REMEDIAL LIABILITIES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 sites	Dec. 31, 2012 sites
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 183,346	$ 135,320
Liabilities assumed in Evergreen acquisition	2,384	58,673
Accretion	6,795	5,924
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	(3,320)	(9,652)
Expenditures	(14,894)	(7,346)
Currency translation and other	(1,813)	427
Balance at the end of the period	172,498	183,346
Number of Sites	2	3
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
2014	24,095
2015	19,095
2016	14,305
2017	10,950
2018	13,416
Thereafter	125,003
Undiscounted remedial liabilities	206,864
Less: Discount	(34,366)
Total remedial liabilities	172,498	183,346
Possible Increase in Total Remedial Liabilities	23,695
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Threshold For Disclosure	5.00%
% of Total	100.00%
Reasonably Possible Additional Liabilities(1)	23,695
Active Landfill Facilities
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	83,122
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Total remedial liabilities	83,122
% of Total	48.20%
Reasonably Possible Additional Liabilities(1)	10,795
Number Of Facility By Type	67
Inactive Landfill Facilities
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	74,227
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Total remedial liabilities	74,227
% of Total	43.00%
Reasonably Possible Additional Liabilities(1)	11,385
Number Of Facility By Type	40
Superfund Landfill Sites Owned By Third Parties
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	15,149
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Total remedial liabilities	15,149
% of Total	8.80%
Reasonably Possible Additional Liabilities(1)	1,515
Number Of Facility By Type	30
Baton Rouge La | Closed incinerator and landfill
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	29,369
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Total remedial liabilities	29,369
% of Total	17.00%
Reasonably Possible Additional Liabilities(1)	4,443
Bridgeport, NJ | Closed incinerator
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	19,521
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Total remedial liabilities	19,521
% of Total	11.30%
Reasonably Possible Additional Liabilities(1)	2,599
Mercier Quebec | Idled incinerator and legal proceedings
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	13,970
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Total remedial liabilities	13,970
% of Total	8.10%
Reasonably Possible Additional Liabilities(1)	1,520
Various | Superfund Landfill Sites Owned By Third Parties
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	15,149
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Total remedial liabilities	15,149
% of Total	8.80%
Reasonably Possible Additional Liabilities(1)	1,515
Number Of Facility By Type	30
Various | All other incinerators, landfills, wastewater treatment facilities and service centers (104 facilities)
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	94,489
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Total remedial liabilities	94,489
% of Total	54.80%
Reasonably Possible Additional Liabilities(1)	13,618
Number Of Facility By Type	104
Legal and Administrative Proceedings
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the end of the period	34,600
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Total remedial liabilities	34,600
Reasonably Possible Additional Liabilities(1)	3,500
Benefit Change In Estimates
Changes to remedial liabilities
Number of Sites		2
Remedial Liabilities for Landfill Sites
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	5,829	5,600
Liabilities assumed in Evergreen acquisition	0	0
Accretion	281	276
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	(190)	(31)
Expenditures	(93)	(82)
Currency translation and other	(203)	66
Balance at the end of the period	5,624	5,829
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Total remedial liabilities	5,624	5,829
Remedial Liabilities for Inactive Sites
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	81,564	78,449
Liabilities assumed in Evergreen acquisition	0	10,485
Accretion	3,302	3,456
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	(2,813)	(5,978)
Expenditures	(7,599)	(4,851)
Currency translation and other	(192)	3
Balance at the end of the period	74,262	81,564
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Total remedial liabilities	74,262	81,564
Remedial Liabilities (Including Superfund) for Non-Landfill Operations
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	95,953	51,271
Liabilities assumed in Evergreen acquisition	2,384	48,188
Accretion	3,212	2,192
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	(317)	(3,643)
Expenditures	(7,202)	(2,413)
Currency translation and other	(1,418)	358
Balance at the end of the period	92,612	95,953
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Net [Abstract]
Total remedial liabilities	$ 92,612	$ 95,953