GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 233,739	$ 246,879	$ 249,007	$ 310,073
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	521,563	557,131
Other current assets	287,883	322,423
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,502,497	1,558,834
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Goodwill	445,412	452,669
Permits and other intangibles, net	520,045	530,080
Other long-term assets	34,903	36,262
Total assets	3,546,042	3,704,278
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	519,861	572,471
Intercompany payables	0	0
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	175,741	183,731
Long-term obligations	1,395,000	1,395,000
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	292,591	290,205
Total liabilities	2,383,193	2,441,407
Stockholders’ equity	1,162,849	1,262,871
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,546,042	3,704,278
Clean Harbors, Inc.
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	84,881	1,006	1,006	1,006
Intercompany receivables	141,084	133,219
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Other current assets	33	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	2,602,744	2,694,727
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Permits and other intangibles, net	0	0
Other long-term assets	15,982	16,801
Total assets	2,844,724	2,845,753
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	18,620	20,820
Intercompany payables	264,554	163,361
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations	1,395,000	1,395,000
Intercompany debt payable	3,701	3,701
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	1,681,875	1,582,882
Stockholders’ equity	1,162,849	1,262,871
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	2,844,724	2,845,753
U.S. Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	78,608	154,147	200,751	235,505
Intercompany receivables	255,080	156,920
Accounts receivable, net	388,652	414,205
Other current assets	214,784	241,232
Property, plant and equipment, net	973,825	970,757
Investments in subsidiaries	605,528	663,191
Intercompany debt receivable	300,706	327,634
Goodwill	324,930	324,930
Permits and other intangibles, net	435,343	435,906
Other long-term assets	13,005	12,959
Total assets	3,590,461	3,701,881
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	416,437	444,059
Intercompany payables	171,792	164,231
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	153,029	158,622
Long-term obligations	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	246,459	240,242
Total liabilities	987,717	1,007,154
Stockholders’ equity	2,602,744	2,694,727
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,590,461	3,701,881
Foreign Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	70,250	91,726	47,250	73,562
Intercompany receivables	42,134	39,724
Accounts receivable, net	132,911	142,926
Other current assets	73,066	81,191
Property, plant and equipment, net	528,672	588,077
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany debt receivable	3,701	3,701
Goodwill	120,482	127,739
Permits and other intangibles, net	84,702	94,174
Other long-term assets	5,916	6,502
Total assets	1,061,834	1,175,760
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	84,804	107,592
Intercompany payables	1,952	2,271
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	22,712	25,109
Long-term obligations	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	300,706	327,634
Other long-term liabilities	46,132	49,963
Total liabilities	456,306	512,569
Stockholders’ equity	605,528	663,191
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	1,061,834	1,175,760
Consolidating Adjustments
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Intercompany receivables	(438,298)	(329,863)
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Other current assets	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	(3,208,272)	(3,357,918)
Intercompany debt receivable	(304,407)	(331,335)
Goodwill	0	0
Permits and other intangibles, net	0	0
Other long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	(3,950,977)	(4,019,116)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	0	0
Intercompany payables	(438,298)	(329,863)
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	(304,407)	(331,335)
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	(742,705)	(661,198)
Stockholders’ equity	(3,208,272)	(3,357,918)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ (3,950,977)	$ (4,019,116)