SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 segments	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments													2
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Recycling revenues													$ 187,034	$ 269,802	$ 335,831
Equipment sales, service and leasing revenues													2,110	2,132	2,125
Management fees													5,088	5,279	6,213
Cost of goods sold													(185,000)	(265,492)	(315,846)
Inventory adjustment for lower of cost or market					0	(3,441)	0	0					0	(3,441)	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses													(11,425)	(12,394)	(13,611)
Impairment loss, goodwill	(6,840)	0	0	0									(6,840)	0	0
(Loss) income before other income (expense)	(7,494)	(617)	(1,399)	477	(2,928)	(7,165)	1,709	4,270	3,225	3,650	4,525	3,312	(9,033)	(4,114)	14,712
Segment Reporting Information, Assets
Cash	1,926				2,267				2,468				1,926	2,267	2,468	713
Income tax receivable	1,437				3,967								1,437	3,967
Accounts receivable, net	13,344				17,191				27,449				13,344	17,191	27,449
Inventories	16,529				18,544				34,311				16,529	18,544	34,311
Net property and equipment	24,210				26,199				27,554				24,210	26,199	27,554
Goodwill	0				6,840				6,840				0	6,840	6,840
Net intangibles	4,275				5,025				5,775				4,275	5,025	5,775
Deferred income taxes	1,146												1,146
Other assets	456				937				1,765				456	937	1,765
Total assets	63,323				80,970				106,162				63,323	80,970	106,162
Recycling [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of locations segment is located													2
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Recycling revenues													187,034	269,802	335,831
Equipment sales, service and leasing revenues													0	0	0
Management fees													0	0	0
Cost of goods sold													(179,708)	(260,018)	(309,607)
Inventory adjustment for lower of cost or market														(3,441)
Selling, general and administrative expenses													(5,917)	(7,811)	(7,343)
Impairment loss, goodwill													(6,840)
(Loss) income before other income (expense)													(5,431)	(1,468)	18,881
Segment Reporting Information, Assets
Cash	1,083				1,116				1,258				1,083	1,116	1,258
Income tax receivable	0				0								0	0
Accounts receivable, net	12,453				16,342				24,933				12,453	16,342	24,933
Inventories	16,465				18,500				34,222				16,465	18,500	34,222
Net property and equipment	16,870				18,909				25,799				16,870	18,909	25,799
Goodwill					6,840				6,840					6,840	6,840
Net intangibles	4,275				5,025				5,775				4,275	5,025	5,775
Deferred income taxes	0												0
Other assets	158				363				574				158	363	574
Total assets	51,304				67,095				99,401				51,304	67,095	99,401
Waste Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Recycling revenues													0	0	0
Equipment sales, service and leasing revenues													2,110	2,132	2,125
Management fees													5,088	5,279	6,213
Cost of goods sold													(5,292)	(5,474)	(6,239)
Inventory adjustment for lower of cost or market														0
Selling, general and administrative expenses													(768)	(808)	(1,016)
Impairment loss, goodwill													0
(Loss) income before other income (expense)													1,138	1,129	1,083
Segment Reporting Information, Assets
Cash	0				0				0				0	0	0
Income tax receivable	0				0								0	0
Accounts receivable, net	890				940				1,140				890	940	1,140
Inventories	64				44				89				64	44	89
Net property and equipment	983				1,024				1,228				983	1,024	1,228
Goodwill					0				0					0	0
Net intangibles	0				0				0				0	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0												0
Other assets	12				12				86				12	12	86
Total assets	1,949				2,020				2,543				1,949	2,020	2,543
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Recycling revenues													0	0	0
Equipment sales, service and leasing revenues													0	0	0
Management fees													0	0	0
Cost of goods sold													0	0	0
Inventory adjustment for lower of cost or market														0
Selling, general and administrative expenses													(4,740)	(3,775)	(5,252)
Impairment loss, goodwill													0
(Loss) income before other income (expense)													(4,740)	(3,775)	(5,252)
Segment Reporting Information, Assets
Cash	843				1,151				1,210				843	1,151	1,210
Income tax receivable	1,437				3,967								1,437	3,967
Accounts receivable, net	1				(91)				1,376				1	(91)	1,376
Inventories	0				0				0				0	0	0
Net property and equipment	6,357				6,266				527				6,357	6,266	527
Goodwill					0				0					0	0
Net intangibles	0				0				0				0	0	0
Deferred income taxes	1,146												1,146
Other assets	286				562				1,105				286	562	1,105
Total assets	$ 10,070				$ 11,855				$ 4,218				$ 10,070	$ 11,855	$ 4,218