Segment and Geographic Information - Summary of Reportable Operating Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets		$ 2,149.8	$ 2,192.9
Depreciation and Amortization	[1]	57.0	56.4	$ 59.4
Capital Expenditures		26.5	37.4	32.4
Janitorial
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and Amortization	[1]	17.6	17.9	18.0
Capital Expenditures		12.9	13.2	14.7
Facility Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and Amortization	[1]	3.6	3.9	4.4
Capital Expenditures		0.2	0.1	0.0
Parking
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and Amortization	[1]	3.1	2.9	3.2
Capital Expenditures		3.4	2.2	2.5
Building & Energy Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and Amortization	[1]	12.4	11.4	11.3
Capital Expenditures		1.7	3.1	1.2
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and Amortization	[1]	10.8	11.9	11.5
Capital Expenditures		3.8	5.1	2.4
Corporate segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and Amortization	[1]	9.5	8.4	11.0
Capital Expenditures		4.5	13.7	11.6
Continuing Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	[2]	2,149.8	2,076.9	2,006.5
Continuing Operations | Janitorial
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	[2]	959.2	952.8	887.5
Continuing Operations | Facility Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	[2]	196.3	198.8	211.3
Continuing Operations | Parking
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	[2]	149.1	140.6	141.9
Continuing Operations | Building & Energy Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	[2]	383.0	334.9	296.2
Continuing Operations | Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	[2]	233.6	224.4	231.9
Continuing Operations | Corporate segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	[2]	$ 228.6	225.4	237.7
Discontinued Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets			$ 116.0	$ 112.7

[1] Excludes amortization related to income from unconsolidated affiliates.

[2] Excludes $116.0 million and $112.7 million of assets of discontinued operations at October 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.