Credit Available Subject to Percentage of Accounts Receivable

No definition available.

Name:	clh_CreditAvailableSubjecttoPercentageofAccountsReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	clh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Credit Available Subject to Percentage of Cash Deposited

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	clh_CreditAvailableSubjecttoPercentageofCashDeposited
Namespace Prefix:	clh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Spread on Variable Rate, Period for Measurement of Average Liquidity

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	clh_DebtInstrumentSpreadonVariableRatePeriodforMeasurementofAverageLiquidity
Namespace Prefix:	clh_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value amount of debt instrument that was repurchased.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchaseAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for the line of credit facility regardless of whether the facility has been used.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=clh_ParentandDomesticSubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=clh_CanadianSubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=clh_UnsecuredSeniorNotes2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=clh_UnsecuredSeniorNotes2021Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_BaseRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 14, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 07, 2012	Jul. 30, 2012
Financing arrangements
Revolving credit facility, available borrowing capacity	$ 195,200,000		$ 178,500,000
Letters of credit outstanding, amount	$ 132,600,000		144,600,000
Parent and Domestic Subsidiaries
Financing arrangements
Credit available subject to percentage of accounts receivable	85.00%
Credit available subject to percentage of cash deposited	100.00%
Canadian Subsidiaries
Financing arrangements
Credit available subject to percentage of accounts receivable	85.00%
Credit available subject to percentage of cash deposited	100.00%
Senior Notes \| Senior unsecured notes, at 5.25%, due August 1, 2020 (2020 Notes)
Financing arrangements
Face amount						$ 800,000,000
Interest rate	5.25%					5.25%
Fair value of notes	$ 820,000,000		812,000,000
Senior Notes \| Senior unsecured notes, at 5.125%, due June 1, 2021 (2021 Notes)
Financing arrangements
Face amount		$ 250,000,000.0			$ 600,000,000.0
Interest rate	5.125%				5.125%
Fair value of notes	$ 861,900,000		$ 599,500,000
Repurchased amount				$ 5,000,000
Revolving credit facility
Financing arrangements
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 400,000,000.0
Period for measurement of average liquidity	30 days
Revolving credit facility \| Minimum
Financing arrangements
Commitment fee	0.25%
Revolving credit facility \| Minimum \| LIBOR loans
Financing arrangements
Basis spread on variable rate	1.25%
Revolving credit facility \| Minimum \| Base rate loans
Financing arrangements
Basis spread on variable rate	0.25%
Revolving credit facility \| Maximum
Financing arrangements
Commitment fee	0.30%
Revolving credit facility \| Maximum \| LIBOR loans
Financing arrangements
Basis spread on variable rate	1.50%
Revolving credit facility \| Maximum \| Base rate loans
Financing arrangements
Basis spread on variable rate	0.50%
Revolving credit facility \| Parent and Domestic Subsidiaries
Financing arrangements
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 300,000,000
Revolving credit facility \| Canadian Subsidiaries
Financing arrangements
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	100,000,000
Letters of credit \| Parent and Domestic Subsidiaries
Financing arrangements
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	250,000,000
Letters of credit \| Canadian Subsidiaries
Financing arrangements
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 75,000,000