SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 segments	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments			2
Allocation formula			0.20
Recycling revenues	$ 31,355	$ 43,873	$ 102,851	$ 151,991
Equipment sales, service and leasing revenues	560	477	1,633	1,582
Management fees	1,396	1,379	3,708	3,686
Cost of goods and services sold	(32,059)	(43,754)	(103,552)	(150,421)
Inventory adjustment for lower of cost or market	(1,900)	0	(1,900)	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(2,318)	(2,528)	(7,464)	(8,199)
Loss before other income (expense)	(2,966)	(553)	(4,724)	(1,361)
Segment assets	58,014	69,572	58,014	69,572	63,323
Recycling [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Recycling revenues	31,355	43,873	102,851	151,991
Equipment sales, service and leasing revenues	0	0	0	0
Management fees	0	0	0	0
Cost of goods and services sold	(30,586)	(42,416)	(99,600)	(146,600)
Inventory adjustment for lower of cost or market	(1,900)		(1,900)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1,222)	(1,426)	(3,856)	(4,502)
Loss before other income (expense)	(2,353)	31	(2,505)	889
Segment assets	45,035	58,833	45,035	58,833
Waste Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Recycling revenues	0	0	0	0
Equipment sales, service and leasing revenues	560	477	1,633	1,582
Management fees	1,396	1,379	3,708	3,686
Cost of goods and services sold	(1,473)	(1,338)	(3,952)	(3,821)
Inventory adjustment for lower of cost or market	0		0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(220)	(210)	(637)	(586)
Loss before other income (expense)	263	308	752	861
Segment assets	2,326	1,854	2,326	1,854
All Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Recycling revenues	0	0	0	0
Equipment sales, service and leasing revenues	0	0	0	0
Management fees	0	0	0	0
Cost of goods and services sold	0	0	0	0
Inventory adjustment for lower of cost or market	0		0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(876)	(892)	(2,971)	(3,111)
Loss before other income (expense)	(876)	(892)	(2,971)	(3,111)
Segment assets	$ 10,653	$ 8,885	$ 10,653	$ 8,885