Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Quarterly Results of Operations (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
Selected Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 531,937	$ 547,938	$ 531,312	$ 506,100	$ 526,213	$ 546,551	$ 524,693	$ 481,710	$ 2,117,287	$ 2,079,166	$ 1,928,795
Operating income (loss)	101,730	(375,152)	110,024	101,865	113,952	116,011	118,716	100,589	(61,532)	449,269	393,444
Net income (loss)	52,388	(256,805)	57,641	52,081	60,921	60,284	62,900	49,223	(94,694)	233,327	196,005
Net income (loss) attributable to Waste Connections	$ 52,061	$ (257,009)	$ 57,360	$ 51,824	$ 60,762	$ 60,084	$ 62,664	$ 49,015	$ (95,764)	$ 232,525	$ 195,655
Basic income (loss) per common share attributable to Waste Connections' common stockholders	$ 0.42	$ (2.08)	$ 0.46	$ 0.42	$ 0.49	$ 0.48	$ 0.50	$ 0.40	$ (0.78)	$ 1.87	$ 1.58
Diluted income (loss) per common share attributable to Waste Connections' common stockholders	$ 0.42	$ (2.08)	$ 0.46	$ 0.42	$ 0.49	$ 0.48	$ 0.50	$ 0.39	$ (0.78)	$ 1.86	$ 1.58