CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF LOSS - USD ($) shares in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 2,646,900,000	$ 2,675,500,000	$ 3,308,900,000
Cost of revenues	1,629,700,000	1,622,400,000	2,134,400,000
Gross profit	1,017,200,000	1,053,100,000	1,174,500,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	946,600,000	897,600,000	1,055,100,000
Goodwill impairment	0	0	228,300,000
Divestiture (gains) losses, net	(1,700,000)	123,600,000	103,000,000.0
Income (loss) from operations	72,300,000	31,900,000	(211,900,000)
Interest expense, net	(71,900,000)	(81,900,000)	(118,300,000)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	0	(23,100,000)
Other income (expense), net	300,000	(6,000,000.0)	(9,500,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes	700,000	(56,000,000.0)	(362,800,000)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(27,500,000)	100,000	16,800,000
Net loss	(26,800,000)	(55,900,000)	(346,000,000.0)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,000,000.0)	(1,400,000)	(800,000)
Net loss attributable to Stericycle, Inc. common shareholders	$ (27,800,000)	$ (57,300,000)	$ (346,800,000)
Loss per common share attributable to Stericycle, Inc. common shareholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.30)	$ (0.63)	$ (3.81)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.30)	$ (0.63)	$ (3.81)
Weighted average number of common shares Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	91.8	91.5	91.0
Diluted (in shares)	91.8	91.5	91.0