Stockholders' Equity (Narrative) (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		5 Months Ended	7 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 01, 2016	May 31, 2016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Repurchase of common stock								1,962,989	167,100
Aggregate cost of common stock repurchase								$ 91,165	$ 7,317
Aggregate cost of common stock repurchase
Common stock repurchased in the period							0
Cash dividend per share			$ 0.18	$ 0.145			$ 0.615	$ 0.535	$ 0.475
Cash dividend per common share, increase	$ 0.035
Cash dividends on common stock							$ 92,547	$ 65,990	$ 58,906
Maximum number of shares authorized for repurchase			8,770,732		8,770,732	8,770,732	8,770,732
Share repurchase plan expiration date					Aug. 07, 2017
Daily repurchase of shares maximum			60,150		60,150	60,150	60,150
Average daily trading volume during period		240,601
Sale of common shares held in trust, shares						265,183
Common shares, shares issued			175,426,824		175,426,824	175,426,824	175,426,824	122,375,955
Preferred stock, shares issued			0		0	0	0
2016 Incentive Award Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share authorized to be issued as awards			5,000,000		5,000,000	5,000,000	5,000,000
Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Warrant expiration							2017
Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Warrant expiration							2021
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Assumed forfeiture rate			8.00%		8.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Vested deferred RSUs outstanding			243,796		243,796	243,796	243,796	256,191	223,752
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] | 2004 Equity Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards granted in period							0	0
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] | Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards granted in period						0
Awards forfeited in period						9,621
Acquired common shares held in trust										490,112
Performance Shares [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period of award							1 year	1 year
Performance Shares [Member] | Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards granted in period						0
Awards forfeited in period						0
Special Shares [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common shares, shares issued			0		0	0	0
Deferred Share Units [Member] | 2016 Incentive Award Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Option awards granted in period							524
Shares outstanding			524		524	524	524
Employee Stock Option [Member] | Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Option awards granted in period						0
Options forfeited in period						0
Executive Officer [Member] | Performance Shares [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period of award								3 years	3 years
Officer [Member] | Performance Shares [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period of award							4 years	4 years
Assumed forfeiture rate			8.00%		8.00%	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. [Member] | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vested due to acceleration						25,972
Vested deferred RSUs outstanding			224,929		224,929	224,929	224,929				490,112
Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. [Member] | Performance Shares [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vested due to acceleration						75,282
Vested deferred RSUs outstanding			61,994		61,994	61,994	61,994				206,856
Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. [Member] | Employee Stock Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vested due to acceleration						63,475
Vested deferred units outstanding			400,932		400,932	400,932	400,932				325,045