Condensed Consolidated Statements of Net Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 3,375,863	$ 2,117,287	$ 2,079,166
Operating expenses:
Cost of operations	1,957,712	1,177,409	1,138,388
Selling, general and administrative	474,263	237,484	229,474
Depreciation	393,600	240,357	230,944
Amortization of intangibles	70,312	29,077	27,000
Impairments and other operating items	27,678	494,492	4,091
Operating income (loss)	452,298	(61,532)	449,269
Interest expense	(92,709)	(64,236)	(64,674)
Other income (expense), net	655	(518)	1,067
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)	1,121
Income (loss) before income tax provision	361,365	(126,286)	385,662
Income tax (provision) benefit	(114,044)	31,592	(152,335)
Net income (loss)	247,321	(94,694)	233,327
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(781)	(1,070)	(802)
Net income (loss) attributable to Waste Connections	$ 246,540	$ (95,764)	$ 232,525
Earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Waste Connections' common stockholders:
Basic	$ 1.61	$ (0.78)	$ 1.87
Diluted	$ 1.60	$ (0.78)	$ 1.86
Shares used in the per share calculations:
Basic	153,550,008	123,491,931	124,215,346
Diluted	154,054,331	123,491,931	124,787,421
Cash dividends per common share	$ 0.615	$ 0.535	$ 0.475