Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events Unless disclosed elsewhere within the notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the following are the matters that occurred subsequent to the balance sheet date. Highview License In November 2014, in addition to acquiring the cost method investment in Highview, as described in Note 5, the Company's subsidiary, ADA-ES, Inc. also acquired an exclusive license to utilize Highview's technology in North America. The technology license is included within the Other assets line item in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and is being amortized over a 10-year period. The liability is included within the Other current liabilities and Other long-term liabilities line items in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The technology license agreement was amended in November 2015 to defer license fee payments for a period of one year, allowing the Company to elect a non-exclusive license at a lower cost, or to terminate the license in return for paying a buy-out fee starting at £0.2 million if terminated in 2016 ($0.3 million based upon the exchange rate in effect as of the date of the November 2015 amendment) and decreases annually over the term of the 10 year agreement. Assets Sold and Lease Abandoned As discussed within Note 2, as part of a broader strategic restructuring of the Company's business, the Company’s management approved an action to wind down the manufacturing operations of BCSI, LLC, in order to focus the Company's efforts within the DSI market on engineering. During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company classified certain assets used in the BCSI, LLC manufacturing operations as held for sale. In doing so, the Company recognized impairment expense of approximately $0.3 million to reduce the carrying value of the assets to their estimated sales value, less estimated costs to sell. The property and equipment was subsequently sold at auction. Proceeds from the sale of the impaired assets totaled approximately $0.6 million. No gain or loss was recognized on the sale of the property and equipment. Also during the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company sold certain property and equipment having a net book value of approximately $0.1 million. Proceeds from the sale totaled approximately $0.3 million, which resulted in the recognition of a gain on the sale of approximately $0.2 million. The Company also closed its fabrication facility in McKeesport, Pennsylvania during the fourth quarter of 2015 and recognized $0.8 million of expense related to the abandonment of leased facilities. In March 2016, the Company entered into an agreement to terminate various lease agreements covering approximately 207 thousand square feet of manufacturing, warehouse and office space located in Pennsylvania. As consideration for terminating the leases, the Company agreed to pay the lessor termination fees of $250 thousand in April 2016 and the same amount in April 2017. RCM6 Sale On March 3, 2016, the Company sold its 24.95% membership interest in RCM6 for a cash payment of $1.8 million and assumption of the outstanding note payable made by the Company in connection with its purchase of RCM6 membership interests from CCS in February 2014. As a result of the sale, the Company is no longer a member of RCM6 and is no longer subject to any quarterly capital calls and variable payments to RCM6. However, the Company will still receive it pro-rata share of income and cash distributions through its ownership in CCS. The income and cash distribution will be generated from the RCM6 RC facility lease payments made to CCS. Notes Payable subsequent to September 30, 2015 On October 22, 2015, the Company entered into the credit agreement for a $15.0 million term loan, with Franklin Mutual Quest Fund and MFP Investors LLC (the "Lenders"), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as the administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Credit Agreement”), which was subsequently amended in 2016 as discussed below. Under the original terms and conditions, the Credit Agreement matured on April 22, 2016, subject to a three month extension at the Company's option to the extent certain conditions are met. The Credit Agreement bears interest at an annual rate equal to 10.5% and is subject to various prepayment and other premiums if certain events, including a change in control, occur. The Company received net proceeds of $13.9 million and recorded debt discounts and debt issuance costs of $1.5 million. The debt discounts and debt issuance costs will be amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the life of the Credit Agreement. The net proceeds are being used to fund working capital needs and for general operating purposes of the Company and its subsidiaries. On February 8, 2016, the Company entered into a first amendment to the Credit Agreement ("First Amendment") that extended the SEC filings date to March 30, 2016. On March 30, 2016, the Company entered into the second amendment to the Credit Agreement ("Second Amendment"). The Second Amendment extended the maturity date to July 8, 2016, extended the Company's filing date deadline related to its 2015 SEC filings to April 20, 2016, increased the stated interest rate from 10.5% to 15.0% and increased the minimum cash balance requirement from $3.0 million to $3.5 million. The Company incurred approximately $0.6 million in fees related to the Second Amendment. All obligations of the Company under the Credit Agreement are unconditionally guaranteed by each of the Company’s wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries (excluding ADA Analytics, LLC) and are secured by perfected security interests in substantially all of the assets of the Company and the guarantors, subject to certain agreed upon exceptions. The Lenders are beneficial owners of Common Stock in the Company. The Credit Agreement was approved by the Company's Board of Directors and by the Audit Committee as a related party transaction. In connection with the Credit Agreement, and the Company's pledge and assignment to the Collateral Agent for all of ADA's equity interests in CCSS, the Lenders required that NexGen consent to a pledge. The Company entered into an Indemnity Agreement with NexGen whereby ADES and ADA agreed to indemnify NexGen from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, fees or expenses, which may arise in connection with the Company pledging its CCSS equity interests. The Indemnity Agreement was approved by the Company's Board of Directors and by the Audit Committee as a related party transaction. In April 2016, the Company initiated a workforce reduction plan affecting approximately 30% of the Company’s employees ("Restructuring"). In connection with these actions, the Company currently expects to record aggregate charges with respect to severance payments, benefits continuation and vesting of certain equity awards that are estimated to be approximately $0.6 million - $0.9 million and are expected to be recorded during the second and third quarters of 2016. Cash expenditures related to the Restructuring are expected to be approximately $0.6 million - $0.9 million.

Subsequent Events

Unless disclosed elsewhere within the notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the following are the matters that occurred subsequent to the balance sheet date.

Highview License

In November 2014, in addition to acquiring the cost method investment in Highview, as described in Note 5, the Company's subsidiary, ADA-ES, Inc. also acquired an exclusive license to utilize Highview's technology in North America. The technology license is included within the Other assets line item in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and is being amortized over a 10-year period. The liability is included within the Other current liabilities and Other long-term liabilities line items in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The technology license agreement was amended in November 2015 to defer license fee payments for a period of one year, allowing the Company to elect a non-exclusive license at a lower cost, or to terminate the license in return for paying a buy-out fee starting at £0.2 million if terminated in 2016 ($0.3 million based upon the exchange rate in effect as of the date of the November 2015 amendment) and decreases annually over the term of the 10 year agreement.

Assets Sold and Lease Abandoned

As discussed within Note 2, as part of a broader strategic restructuring of the Company's business, the Company’s management approved an action to wind down the manufacturing operations of BCSI, LLC, in order to focus the Company's efforts within the DSI market on engineering. During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company classified certain assets used in the BCSI, LLC manufacturing operations as held for sale. In doing so, the Company recognized impairment expense of approximately $0.3 million to reduce the carrying value of the assets to their estimated sales value, less estimated costs to sell. The property and equipment was subsequently sold at auction. Proceeds from the sale of the impaired assets totaled approximately $0.6 million. No gain or loss was recognized on the sale of the property and equipment.

Also during the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company sold certain property and equipment having a net book value of approximately $0.1 million. Proceeds from the sale totaled approximately $0.3 million, which resulted in the recognition of a gain on the sale of approximately $0.2 million.

The Company also closed its fabrication facility in McKeesport, Pennsylvania during the fourth quarter of 2015 and recognized $0.8 million of expense related to the abandonment of leased facilities. In March 2016, the Company entered into an agreement to terminate various lease agreements covering approximately 207 thousand square feet of manufacturing, warehouse and office space located in Pennsylvania. As consideration for terminating the leases, the Company agreed to pay the lessor termination fees of $250 thousand in April 2016 and the same amount in April 2017.

RCM6 Sale

On March 3, 2016, the Company sold its 24.95% membership interest in RCM6 for a cash payment of $1.8 million and assumption of the outstanding note payable made by the Company in connection with its purchase of RCM6 membership interests from CCS in February 2014. As a result of the sale, the Company is no longer a member of RCM6 and is no longer subject to any quarterly capital calls and variable payments to RCM6. However, the Company will still receive it pro-rata share of income and cash distributions through its ownership in CCS. The income and cash distribution will be generated from the RCM6 RC facility lease payments made to CCS.

Notes Payable subsequent to September 30, 2015

On October 22, 2015, the Company entered into the credit agreement for a $15.0 million term loan, with Franklin Mutual Quest Fund and MFP Investors LLC (the "Lenders"), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as the administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Credit Agreement”), which was subsequently amended in 2016 as discussed below. Under the original terms and conditions, the Credit Agreement matured on April 22, 2016, subject to a three month extension at the Company's option to the extent certain conditions are met. The Credit Agreement bears interest at an annual rate equal to 10.5% and is subject to various prepayment and other premiums if certain events, including a change in control, occur. The Company received net proceeds of $13.9 million and recorded debt discounts and debt issuance costs of $1.5 million. The debt discounts and debt issuance costs will be amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the life of the Credit Agreement. The net proceeds are being used to fund working capital needs and for general operating purposes of the Company and its subsidiaries.

On February 8, 2016, the Company entered into a first amendment to the Credit Agreement ("First Amendment") that extended the SEC filings date to March 30, 2016. On March 30, 2016, the Company entered into the second amendment to the Credit Agreement ("Second Amendment"). The Second Amendment extended the maturity date to July 8, 2016, extended the Company's filing date deadline related to its 2015 SEC filings to April 20, 2016, increased the stated interest rate from 10.5% to 15.0% and increased the minimum cash balance requirement from $3.0 million to $3.5 million. The Company incurred approximately $0.6 million in fees related to the Second Amendment.

All obligations of the Company under the Credit Agreement are unconditionally guaranteed by each of the Company’s wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries (excluding ADA Analytics, LLC) and are secured by perfected security interests in substantially all of the assets of the Company and the guarantors, subject to certain agreed upon exceptions.

The Lenders are beneficial owners of Common Stock in the Company. The Credit Agreement was approved by the Company's Board of Directors and by the Audit Committee as a related party transaction.

In connection with the Credit Agreement, and the Company's pledge and assignment to the Collateral Agent for all of ADA's equity interests in CCSS, the Lenders required that NexGen consent to a pledge. The Company entered into an Indemnity Agreement with NexGen whereby ADES and ADA agreed to indemnify NexGen from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, fees or expenses, which may arise in connection with the Company pledging its CCSS equity interests. The Indemnity Agreement was approved by the Company's Board of Directors and by the Audit Committee as a related party transaction.

In April 2016, the Company initiated a workforce reduction plan affecting approximately 30% of the Company’s employees ("Restructuring"). In connection with these actions, the Company currently expects to record aggregate charges with respect to severance payments, benefits continuation and vesting of certain equity awards that are estimated to be approximately $0.6 million - $0.9 million and are expected to be recorded during the second and third quarters of 2016. Cash expenditures related to the Restructuring are expected to be approximately $0.6 million - $0.9 million.