SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended												9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013 segments	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments														2
Depreciation expense														$ 3,300,000	$ 3,700,000	$ 3,800,000
Amortization expense														641,000	750,000		750,000
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Recycling revenues														129,373,000	187,034,000	269,802,000
Equipment sales, service and leasing revenues														2,311,000	2,110,000	2,132,000
Management fees														5,069,000	5,088,000	5,279,000
Cost of goods sold														(134,557,000)	(188,276,000)	(269,037,000)
Inventory adjustment for lower of cost or market	(325,000)	(1,900,000)	0	0					0	(3,441,000)	0	0	(1,900,000)	(2,225,000)	0	(3,441,000)
Selling, general and administrative expenses														(7,732,000)	(7,970,000)	(8,725,000)
Impairment loss, goodwill					(6,840,000)	0	0	0						0	(6,840,000)
Impairment loss, intangibles	(3,489,000)	0	0	0										(3,489,000)
Loss before other income (expense)	(6,459,000)	(2,987,000)	(1,369,000)	(435,000)	(7,436,000)	(573,000)	(1,358,000)	513,000	(2,892,000)	(7,136,000)	1,739,000	4,299,000		(11,250,000)	(8,854,000)	(3,990,000)
Segment Reporting Information, Assets
Cash	1,589,000				1,926,000				2,267,000					1,589,000	1,926,000	2,267,000	2,468,000
Income tax receivable	7,000				1,437,000				3,967,000					7,000	1,437,000	3,967,000
Accounts receivable, net	11,456,000				13,344,000				17,191,000					11,456,000	13,344,000	17,191,000
Inventories	8,782,000				16,529,000				18,544,000					8,782,000	16,529,000	18,544,000
Net property and equipment	21,826,000				24,210,000				26,199,000					21,826,000	24,210,000	26,199,000
Goodwill	0				0				6,840,000					0	0	6,840,000
Net intangibles	0				4,275,000				5,025,000					0	4,275,000	5,025,000
Deferred income taxes	97,000				1,146,000									97,000	1,146,000
Other assets	275,000				456,000				937,000					275,000	456,000	937,000
Total assets	44,032,000				63,323,000				80,970,000					44,032,000	63,323,000	80,970,000
Recycling [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of locations segment is located														2
Depreciation expense														2,300,000	2,600,000	2,700,000
Amortization expense														641,000	750,000	750,000
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Recycling revenues														129,373,000	187,034,000	269,802,000
Equipment sales, service and leasing revenues														0	0	0
Management fees														0	0	0
Cost of goods sold														(129,154,000)	(182,984,000)	(263,563,000)
Inventory adjustment for lower of cost or market														(2,225,000)		(3,441,000)
Selling, general and administrative expenses														(2,692,000)	(3,164,000)	(4,717,000)
Impairment loss, goodwill															(6,840,000)
Impairment loss, intangibles														(3,489,000)
Loss before other income (expense)														(8,187,000)	(5,954,000)	(1,919,000)
Segment Reporting Information, Assets
Cash	835,000				1,083,000				1,116,000					835,000	1,083,000	1,116,000
Income tax receivable	0				0				0					0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	10,496,000				12,453,000				16,342,000					10,496,000	12,453,000	16,342,000
Inventories	8,728,000				16,465,000				18,500,000					8,728,000	16,465,000	18,500,000
Net property and equipment	14,773,000				16,870,000				18,909,000					14,773,000	16,870,000	18,909,000
Goodwill									6,840,000							6,840,000
Net intangibles					4,275,000				5,025,000						4,275,000	5,025,000
Deferred income taxes	0				0									0	0
Other assets	67,000				158,000				363,000					67,000	158,000	363,000
Total assets	34,899,000				51,304,000				67,095,000					34,899,000	51,304,000	67,095,000
Waste Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation expense														397,200	404,700	485,000
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss)
Recycling revenues														0	0	0
Equipment sales, service and leasing revenues														2,311,000	2,110,000	2,132,000
Management fees														5,069,000	5,088,000	5,279,000
Cost of goods sold														(5,403,000)	(5,292,000)	(5,474,000)
Inventory adjustment for lower of cost or market														0		0
Selling, general and administrative expenses														(883,000)	(768,000)	(808,000)
Impairment loss, goodwill															0
Impairment loss, intangibles														0
Loss before other income (expense)														1,094,000	1,138,000	1,129,000
Segment Reporting Information, Assets
Cash	132,000				0				0					132,000	0	0
Income tax receivable	0				0				0					0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	960,000				890,000				940,000					960,000	890,000	940,000
Inventories	54,000				64,000				44,000					54,000	64,000	44,000
Net property and equipment	1,320,000				983,000				1,024,000					1,320,000	983,000	1,024,000
Goodwill									0							0
Net intangibles					0				0						0	0
Deferred income taxes	0				0									0	0
Other assets	180,000				12,000				12,000					180,000	12,000	12,000
Total assets	2,646,000				1,949,000				2,020,000					2,646,000	1,949,000	2,020,000
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation expense														624,500	642,000	625,400
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		0
Selling, general and administrative expenses														(4,157,000)	(4,038,000)	(3,200,000)
Impairment loss, goodwill															0
Impairment loss, intangibles														0
Loss before other income (expense)														(4,157,000)	(4,038,000)	(3,200,000)
Segment Reporting Information, Assets
Cash	622,000				843,000				1,151,000					622,000	843,000	1,151,000
Income tax receivable	7,000				1,437,000				3,967,000					7,000	1,437,000	3,967,000
Accounts receivable, net	0				1,000				(91,000)					0	1,000	(91,000)
Inventories	0				0				0					0	0	0
Net property and equipment	5,733,000				6,357,000				6,266,000					5,733,000	6,357,000	6,266,000
Goodwill									0							0
Net intangibles					0				0						0	0
Deferred income taxes	97,000				1,146,000									97,000	1,146,000
Other assets	28,000				286,000				562,000					28,000	286,000	562,000
Total assets	$ 6,487,000				$ 10,070,000				$ 11,855,000					$ 6,487,000	$ 10,070,000	$ 11,855,000