LONG TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASES - Components of Long-Term Debt and Capital Leases (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	$ 525,583	$ 525,019
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	16,936	17,586
Long-term debt and capital leases less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	508,647	507,433
Less—current maturities of long-term debt	4,686	1,448
Non current portion of long term debt and capital lease obligation	503,961	505,985
Senior Secured Asset-Backed Credit Facility, Due February 2020; bearing interest at one month LIBOR plus 2.25%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	0	57,422
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	0	5,593
New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2014 due December 2044 - fixed rate interest period through 2019; bearing interest at 3.75%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	25,000	25,000
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	1,221	1,407
New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2014R-2 due December 2044 - fixed rate interest period through 2026; bearing interest at 3.125%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	15,000	0
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	571	0
Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2005R-2 due January 2025 - fixed rate interest period through 2017; bearing interest at 6.25%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	21,400	21,400
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	502	566
Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2015 due August 2035 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 5.125%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	15,000	15,000
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	760	830
Vermont Economic Development Authority Solid Waste Disposal Long-Term Revenue Bonds Series 2013 due April 2036 - fixed rate interest period through 2018; bearing interest at 4.75%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	16,000	16,000
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	605	636
Business Finance Authority of the State of New Hampshire Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2013 due April 2029 - fixed rate interest period through 2019; bearing interest at 4.00%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	11,000	11,000
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	563	690
Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2005R-1; letter of credit backed due January 2025 - bearing interest at SIFMA Index
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	3,600	3,600
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	31	35
Capital leases maturing through April 2023; bearing interest at up to 7.70%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	5,534	4,130
Notes payable maturing through January 2021; bearing interest at up to 7.00%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	449	1,167
Senior Subordinated Notes, Due February 2019; bore interest at 7.75%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	0	370,300
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	0	7,829
Term Loan B Facility due October 2023; bearing interest at LIBOR plus 3.00% | Secured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	350,000	0
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	7,718	0
Revolving Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility due October 2021; bearing interest at LIBOR plus 3.00% | Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	62,600	0
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	$ 4,965	$ 0