(LOSS) EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE - Computation of Basic and Diluted Net (Loss) Income Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Numerator:
Net (loss) income attributable to Stericycle, Inc.	$ (144,042)	$ 46,034	$ (85,853)	$ 122,820
Mandatory convertible preferred stock dividend	9,185	10,021	18,549	20,127
Gain on repurchase of preferred stock	(4,459)	(1,280)	(9,022)	(1,280)
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to Stericycle, Inc. Common Shareholders	$ (148,768)	$ 37,293	$ (95,380)	$ 103,973
Denominator:
Denominator for basic (loss) earnings per share – weighted average shares	85,271,699	84,893,263	85,246,105	84,799,131
Effect of diluted securities:
Dilutive effect of stock-based compensation awards (in shares)	0	867,423	0	999,761
Mandatory convertible preferred stock (in shares)	0	0	0	0
Denominator for diluted (loss) earnings per share - adjusted weighted average shares and after assumed exercises (in shares)	85,271,699	85,760,686	85,246,105	85,798,892
(Loss) earnings per share – Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (1.74)	$ 0.44	$ (1.12)	$ 1.23
(Loss) earnings per share – Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (1.74)	$ 0.43	$ (1.12)	$ 1.21