GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES Balance Sheet (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Financial Information [Abstract]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee, Cumulative Percentage Ownership after All Transactions	100.00%
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 310,073	$ 229,836	$ 260,723	$ 302,210
Accounts receivable, net	579,394	546,136
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,602,170	1,533,053
Goodwill	570,960	579,715	122,392
Permits and other intangibles, net	569,973	590,044
Other long-term assets	1,180,329	1,209,774
Total assets	3,953,678	3,838,086
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Current liabilities	639,545	588,666
Long-term obligations	1,400,000	1,400,000
Capital lease obligations, net	1,435	2,879
Other long-term liabilities	246,947	215,412
Stockholders' equity	1,475,639	1,432,072	900,987	780,827
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,953,678	3,838,086
Clean Harbors, Inc.
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	1,006	35,214	91,581	100,476
Intercompany receivables	269,580	296,023
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Other current assets	24,087	38,295
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	2,683,158	2,528,699
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Permits and other intangibles, net	0	0
Other long-term assets	23,770	21,141
Total assets	3,001,601	2,919,372
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Current liabilities	33,626	32,586
Intercompany payables	0	0
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations	1,400,000	1,400,000
Capital lease obligations, net	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	3,701	3,701
Other long-term liabilities	88,635	51,013
Total liabilities	1,525,962	1,487,300
Stockholders' equity	1,475,639	1,432,072
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,001,601	2,919,372
U.S. Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	235,445	140,683	128,071	124,582
Intercompany receivables	2,448	17,704
Accounts receivable, net	387,006	345,891
Other current assets	182,881	186,640
Property, plant and equipment, net	945,280	881,975
Investments in subsidiaries	967,186	850,011
Intercompany debt receivable	493,402	508,067
Goodwill	415,541	413,362
Permits and other intangibles, net	458,917	464,455
Other long-term assets	7,018	9,125
Total assets	4,095,124	3,817,913
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Current liabilities	466,454	417,429
Intercompany payables	499,749	412,594
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	158,298	164,506
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	191	301
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	103,125	108,694
Total liabilities	1,227,817	1,103,524
Stockholders' equity	2,867,307	2,714,389
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	4,095,124	3,817,913
Foreign Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	73,622	53,939	41,071	77,152
Intercompany receivables	230,224	116,571
Accounts receivable, net	192,388	200,245
Other current assets	74,744	94,352
Property, plant and equipment, net	656,890	651,078
Investments in subsidiaries	144,953	144,953
Intercompany debt receivable	3,701	3,701
Goodwill	155,419	166,353
Permits and other intangibles, net	111,056	125,589
Other long-term assets	8,608	9,749
Total assets	1,651,605	1,566,530
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Current liabilities	139,465	138,651
Intercompany payables	2,503	17,704
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	31,814	34,551
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	1,244	2,578
Intercompany debt payable	493,402	508,067
Other long-term liabilities	55,187	55,705
Total liabilities	723,615	757,256
Stockholders' equity	927,990	809,274
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,651,605	1,566,530
Consolidating Adjustments
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Intercompany receivables	(502,252)	(430,298)
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Other current assets	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	(3,795,297)	(3,523,663)
Intercompany debt receivable	(497,103)	(511,768)
Goodwill	0	0
Permits and other intangibles, net	0	0
Other long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	(4,794,652)	(4,465,729)
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Current liabilities	0	0
Intercompany payables	(502,252)	(430,298)
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	(497,103)	(511,768)
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	(999,355)	(942,066)
Stockholders' equity	(3,795,297)	(3,523,663)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	(4,794,652)	(4,465,729)
Parent
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	310,073	229,836	260,723	302,210
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	579,394	546,136
Other current assets	281,712	319,287
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,602,170	1,533,053
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Goodwill	570,960	579,715
Permits and other intangibles, net	569,973	590,044
Other long-term assets	39,396	40,015
Total assets	3,953,678	3,838,086
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Current liabilities	639,545	588,666
Intercompany payables	0	0
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	190,112	199,057
Long-term obligations	1,400,000	1,400,000
Capital lease obligations, net	1,435	2,879
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	246,947	215,412
Total liabilities	2,478,039	2,406,014
Stockholders' equity	1,475,639	1,432,072
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 3,953,678	$ 3,838,086