Commitments And Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Note 13 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Environmental — We or our subsidiaries have been notified by federal and state environmental agencies and by private parties that we may be a potentially responsible party (PRP) in connection with the investigation and remediation of certain environmental sites. While government agencies frequently assert that PRPs are jointly and severally liable at these sites, in our experience, the interim and final allocations of liability costs are generally made based on the relative contribution of waste. We initiate corrective and preventive environmental projects of our own to ensure safe and lawful activities at our operations. We believe that compliance with current governmental regulations at all levels will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. In September 2007, we were informed of rulings by the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky on several pending motions in the case of Westlake Vinyls, Inc. v. Goodrich Corporation, et al., which had been pending since 2003. The Court held that PolyOne must pay the remediation costs at the former Goodrich Corporation (now Westlake Vinyls, Inc.) Calvert City facility, together with certain defense costs of Goodrich Corporation. The rulings also provided that PolyOne can seek indemnification for contamination attributable to Westlake Vinyls. The environmental obligation at the site arose as a result of an agreement between The B.F.Goodrich Company (n/k/a Goodrich Corporation) and our predecessor, The Geon Company, at the time of the initial public offering in 1993, by which the Geon Company became a public company, to indemnify Goodrich Corporation for environmental costs at the site. At the time, neither PolyOne nor The Geon Company ever owned or operated the facility. Following the Court rulings, the parties to the litigation entered into settlement negotiations and agreed to settle all claims regarding past environmental costs incurred at the site. The settlement agreement provides a mechanism to pursue allocations of future remediation costs at the Calvert City site to Westlake Vinyls, Inc. While we do not currently assume any allocation of costs in our current reserve, we will adjust our reserve, in the future, consistent with any such future allocation of costs. A remedial investigation and feasibility study (RIFS) is underway at Calvert City. During the third quarter of 2013, we submitted a remedial investigation report to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The USEPA has required certain changes to the remedial investigation report, and development of a final report by the USEPA is ongoing. Further, we have undertaken steps to develop a feasibility study, including engaging a third party to perform ground water modeling at this site. Based upon preliminary results of this study, obtained in the fourth quarter of 2013, we adjusted our reserve $47.0 million for this location. We expect the remedial investigation to be finalized in 2014 and the feasibility study in 2015, and we continue to pursue available insurance coverage. On March 13, 2013, PolyOne acquired Spartech. One of Spartech's subsidiaries, Franklin-Burlington Plastics, Inc. (Franklin-Burlington), operated a plastic resin compounding facility in Kearny, New Jersey, located adjacent to the lower Passaic River. The USEPA has requested that companies located in the area of the lower Passaic River, including Franklin-Burlington, cooperate in an investigation of contamination of the lower Passaic River. In response, Franklin-Burlington and approximately 70 other companies (collectively, the Cooperating Parties) agreed, pursuant to an Administrative Order of Consent with the USEPA, to assume responsibility for development of a RIFS of the lower Passaic River. The RIFS costs are exclusive of any costs that may ultimately be required to remediate the lower Passaic River area being studied or costs associated with natural resource damages that may be assessed. By agreeing to bear a portion of the cost of the RIFS, Franklin-Burlington did not admit to or agree to bear any such remediation or natural resource damage costs. In April 2014, the USEPA released a Focused Feasibility Study for public comment for a portion of the Lower Passaic River. The Cooperating Parties, along with other interested parties, have submitted comments, and the USEPA is currently reviewing the comments. Given the uncertainties related to the lower Passaic River, including the fact that the final remedial actions and scope, and the ultimate allocation to Franklin-Burlington, have not yet been determined, we are not able to assess or estimate our remedial liability, if any, related to this matter. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, PolyOne recognized $7.7 million and $8.6 million, respectively, of expense related to environmental activities at our active and inactive sites. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 we received $1.6 million and $20.1 million, respectively, of insurance recoveries related to previously incurred environmental costs. These expenses and gains associated with these reimbursements are included within Cost of sales within our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Based on estimates that were prepared by our environmental engineers and consultants, our reserve balance was $121.7 million at September 30, 2014 and $125.9 million at December 31, 2013, for probable future environmental expenditures related to previously contaminated sites. The accruals represent our best estimate of the remaining probable remediation costs, based upon information and technology that is currently available and our view of the most likely remedy. Depending upon the results of future testing, the ultimate remediation alternatives undertaken, changes in regulations, new information, newly discovered conditions and other factors, it is reasonably possible that we could incur additional costs in excess of the amount accrued at September 30, 2014. However, such additional costs, if any, cannot presently be estimated. Guarantee — On February 28, 2011, we sold our 50% equity interest in SunBelt Chlor Alkali Partnership (SunBelt) to Olin Corporation (Olin) for $132.3 million in cash and the assumption by Olin of the obligations under our guarantee of senior secured notes issued by SunBelt. The remaining guarantee is $24.4 million as of September 30, 2014. Unless the guarantee is formally assigned to Olin, we remain obligated under the guarantee, although Olin has agreed to indemnify us for amounts that we may be obligated to pay under the guarantee.

Note 13 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Environmental — We or our subsidiaries have been notified by federal and state environmental agencies and by private parties that we may be a potentially responsible party (PRP) in connection with the investigation and remediation of certain environmental sites. While government agencies frequently assert that PRPs are jointly and severally liable at these sites, in our experience, the interim and final allocations of liability costs are generally made based on the relative contribution of waste. We initiate corrective and preventive environmental projects of our own to ensure safe and lawful activities at our operations. We believe that compliance with current governmental regulations at all levels will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

In September 2007, we were informed of rulings by the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky on several pending motions in the case of Westlake Vinyls, Inc. v. Goodrich Corporation, et al., which had been pending since 2003. The Court held that PolyOne must pay the remediation costs at the former Goodrich Corporation (now Westlake Vinyls, Inc.) Calvert City facility, together with certain defense costs of Goodrich Corporation. The rulings also provided that PolyOne can seek indemnification for contamination attributable to Westlake Vinyls.

The environmental obligation at the site arose as a result of an agreement between The B.F.Goodrich Company (n/k/a Goodrich Corporation) and our predecessor, The Geon Company, at the time of the initial public offering in 1993, by which the Geon Company became a public company, to indemnify Goodrich Corporation for environmental costs at the site. At the time, neither PolyOne nor The Geon Company ever owned or operated the facility. Following the Court rulings, the parties to the litigation entered into settlement negotiations and agreed to settle all claims regarding past environmental costs incurred at the site. The settlement agreement provides a mechanism to pursue allocations of future remediation costs at the Calvert City site to Westlake Vinyls, Inc. While we do not currently assume any allocation of costs in our current reserve, we will adjust our reserve, in the future, consistent with any such future allocation of costs.

A remedial investigation and feasibility study (RIFS) is underway at Calvert City. During the third quarter of 2013, we submitted a remedial investigation report to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The USEPA has required certain changes to the remedial investigation report, and development of a final report by the USEPA is ongoing. Further, we have undertaken steps to develop a feasibility study, including engaging a third party to perform ground water modeling at this site. Based upon preliminary results of this study, obtained in the fourth quarter of 2013, we adjusted our reserve $47.0 million for this location. We expect the remedial investigation to be finalized in 2014 and the feasibility study in 2015, and we continue to pursue available insurance coverage.

On March 13, 2013, PolyOne acquired Spartech. One of Spartech's subsidiaries, Franklin-Burlington Plastics, Inc. (Franklin-Burlington), operated a plastic resin compounding facility in Kearny, New Jersey, located adjacent to the lower Passaic River. The USEPA has requested that companies located in the area of the lower Passaic River, including Franklin-Burlington, cooperate in an investigation of contamination of the lower Passaic River. In response, Franklin-Burlington and approximately 70 other companies (collectively, the Cooperating Parties) agreed, pursuant to an Administrative Order of Consent with the USEPA, to assume responsibility for development of a RIFS of the lower Passaic River. The RIFS costs are exclusive of any costs that may ultimately be required to remediate the lower Passaic River area being studied or costs associated with natural resource damages that may be assessed. By agreeing to bear a portion of the cost of the RIFS, Franklin-Burlington did not admit to or agree to bear any such remediation or natural resource damage costs. In April 2014, the USEPA released a Focused Feasibility Study for public comment for a portion of the Lower Passaic River. The Cooperating Parties, along with other interested parties, have submitted comments, and the USEPA is currently reviewing the comments.

Given the uncertainties related to the lower Passaic River, including the fact that the final remedial actions and scope, and the ultimate allocation to Franklin-Burlington, have not yet been determined, we are not able to assess or estimate our remedial liability, if any, related to this matter.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, PolyOne recognized $7.7 million and $8.6 million, respectively, of expense related to environmental activities at our active and inactive sites. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 we received $1.6 million and $20.1 million, respectively, of insurance recoveries related to previously incurred environmental costs. These expenses and gains associated with these reimbursements are included within Cost of sales within our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

Based on estimates that were prepared by our environmental engineers and consultants, our reserve balance was $121.7 million at September 30, 2014 and $125.9 million at December 31, 2013, for probable future environmental expenditures related to previously contaminated sites. The accruals represent our best estimate of the remaining probable remediation costs, based upon information and technology that is currently available and our view of the most likely remedy. Depending upon the results of future testing, the ultimate remediation alternatives undertaken, changes in regulations, new information, newly discovered conditions and other factors, it is reasonably possible that we could incur additional costs in excess of the amount accrued at September 30, 2014. However, such additional costs, if any, cannot presently be estimated.

Guarantee — On February 28, 2011, we sold our 50% equity interest in SunBelt Chlor Alkali Partnership (SunBelt) to Olin Corporation (Olin) for $132.3 million in cash and the assumption by Olin of the obligations under our guarantee of senior secured notes issued by SunBelt. The remaining guarantee is $24.4 million as of September 30, 2014. Unless the guarantee is formally assigned to Olin, we remain obligated under the guarantee, although Olin has agreed to indemnify us for amounts that we may be obligated to pay under the guarantee.