3.6.0.2 html 617 597 1 true 169 0 false 13 false false R1.htm 00050 - Document - Document and Entity Information Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DocumentDocumentAndEntityInformation Document and Entity Information Cover 1 false false R2.htm 00100 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/StatementCondensedConsolidatedBalanceSheets Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Statements 2 false false R3.htm 00150 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/StatementCondensedConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) Statements 3 false false R4.htm 00200 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Net Income (Loss) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/StatementCondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfNetIncomeLoss Condensed Consolidated Statements of Net Income (Loss) Statements 4 false false R5.htm 00300 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/StatementCondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfComprehensiveIncomeLoss Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) Statements 5 false false R6.htm 00400 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/StatementCondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfEquity Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity Statements 6 false false R7.htm 00500 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/StatementCondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Statements 7 false false R8.htm 10101 - Disclosure - Organization, Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies Organization, Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Notes 8 false false R9.htm 10201 - Disclosure - Use of Estimates and Assumptions Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureUseOfEstimatesAndAssumptions Use of Estimates and Assumptions Notes 9 false false R10.htm 10301 - Disclosure - Acquisitions Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAcquisitions Acquisitions Notes 10 false false R11.htm 10401 - Disclosure - Assets Held for Sale Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAssetsHeldForSale Assets Held for Sale Notes 11 false false R12.htm 10501 - Disclosure - Intangible Assets, Net Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIntangibleAssetsNet Intangible Assets, Net Notes 12 false false R13.htm 10601 - Disclosure - Property and Equipment, Net Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosurePropertyAndEquipmentNet Property and Equipment, Net Notes 13 false false R14.htm 10701 - Disclosure - Accrued Liabilities Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAccruedLiabilities Accrued Liabilities Notes 14 false false R15.htm 10801 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureLongTermDebt Long-Term Debt Notes 15 false false R16.htm 10901 - Disclosure - Fair Value of Financial Instruments Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureFairValueOfFinancialInstruments Fair Value of Financial Instruments Notes 16 false false R17.htm 11001 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingencies Commitments and Contingencies Notes 17 false false R18.htm 11101 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquity Stockholders' Equity Notes 18 false false R19.htm 11201 - Disclosure - Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Notes 19 false false R20.htm 11301 - Disclosure - Income Taxes Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxes Income Taxes Notes 20 false false R21.htm 11401 - Disclosure - Segment Reporting Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSegmentReporting Segment Reporting Notes 21 false false R22.htm 11501 - Disclosure - Net Income (Loss) Per Share Information Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureNetIncomeLossPerShareInformation Net Income (Loss) Per Share Information Notes 22 false false R23.htm 11601 - Disclosure - Employee Benefit Plans Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefitPlans Employee Benefit Plans Notes 23 false false R24.htm 11701 - Disclosure - Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSelectedQuarterlyFinancialDataUnaudited Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) Notes 24 false false R25.htm 11801 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSubsequentEvents Subsequent Events Notes 25 false false R26.htm 11901 - Disclosure - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureValuationAndQualifyingAccounts Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Notes 26 false false R27.htm 20102 - Disclosure - Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) Policies http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies 27 false false R28.htm 30103 - Disclosure - Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables) Tables 28 false false R29.htm 30303 - Disclosure - Acquisitions (Tables) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAcquisitionsTables Acquisitions (Tables) Tables http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAcquisitions 29 false false R30.htm 30403 - Disclosure - Assets Held for Sale (Tables) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAssetsHeldForSaleTables Assets Held for Sale (Tables) Tables http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAssetsHeldForSale 30 false false R31.htm 30503 - Disclosure - Intangible Assets, Net (Tables) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIntangibleAssetsNetTables Intangible Assets, Net (Tables) Tables http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIntangibleAssetsNet 31 false false R32.htm 30603 - Disclosure - Property and Equipment, Net (Tables) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosurePropertyAndEquipmentNetTables Property and Equipment, Net (Tables) Tables http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosurePropertyAndEquipmentNet 32 false false R33.htm 30703 - Disclosure - Accrued Liabilities (Tables) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAccruedLiabilitiesTables Accrued Liabilities (Tables) Tables http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAccruedLiabilities 33 false false R34.htm 30803 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt (Tables) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureLongTermDebtTables Long-Term Debt (Tables) Tables http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureLongTermDebt 34 false false R35.htm 30903 - Disclosure - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureFairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsTables Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables) Tables http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureFairValueOfFinancialInstruments 35 false false R36.htm 31003 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Tables) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingenciesTables Commitments and Contingencies (Tables) Tables http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingencies 36 false false R37.htm 31103 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Tables) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityTables Stockholders' Equity (Tables) Tables http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquity 37 false false R38.htm 31203 - Disclosure - Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTables Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables) Tables http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss 38 false false R39.htm 31303 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Tables) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesTables Income Taxes (Tables) Tables http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxes 39 false false R40.htm 31403 - Disclosure - Segment Reporting (Tables) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSegmentReportingTables Segment Reporting (Tables) Tables http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSegmentReporting 40 false false R41.htm 31503 - Disclosure - Net Income (Loss) Per Share Information (Tables) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureNetIncomeLossPerShareInformationTables Net Income (Loss) Per Share Information (Tables) Tables http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureNetIncomeLossPerShareInformation 41 false false R42.htm 31603 - Disclosure - Employee Benefit Plans (Tables) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefitPlansTables Employee Benefit Plans (Tables) Tables http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefitPlans 42 false false R43.htm 31703 - Disclosure - Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Tables) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSelectedQuarterlyFinancialDataTables Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Tables) Tables http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSelectedQuarterlyFinancialDataUnaudited 43 false false R44.htm 40101 - Disclosure - Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesNarrativeDetail Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables 44 false false R45.htm 40102 - Disclosure - Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Property Plant and Equipment Estimated Useful Lives) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentEstimatedUsefulLivesDetail Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Property Plant and Equipment Estimated Useful Lives) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables 45 false false R46.htm 40103 - Disclosure - Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Reconciliation of Final Capping, Closure and Post-Closure Liability Balance) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesReconciliationOfFinalCappingClosureAndPostClosureLiabilityBalanceDetail Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Reconciliation of Final Capping, Closure and Post-Closure Liability Balance) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables 46 false false R47.htm 40104 - Disclosure - Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Carrying Values and Fair Values of Debt Instruments) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesCarryingValuesAndFairValuesOfDebtInstrumentsDetail Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Carrying Values and Fair Values of Debt Instruments) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables 47 false false R48.htm 40105 - Disclosure - Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Company's Derivative Instruments of Interest Rate Swaps) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesCompanySDerivativeInstrumentsOfInterestRateSwapsDetail Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Company's Derivative Instruments of Interest Rate Swaps) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables 48 false false R49.htm 40106 - Disclosure - Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Company's Derivative Instruments of Fuel Hedge Agreements) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesCompanySDerivativeInstrumentsOfFuelHedgeAgreementsDetail Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Company's Derivative Instruments of Fuel Hedge Agreements) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables 49 false false R50.htm 40107 - Disclosure - Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Fair Values of Derivative Instruments Designated as Cash Flow Hedges) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesFairValuesOfDerivativeInstrumentsDesignatedAsCashFlowHedgesDetail Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Fair Values of Derivative Instruments Designated as Cash Flow Hedges) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables 50 false false R51.htm 40108 - Disclosure - Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Impact of Cash Flow Hedges on Results of Operations, Comprehensive Income and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesImpactOfCashFlowHedgesOnResultsOfOperationsComprehensiveIncomeAndAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveLossDetail Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Impact of Cash Flow Hedges on Results of Operations, Comprehensive Income and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables 51 false false R52.htm 40109 - Disclosure - Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Fair Value Assumptions) (Details) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesFairValueAssumptionsDetails Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Fair Value Assumptions) (Details) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables 52 false false R53.htm 40301 - Disclosure - Acquisitions (Narrative) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAcquisitionsNarrativeDetail Acquisitions (Narrative) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAcquisitionsTables 53 false false R54.htm 40302 - Disclosure - Acquisitions (Summary of Consideration Transferred to Acquire Businesses and Amounts of Identifiable Assets Acquired, Liabilities Assumed and Noncontrolling Interests) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAcquisitionsSummaryOfConsiderationTransferredToAcquireBusinessesAndAmountsOfIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredLiabilitiesAssumedAndNoncontrollingInterestsDetail Acquisitions (Summary of Consideration Transferred to Acquire Businesses and Amounts of Identifiable Assets Acquired, Liabilities Assumed and Noncontrolling Interests) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAcquisitionsTables 54 false false R55.htm 40303 - Disclosure - Acquisitions (Pro Forma Results of Operations) (Details) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAcquisitionsProFormaResultsOfOperationsDetails Acquisitions (Pro Forma Results of Operations) (Details) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAcquisitionsTables 55 false false R56.htm 40401 - Disclosure - Assets Held for Sale (Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale) (Details) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAssetsHeldForSaleAssetsAndLiabilitiesHeldForSaleDetails Assets Held for Sale (Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale) (Details) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAssetsHeldForSaleTables 56 false false R57.htm 40501 - Disclosure - Intangible Assets, Net (Narrative) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIntangibleAssetsNetNarrativeDetail Intangible Assets, Net (Narrative) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIntangibleAssetsNetTables 57 false false R58.htm 40502 - Disclosure - Intangible Assets, Net (Intangible Assets Exclusive of Goodwill) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIntangibleAssetsNetIntangibleAssetsExclusiveOfGoodwillDetail Intangible Assets, Net (Intangible Assets Exclusive of Goodwill) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIntangibleAssetsNetTables 58 false false R59.htm 40503 - Disclosure - Intangible Assets, Net (Estimated Future Amortization Expense of Amortizable Intangible Assets) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIntangibleAssetsNetEstimatedFutureAmortizationExpenseOfAmortizableIntangibleAssetsDetail Intangible Assets, Net (Estimated Future Amortization Expense of Amortizable Intangible Assets) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIntangibleAssetsNetTables 59 false false R60.htm 40601 - Disclosure - Property and Equipment, Net (Narrative) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosurePropertyAndEquipmentNetNarrativeDetail Property and Equipment, Net (Narrative) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosurePropertyAndEquipmentNetTables 60 false false R61.htm 40602 - Disclosure - Property and Equipment, Net (Property and Equipment) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosurePropertyAndEquipmentNetPropertyAndEquipmentDetail Property and Equipment, Net (Property and Equipment) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosurePropertyAndEquipmentNetTables 61 false false R62.htm 40701 - Disclosure - Accrued Liabilities (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAccruedLiabilitiesDetail Accrued Liabilities (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureAccruedLiabilitiesTables 62 false false R63.htm 40801 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureLongTermDebtNarrativeDetail Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureLongTermDebtTables 63 false false R64.htm 40802 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt (Long-Term Debt) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureLongTermDebtLongTermDebtDetail Long-Term Debt (Long-Term Debt) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureLongTermDebtTables 64 false false R65.htm 40803 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt (Details of the Company's Credit Agreement) (Details) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureLongTermDebtDetailsOfCompanySCreditAgreementDetails Long-Term Debt (Details of the Company's Credit Agreement) (Details) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureLongTermDebtTables 65 false false R66.htm 40804 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt (Tax-Exempt Bond Financings) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureLongTermDebtTaxExemptBondFinancingsDetail Long-Term Debt (Tax-Exempt Bond Financings) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureLongTermDebtTables 66 false false R67.htm 40805 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt (Aggregate Contractual Future Principal Payments by Calendar Year on Long-Term Debt) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureLongTermDebtAggregateContractualFuturePrincipalPaymentsByCalendarYearOnLongTermDebtDetail Long-Term Debt (Aggregate Contractual Future Principal Payments by Calendar Year on Long-Term Debt) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureLongTermDebtTables 67 false false R68.htm 40901 - Disclosure - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureFairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsNarrativeDetail Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureFairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsTables 68 false false R69.htm 40902 - Disclosure - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureFairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredAtFairValueOnRecurringBasisDetail Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureFairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsTables 69 false false R70.htm 40903 - Disclosure - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Change in Fair Value for Level 3 Derivatives) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureFairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsChangeInFairValueForLevel3DerivativesDetail Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Change in Fair Value for Level 3 Derivatives) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureFairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsTables 70 false false R71.htm 40904 - Disclosure - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Fair Value for Level 3 Liabilities) (Details) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureFairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsFairValueForLevel3LiabilitiesDetails Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Fair Value for Level 3 Liabilities) (Details) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureFairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsTables 71 false false R72.htm 41001 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingenciesNarrativeDetail Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingenciesTables 72 false false R73.htm 41002 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Future Minimum Lease Payments) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingenciesFutureMinimumLeasePaymentsDetail Commitments and Contingencies (Future Minimum Lease Payments) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingenciesTables 73 false false R74.htm 41003 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Future Minimum Purchase Commitments) (Details) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingenciesFutureMinimumPurchaseCommitmentsDetails Commitments and Contingencies (Future Minimum Purchase Commitments) (Details) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingenciesTables 74 false false R75.htm 41101 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Narrative) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityNarrativeDetail Stockholders' Equity (Narrative) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityTables 75 false false R76.htm 41102 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Common Stock Shares Reserved for Issuances) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityCommonStockSharesReservedForIssuancesDetail Stockholders' Equity (Common Stock Shares Reserved for Issuances) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityTables 76 false false R77.htm 41103 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Restricted Stock Units Activity) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityRestrictedStockUnitsActivityDetail Stockholders' Equity (Restricted Stock Units Activity) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityTables 77 false false R78.htm 41104 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Summary of Activity Related to Restricted Stock Units) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquitySummaryOfActivityRelatedToRestrictedStockUnitsDetail Stockholders' Equity (Summary of Activity Related to Restricted Stock Units) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityTables 78 false false R79.htm 41107 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Summary of Warrant Activity) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquitySummaryOfWarrantActivityDetail Stockholders' Equity (Summary of Warrant Activity) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityTables 79 false false R80.htm 41108 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Summarized Information about Warrants Outstanding) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquitySummarizedInformationAboutWarrantsOutstandingDetail Stockholders' Equity (Summarized Information about Warrants Outstanding) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityTables 80 false false R81.htm 41109 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Summary of Vesting Activity Related to Restricted Share Units) (Details) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquitySummaryOfVestingActivityRelatedToRestrictedShareUnitsDetails Stockholders' Equity (Summary of Vesting Activity Related to Restricted Share Units) (Details) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityTables 81 false false R82.htm 41110 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Summary of Stock Option Activity and Related Information) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquitySummaryOfStockOptionActivityAndRelatedInformationDetail Stockholders' Equity (Summary of Stock Option Activity and Related Information) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityTables 82 false false R83.htm 41111 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Summary of Vesting Activity Related to Share Based Options) (Details) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquitySummaryOfVestingActivityRelatedToShareBasedOptionsDetails Stockholders' Equity (Summary of Vesting Activity Related to Share Based Options) (Details) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityTables 83 false false R84.htm 41201 - Disclosure - Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Components of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossComponentsOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDetail Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Components of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTables 84 false false R85.htm 41202 - Disclosure - Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Amounts Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAmountsIncludedInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveLossDetail Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Amounts Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTables 85 false false R86.htm 41301 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Narrative) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesNarrativeDetail Income Taxes (Narrative) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesTables 86 false false R87.htm 41302 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Income (Loss) Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes) (Details) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesIncomeLossBeforeProvisionBenefitForIncomeTaxesDetails Income Taxes (Income (Loss) Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes) (Details) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesTables 87 false false R88.htm 41303 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Provision For Income Taxes) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesProvisionForIncomeTaxesDetail Income Taxes (Provision For Income Taxes) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesTables 88 false false R89.htm 41304 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Differences between Income Tax Provision in Statements of Net Income and Income Tax Provision Computed at Federal Statutory Rate) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesDifferencesBetweenIncomeTaxProvisionInStatementsOfNetIncomeAndIncomeTaxProvisionComputedAtFederalStatutoryRateDetail Income Taxes (Differences between Income Tax Provision in Statements of Net Income and Income Tax Provision Computed at Federal Statutory Rate) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesTables 89 false false R90.htm 41305 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Components of Deferred Income Tax Assets and Liabilities) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesComponentsOfDeferredIncomeTaxAssetsAndLiabilitiesDetail Income Taxes (Components of Deferred Income Tax Assets and Liabilities) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesTables 90 false false R91.htm 41401 - Disclosure - Segment Reporting (Narrative) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSegmentReportingNarrativeDetail Segment Reporting (Narrative) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSegmentReportingTables 91 false false R92.htm 41402 - Disclosure - Segment Reporting (Summary of Financial Information Concerning Company's Reportable Segments) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSegmentReportingSummaryOfFinancialInformationConcerningCompanySReportableSegmentsDetail Segment Reporting (Summary of Financial Information Concerning Company's Reportable Segments) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSegmentReportingTables 92 false false R93.htm 41403 - Disclosure - Segment Reporting (Changes in Goodwill by Reportable Segment) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSegmentReportingChangesInGoodwillByReportableSegmentDetail Segment Reporting (Changes in Goodwill by Reportable Segment) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSegmentReportingTables 93 false false R94.htm 41404 - Disclosure - Segment Reporting (Property and Equipment, Net Relating to Operations) (Details) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSegmentReportingPropertyAndEquipmentNetRelatingToOperationsDetails Segment Reporting (Property and Equipment, Net Relating to Operations) (Details) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSegmentReportingTables 94 false false R95.htm 41405 - Disclosure - Segment Reporting (Reconciliation of Primary Measure of Segment Profitability to Income before Income Tax Provision) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSegmentReportingReconciliationOfPrimaryMeasureOfSegmentProfitabilityToIncomeBeforeIncomeTaxProvisionDetail Segment Reporting (Reconciliation of Primary Measure of Segment Profitability to Income before Income Tax Provision) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSegmentReportingTables 95 false false R96.htm 41406 - Disclosure - Segment Reporting (Total Reported Revenues by Service Line) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSegmentReportingTotalReportedRevenuesByServiceLineDetail Segment Reporting (Total Reported Revenues by Service Line) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSegmentReportingTables 96 false false R97.htm 41502 - Disclosure - Net Income (Loss) Per Share Information (Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Common Share) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureNetIncomeLossPerShareInformationBasicAndDilutedNetIncomePerCommonShareDetail Net Income (Loss) Per Share Information (Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Common Share) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureNetIncomeLossPerShareInformationTables 97 false false R98.htm 41601 - Disclosure - Employee Benefit Plans (Narrative) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefitPlansNarrativeDetail Employee Benefit Plans (Narrative) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefitPlansTables 98 false false R99.htm 41602 - Disclosure - Employee Benefit Plans (Plan Contributions) (Details) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefitPlansPlanContributionsDetails Employee Benefit Plans (Plan Contributions) (Details) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefitPlansTables 99 false false R100.htm 41701 - Disclosure - Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Narrative) (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSelectedQuarterlyFinancialDataNarrativeDetail Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Narrative) (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSelectedQuarterlyFinancialDataTables 100 false false R101.htm 41702 - Disclosure - Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Quarterly Results of Operations (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSelectedQuarterlyFinancialDataQuarterlyResultsOfOperationsDetail Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Quarterly Results of Operations (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSelectedQuarterlyFinancialDataTables 101 false false R102.htm 41801 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events (Details) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSubsequentEventsDetails Subsequent Events (Details) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureSubsequentEvents 102 false false R103.htm 41901 - Disclosure - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Detail) Sheet http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureValuationAndQualifyingAccountsDetail Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Detail) Details http://wasteconnections.com/role/DisclosureValuationAndQualifyingAccounts 103 false false All Reports Book All Reports wcn-20161231.xml wcn-20161231.xsd wcn-20161231_cal.xml wcn-20161231_def.xml wcn-20161231_lab.xml wcn-20161231_pre.xml true true