v2.4.0.6

Financial Instruments (Details Textual) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Commodity Hedges [Member]
Financial Instruments (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregated fair values of outstanding hedges, current assets	$ 1.4	$ 1.9
Aggregated fair values of outstanding hedges, current liabilities	0.7	6.5
Effective portions of changes in fair values recorded in stockholders equity as components of accumulated other comprehensive income	0.4	(2.6)
Purchased put option [Member]
Financial Instruments (Textual) [Abstract]
Notional Amount (in Gallons per Month)	25,000
Written call option [Member]
Financial Instruments (Textual) [Abstract]
Notional Amount (in Gallons per Month)	25,000
Fuel hedges [Member]
Financial Instruments (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregated fair values of outstanding hedges, current assets	1.6	1.6
Aggregated fair values of outstanding hedges, current liabilities	4.7	1.9
Effective portions of changes in fair values recorded in stockholders equity as components of accumulated other comprehensive income	1.8	0.2
Realized (losses) gains fuel hedges included in cost of operations in consolidated statements of income	$ 0.9	$ (2.0)	$ (7.3)
Costless collar agreements [Member]
Financial Instruments (Textual) [Abstract]
Forecasted maximum sales of costless collar agreement	25,000

X

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount of derivative expressed in nonmonetary units. For example, the number of barrels specified in a fuel oil forward purchase contract.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Fair value current assets measured on recurring basis derivative financial instruments current assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	rsg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Fair Value Current Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Derivative Financial Instruments Current Liabilities

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	rsg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	rsg_FinancialInstrumentsTextualAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	rsg_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Forecasted sales of costless collar agreement

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rsg_ForecastedSalesOfHedgeContractAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	rsg_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The amount of net gains and losses recognized in income during the period on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments in fair value hedges and related hedged items designated and qualifying in fair value hedges, on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments in cash flow hedges, and on derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 205G

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4A

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5618551-113959



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (a),(c),(d),(e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5624171-113959



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 44C

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The effective portion of gains on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments that was recognized in other comprehensive income during the current period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5624171-113959



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 205G

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 44C

-Subparagraph b

-Clause 2

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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