Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015	May 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 693,520	$ 430,618	$ 374,442
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	149,691	140,624	168,220
Amortization of intangible assets	15,588	14,458	22,642
Stock-based compensation	79,293	47,002	29,875
Gain on Storage transactions	(15,786)	(38,573)	0
Loss (gain) on Shred-it	24,288	3,851	(108,441)
Gain on sale of stock of an equity method investment	0	(21,739)	0
Shredding Transaction asset impairment charge	0	0	16,143
Shredding Transaction costs	0	0	26,057
Deferred income taxes	(59,302)	20,866	47,109
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Accounts receivable, net	(52,762)	(1,443)	(56,231)
Inventories, net	(17,917)	23,785	(11,062)
Uniforms and other rental items in service	(6,306)	(31,994)	(11,435)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(965)	(3,202)	(2,177)
Accounts payable	(564)	(33,445)	30,446
Accrued compensation and related liabilities	13,512	3,234	10,931
Accrued liabilities and other	22,714	33,066	54,237
Income taxes, current	(800)	(6,832)	15,213
Net cash provided by operating activities	465,845	580,276	605,969
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(275,385)	(217,720)	(145,580)
Proceeds from redemption of marketable securities	434,179	161,938	54,196
Purchase of marketable securities and investments	(494,146)	(195,471)	(63,858)
Proceeds from Storage transactions, net of cash contributed	35,338	158,428	0
Proceeds from Shredding transactions, net of cash contributed	580,837	3,344	179,359
Proceeds from sale of stock of an equity method investment	0	29,933	0
Dividends received on equity method investment	0	5,247	0
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(156,579)	(15,495)	(33,441)
Other	4,137	1,383	(5,219)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	128,381	44,987	(14,543)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of debt	(16)	(518)	(8,187)
Proceeds from exercise of stock-based compensation awards	28,226	40,230	41,902
Dividends paid	(115,273)	(201,891)	(93,320)
Repurchase of common stock	(780,151)	(551,970)	(370,599)
Other	490	1,589	469
Net cash used in financing activities	(866,724)	(712,560)	(429,735)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(5,218)	(8,918)	(676)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(277,716)	(96,215)	161,015
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	417,073	513,288	352,273
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	139,357	417,073	513,288
Shred-it Partnership
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on Storage transactions	(4,300)
Gain on sale of stock of an equity method investment	(378,359)	0	0
Shredding Transaction asset impairment charge			16,100
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from Shredding transactions, net of cash contributed	578,300
Dividends received on equity method investment	$ 0	$ 113,400	$ 0