Debt (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Unsecured Debt [Member] Darling International Senior Unsecured Restricted Notes [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Unsecured Debt [Member] Darling International Senior Unsecured Restricted Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Unsecured Debt [Member] Other Notes [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Unsecured Debt [Member] Other Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Secured Debt [Member] Credit Agreement Term Loan [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Secured Debt [Member] Credit Agreement Term Loan [Member]	Dec. 17, 2010 Secured Debt [Member] Credit Agreement Term Loan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Secured Debt [Member] Darling International Senior Secured Revolving Loan Facility [Member]	Mar. 24, 2011 Secured Debt [Member] Darling International Senior Secured Revolving Loan Facility [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Secured Debt [Member] Darling International Senior Secured Revolving Loan Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Letter of Credit [Member] Darling International Senior Secured Letter of Credit Sub Facility [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Letter of Credit [Member] Darling International Senior Secured Letter of Credit Sub Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2014			104.25%
2015			102.125%
2016 and thereafter			100.00%
Long-term Debt	$ 280,030	$ 710,039		$ 250,000	$ 250,000	$ 30	$ 39	$ 30,000	$ 300,000	$ 300,000	$ 0		$ 160,000
Annual interest rate				8.50%
Maximum availability											415,000	325,000	325,000	75,000
Outstanding borrowings and letter of credit issued											0		160,000	23,440	23,383
Availability											391,560		141,617
Current portion of long-term debt	10	3,009
Long-term debt, net of current portion	280,020	707,030
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
2012	10
2013	316
2014	391
2015	305
2016	29,008
thereafter	$ 250,000