Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 247,321	$ (94,694)	$ 233,327
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss on disposal of assets and impairments	26,741	518,657	8,239
Depreciation	393,600	240,357	230,944
Amortization of intangibles	70,312	29,077	27,000
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)	(1,121)
Deferred income taxes, net of acquisitions	42,298	(132,454)	31,031
Amortization of debt issuance costs	4,847	3,097	3,085
Share-based compensation	44,772	20,318	18,446
Interest income on restricted assets	(477)	(428)	(446)
Interest accretion	10,505	6,761	5,076
Excess tax benefit associated with equity-based compensation	(5,196)	(2,069)	(7,518)
Adjustments to contingent consideration	(2,623)	(22,180)	(3,450)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Accounts receivable, net	(5,252)	17,348	(22,168)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(21,650)	(2,780)	(3,868)
Accounts payable	54,219	(16,674)	10,173
Deferred revenue	8,016	4,377	8,571
Accrued liabilities	(70,041)	8,217	4,985
Other long-term liabilities	(466)	69	2,724
Payment of contingent consideration recorded in earnings	(493)		(1,074)
Net cash provided by operating activities	795,312	576,999	545,077
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(17,131)	(230,517)	(126,181)
Cash acquired from acquisition	65,768
Capital expenditures for property and equipment	(344,723)	(238,833)	(241,277)
Proceeds from disposal of assets	4,604	2,883	9,421
Change in restricted assets, net of interest income	(428)	(2,225)	(4,475)
Other	(4,485)	(1,842)	(896)
Net cash used in investing activities	(296,395)	(470,534)	(363,408)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	3,469,289	1,489,500	432,500
Principal payments on notes payable and long-term debt	(3,714,044)	(1,429,195)	(525,909)
Payment of contingent consideration recorded at acquisition date	(16,322)	(2,190)	(24,847)
Change in book overdraft	(1,305)	(89)	(11)
Proceeds from option and warrant exercises		572	3,375
Excess tax benefit associated with equity-based compensation	5,196	2,069	7,518
Payments for repurchase of common shares		(91,165)	(7,317)
Payments for cash dividends	(92,547)	(65,990)	(58,906)
Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of restricted share units	(11,497)	(6,447)	(6,814)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3)	(42)	(371)
Debt issuance costs	(13,506)	(6,867)	(125)
Proceeds from sale of common shares held in trust	19,870
Net cash used in financing activities	(354,869)	(109,844)	(180,907)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	(598)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	143,450	(3,379)	762
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	10,974	14,353	13,591
Less: cash held for sale	(42)
Cash and equivalents at end of year	154,382	10,974	14,353
SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION AND NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS:
Cash paid for income taxes	69,589	102,279	116,239
Cash paid for interest	87,654	55,674	60,224
Accrued capital expenditures for property and equipment	24,871	3,648	3,255
In connection with its acquisitions, the Company assumed liabilities as follows:
Fair value of assets acquired	6,023,667	433,227	172,875
Cash acquired	65,768
Cash paid and common shares issued for acquisition	(3,520,293)	(230,517)	(126,181)
Liabilities assumed and notes payable issued to sellers of businesses acquired	2,569,142	$ 202,710	$ 46,694
Issuance of common shares to acquire Progressive Waste	$ 3,503,162