Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 385,980	$ 579,831	$ 1,399,984	$ 2,497,923
Cost of goods sold	369,745	478,575	1,211,392	1,867,272
Gross profit	16,235	101,256	188,592	630,651
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	542,348	921,181	2,046,366	5,749,769
Amortization of intangible assets	72,002	72,002	216,006	216,006
Total operating expenses	614,350	993,183	2,262,372	5,965,775
Loss from continuing operations	(598,115)	(891,927)	(2,073,780)	(5,335,124)
Other income (expense):
Other income		23,528	33,272	37,247
Gain on change in fair value of obligations to issue shares		33,914	9,127	559,578
Gain on sale of investment	974,515		974,515
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of derivative liability	534,433	(2,297,229)	9,507,874	6,952,284
Gain on debt extinguishment	1,204,711		1,204,711
Loss on debt modification		(936,776)	(3,000,205)	(936,776)
Interest expense	(1,139,200)	(1,409,981)	(3,966,577)	(7,238,153)
Total other income/(expenses)	1,574,459	(4,586,544)	4,762,717	(625,820)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	976,344	(5,478,471)	2,688,937	(5,960,944)
Provision for income taxes
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	976,344	(5,478,471)	2,688,937	(5,960,944)
Loss from discontinued operations	(1,634,242)	(517,708)	(2,054,477)	(2,432,559)
Net (loss) income	(657,898)	(5,996,179)	634,460	(8,393,503)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	(86,347)	(187,904)	(146,391)	(441,180)
Net (loss) income attributable to Converted Organics Inc. before other comprehensive (loss) income	(571,551)	(5,808,275)	780,851	(7,952,323)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(57,993)	85,449	(52,338)	71,145
Comprehensive (loss) income	(629,544)	(5,722,826)	728,513	(7,881,178)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interest	(11,164)	16,449	(10,076)	13,695
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Converted Organics, Inc.	$ (618,380)	$ (5,739,275)	$ 738,589	$ (7,894,873)
Earnings (loss) per share, basic and diluted:
Continuing operations	$ 0.00	$ (194.82)	$ 0.02	$ (259.17)
Discontinued operations	$ (0.01)	$ (18.41)	$ (0.01)	$ (105.76)
Total earnings (loss) per share, basic	$ 0.00	$ (213.24)	$ 0.00	$ (364.93)
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted	314,665,947	28,120	162,972,652	23,000