Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Quarterly Results of Operations (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
Selected Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,048,622	$ 1,084,922	$ 727,639	$ 514,680	$ 531,937	$ 547,938	$ 531,312	$ 506,100	$ 3,375,863	$ 2,117,287	$ 2,079,166
Operating income (loss)	139,157	158,666	63,495	90,979	101,730	(375,152)	110,024	101,865	452,298	(61,532)	449,269
Net income (loss)	85,703	88,881	27,720	45,017	52,388	(256,805)	57,641	52,081	247,321	(94,694)	233,327
Net income (loss) attributable to Waste Connections	$ 85,592	$ 88,617	$ 27,489	$ 44,842	$ 52,061	$ (257,009)	$ 57,360	$ 51,824	$ 246,540	$ (95,764)	$ 232,525
Basic income (loss) per common share attributable to Waste Connections' common stockholders	$ 0.49	$ 0.51	$ 0.20	$ 0.37	$ 0.42	$ (2.08)	$ 0.46	$ 0.42	$ 1.61	$ (0.78)	$ 1.87
Diluted income (loss) per common share attributable to Waste Connections' common stockholders	$ 0.49	$ 0.50	$ 0.20	$ 0.36	$ 0.42	$ (2.08)	$ 0.46	$ 0.42	$ 1.60	$ (0.78)	$ 1.86