GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 258,021	$ 310,073	$ 248,635	$ 229,836
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	575,575	579,394
Other current assets	320,341	281,712
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,579,701	1,602,170
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Goodwill	449,577	570,960
Permits and other intangibles, net	541,874	569,973
Other long-term assets	36,128	39,396
Total assets	3,761,217	3,953,678
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	608,870	639,545
Intercompany payables	0	0
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	180,259	190,112
Long-term obligations	1,395,000	1,400,000
Capital lease obligations, net	733	1,435
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	255,804	246,947
Total liabilities	2,440,666	2,478,039
Stockholders’ equity	1,320,551	1,475,639
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,761,217	3,953,678
Clean Harbors, Inc.
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	1,006	1,006	1,006	35,214
Intercompany receivables	233,872	269,580
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Other current assets	24,058	24,087
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	2,607,342	2,683,158
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Permits and other intangibles, net	0	0
Other long-term assets	24,576	23,770
Total assets	2,890,854	3,001,601
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	79,117	33,626
Intercompany payables	0	0
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations	1,395,000	1,400,000
Capital lease obligations, net	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	3,701	3,701
Other long-term liabilities	92,485	88,635
Total liabilities	1,570,303	1,525,962
Stockholders’ equity	1,320,551	1,475,639
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	2,890,854	3,001,601
U.S. Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	164,527	235,445	187,926	140,683
Intercompany receivables	2,410	2,448
Accounts receivable, net	411,440	387,006
Other current assets	211,238	182,881
Property, plant and equipment, net	968,839	945,280
Investments in subsidiaries	815,030	967,186
Intercompany debt receivable	362,470	493,402
Goodwill	319,539	415,541
Permits and other intangibles, net	441,680	458,917
Other long-term assets	3,687	7,018
Total assets	3,700,860	4,095,124
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	410,015	466,454
Intercompany payables	423,646	499,749
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	150,339	158,298
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	104	191
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	109,414	103,125
Total liabilities	1,093,518	1,227,817
Stockholders’ equity	2,607,342	2,867,307
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,700,860	4,095,124
Foreign Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	92,488	73,622	59,703	53,939
Intercompany receivables	189,823	230,224
Accounts receivable, net	164,135	192,388
Other current assets	85,045	74,744
Property, plant and equipment, net	610,862	656,890
Investments in subsidiaries	0	144,953
Intercompany debt receivable	3,701	3,701
Goodwill	130,038	155,419
Permits and other intangibles, net	100,194	111,056
Other long-term assets	7,865	8,608
Total assets	1,384,151	1,651,605
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	119,738	139,465
Intercompany payables	2,459	2,503
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	29,920	31,814
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	629	1,244
Intercompany debt payable	362,470	493,402
Other long-term liabilities	53,905	55,187
Total liabilities	569,121	723,615
Stockholders’ equity	815,030	927,990
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	1,384,151	1,651,605
Consolidating Adjustments
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Intercompany receivables	(426,105)	(502,252)
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Other current assets	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	(3,422,372)	(3,795,297)
Intercompany debt receivable	(366,171)	(497,103)
Goodwill	0	0
Permits and other intangibles, net	0	0
Other long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	(4,214,648)	(4,794,652)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	0	0
Intercompany payables	(426,105)	(502,252)
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	(366,171)	(497,103)
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	(792,276)	(999,355)
Stockholders’ equity	(3,422,372)	(3,795,297)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ (4,214,648)	$ (4,794,652)