CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 534,579	$ 480,484	$ 1,574,908	$ 1,409,511
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation shown below)	280,645	253,526	826,703	746,540
Depreciation - cost of revenues	12,531	11,404	36,856	32,622
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	96,689	92,966	282,580	259,246
Depreciation – selling, general and administrative expenses	2,610	2,480	8,373	6,892
Amortization	6,709	5,561	19,884	15,675
Total Costs and Expenses	399,184	365,937	1,174,396	1,060,975
Income from Operations	135,395	114,547	400,512	348,536
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	151	117	420	333
Interest expense	(13,467)	(13,048)	(40,028)	(38,597)
Other expense, net	(1,341)	(488)	(2,899)	(556)
Total Other Expense	(14,657)	(13,419)	(42,507)	(38,820)
Income Before Income Taxes	120,738	101,128	358,005	309,716
Income Tax Expense	39,906	35,382	123,508	110,283
Net Income	80,832	65,746	234,497	199,433
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	285	269	1,289	1,506
Net Income Attributable to Stericycle, Inc.	$ 80,547	$ 65,477	$ 233,208	$ 197,927
Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to Stericycle, Inc. Common Shareholders:
Basic	$ 0.94	$ 0.76	$ 2.71	$ 2.32
Diluted	$ 0.92	$ 0.75	$ 2.67	$ 2.28
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic	85,849,656	85,748,998	86,021,764	85,251,002
Diluted	87,401,565	87,305,779	87,497,276	86,911,229