REMEDIAL LIABILITIES (Changes in Remedial Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 131,992	$ 155,121
Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	2,041
Accretion	5,074	5,764
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of operations	(1,635)	(11,388)
Expenditures	(9,922)	(14,007)
Currency translation and other	457	(3,498)
Balance at the end of the period	128,007	131,992
Remedial Liabilities for Landfill Sites
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	2,327	5,420
Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	0
Accretion	110	218
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of operations	(538)	(2,841)
Expenditures	(122)	(137)
Currency translation and other	0	(333)
Balance at the end of the period	1,777	2,327
Remedial Liabilities for Inactive Sites
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	63,613	68,528
Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	0
Accretion	2,737	2,924
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of operations	1,520	(2,927)
Expenditures	(3,893)	(4,779)
Currency translation and other	174	(133)
Balance at the end of the period	64,151	63,613
Remedial Liabilities (Including Superfund) for Non-Landfill Operations
Changes to remedial liabilities
Balance at the beginning of the period	66,052	81,173
Liabilities assumed in acquisitions	2,041
Accretion	2,227	2,622
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of operations	(2,617)	(5,620)
Expenditures	(5,907)	(9,091)
Currency translation and other	283	(3,032)
Balance at the end of the period	$ 62,079	$ 66,052