EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE - Computation of Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Stericycle, Inc.	$ 52,263	$ 82,845	$ 188,170	$ 243,930
Less: Mandatory convertible preferred stock dividend	(1,684)	0	(1,684)	0
Net Income Attributable to Stericycle, Inc. Common Shareholders	$ 50,579	$ 82,845	$ 186,486	$ 243,930
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share-weighted average shares (in shares)	84,884,599	84,858,360	84,960,955	84,940,975
Effect of diluted securities:
Employee stock options (in shares)	1,235,716	1,258,095	1,273,904	1,296,227
Mandatory convertible preferred stock (in shares)	0	0	0	0
Denominator for diluted earnings per share-adjusted weighted average shares and after assumed exercises (in shares)	86,120,315	86,116,455	86,234,859	86,237,202
Earnings per share – Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.60	$ 0.98	$ 2.19	$ 2.87
Earnings per share – Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.59	$ 0.96	$ 2.16	$ 2.83
Series A preferred stock
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive shares excluded from computation of diluted earnings per share (in shares)	921,207		921,207