GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Consolidating statement of income
Revenues	$ 447,235	$ 471,639	$ 882,197	$ 826,535
Cost of revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)	307,754	324,280	620,331	584,697
Selling, general and administrative expenses	58,254	50,729	113,048	96,213
Accretion of environmental liabilities	2,407	2,602	4,796	5,304
Depreciation and amortization	26,936	22,105	52,396	44,779
Income from operations	51,884	71,923	91,626	95,542
Other income	2,868	2,708	5,767	3,154
Interest expense, net of interest income of $302 and $546 for the quarter and year-to-date ended 2011 and $165 and $267 for the quarter and year-to-date ended 2010, respectively	(10,642)	(7,646)	(17,120)	(14,574)
Income from continuing operations, before provision for income taxes	44,110	66,985	80,273	84,122
Provision for income taxes	14,954	11,468	28,387	18,557
Income from continuing operations	29,156	55,517	51,886	65,565
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		2,412		2,794
Net income	29,156	57,929	51,886	68,359
Clean Harbors, Inc.
Consolidating statement of income
Selling, general and administrative expenses	8	25	50	50
Income from operations	(8)	(25)	(50)	(50)
Interest expense, net of interest income of $302 and $546 for the quarter and year-to-date ended 2011 and $165 and $267 for the quarter and year-to-date ended 2010, respectively	(10,630)	(7,229)	(17,306)	(14,472)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	43,534	74,197	76,865	93,215
Income from continuing operations, before provision for income taxes	32,896	66,943	59,509	78,693
Provision for income taxes	3,740	9,014	7,623	10,334
Income from continuing operations		57,929		68,359
Net income	29,156	57,929	51,886	68,359
U.S. Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidating statement of income
Revenues	263,194	322,580	511,561	523,423
Cost of revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)	178,057	214,558	353,495	361,408
Selling, general and administrative expenses	38,621	36,973	74,732	69,044
Accretion of environmental liabilities	2,090	2,320	4,177	4,740
Depreciation and amortization	12,693	11,478	25,691	23,527
Income from operations	31,733	57,251	53,466	64,704
Other income	394	38	3,730	314
Interest expense, net of interest income of $302 and $546 for the quarter and year-to-date ended 2011 and $165 and $267 for the quarter and year-to-date ended 2010, respectively	5	36	173	49
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	24,411	22,155	31,712	26,816
Intercompany interest income (expense)	8,970	8,329	17,700	16,207
Income from continuing operations, before provision for income taxes	65,513	87,809	106,781	108,090
Provision for income taxes	6,849	12,060	13,176	14,364
Income from continuing operations		75,749		93,726
Net income	58,664	75,749	93,605	93,726
Foreign Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Consolidating statement of income
Revenues	189,238	147,607	382,026	306,928
Cost of revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)	134,894	108,270	278,226	227,105
Selling, general and administrative expenses	19,625	13,731	38,266	27,119
Accretion of environmental liabilities	317	282	619	564
Depreciation and amortization	14,243	10,627	26,705	21,252
Income from operations	20,159	14,697	38,210	30,888
Other income	2,474	2,670	2,037	2,840
Interest expense, net of interest income of $302 and $546 for the quarter and year-to-date ended 2011 and $165 and $267 for the quarter and year-to-date ended 2010, respectively	(17)	(453)	13	(151)
Intercompany dividend income (expense)	3,537	3,326	6,993	6,612
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(8,970)	(8,329)	(17,700)	(16,207)
Income from continuing operations, before provision for income taxes	17,183	11,911	29,553	23,982
Provision for income taxes	4,365	(9,606)	7,588	(6,141)
Income from continuing operations		21,517		30,123
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		2,412		2,794
Net income	12,818	23,929	21,965	32,917
Consolidating Adjustments
Consolidating statement of income
Revenues	(5,197)	1,452	(11,390)	(3,816)
Cost of revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)	(5,197)	1,452	(11,390)	(3,816)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(67,945)	(96,352)	(108,577)	(120,031)
Intercompany dividend income (expense)	(3,537)	(3,326)	(6,993)	(6,612)
Income from continuing operations, before provision for income taxes	(71,482)	(99,678)	(115,570)	(126,643)
Income from continuing operations		(99,678)		(126,643)
Net income	$ (71,482)	$ (99,678)	$ (115,570)	$ (126,643)