-weighted average shares (in shares)	85,220,228	84,705,000
Effect of diluted securities:
Dilutive effect of stock-based compensation awards (in shares)	352,181	1,140,501
Mandatory convertible preferred stock (in shares)	0	0
Denominator for diluted earnings per share-adjusted weighted average shares and after assumed exercises (in shares)	85,572,409	85,845,501
Earnings per share - Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.63	$ 0.79
Earnings per share - Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.62	$ 0.78