XML 52 R39.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Landfill Accounting (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) site $ / T | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / T | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Landfill Accounting [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of landfills owned and operated by company | site | 78 |  |
Number of landfills operated, not owned, under life-of-site operating agreements | site | 8 |  |
Number of landfills operated under limited-term operating agreements | site | 6 |  |
Property and equipment, net | $ | $ 4,783,928 |  | $ 4,738,055
Average remaining landfill life based on permitted capacity and projected annual disposal volumes | 27 years |  |
Number of owned landfills the company is seeking to expand | site | 11 |  |
Number of landfills operated under life-of-site operating agreements that the company is seeking to expand | site | 2 |  |
Average remaining landfill life based on permitted capacity, projected annual disposal volumes and probable expansion capacity | 29 years |  |
Life of Company's owned landfills and landfills operated under life-of-site operating agreements min range | 1 year |  |
Life of Company's owned landfills and landfills operated under life of site operating agreements max range | 196 years |  |
Landfill depletion expense | $ | $ 147,071 | $ 98,075 |
Average rate per ton consumed related to landfill depletion at owned landfills and landfills operated under life-of-site agreements | $ / T | 4.55 | 4.27 |
Discount rate for purposes of computing layers for final capping, closure and post-closure obligations | 4.75% |  | 4.75%
Inflation rate for purposes of computing layers for final capping, closure and post-closure obligations | 2.50% |  | 2.50%
Accretion expense associated with landfill obligations | $ | $ 8,757 | $ 5,740 |
Average rate per ton consumed related to final capping, closure and post-closure landfill accretion expense | $ / T | 0.27 | 0.25 |
Restricted asset balance for purposes of securing our performance of future final capping, closure and post-closure obligations | $ | $ 55,827 |  | $ 55,388
Landfill [Member] |  |  |
Landfill Accounting [Line Items] |  |  |
Property and equipment, net | $ | $ 2,687,159 |  |

X
- Definition Amount of accretion expense recognized during the period that is associated with an asset retirement obligation. Accretion expense measures and incorporates changes due to the passage of time into the carrying amount of the liability. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392676&loc=d3e7480-110848 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Carrying amount of an asset that is legally restricted for purposes of settling an asset retirement obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLegallyRestrictedAssetsFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The noncash expense charged against earnings to recognize the consumption of natural resources. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_Depletion
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(13)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(14)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(8)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Average rate per ton consumed related to final capping, closure and post-closure landfill accretion expense. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wcn_AverageRatePerTonConsumedRelatedToFinalCappingClosureAndPostClosureLandfillAccretionExpense
Namespace Prefix: | wcn_
Data Type: | us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Average rate per ton consumed related to landfill depletion at owned landfills and landfills operated under life of site agreements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wcn_AverageRatePerTonConsumedRelatedToLandfillDepletionAtOwnedLandfillsAndLandfillsOperatedUnderLifeOfSiteAgreements
Namespace Prefix: | wcn_
Data Type: | us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Average remaining landfill life, based on permitted capacity and projected annual disposal volumes, for the company's owned landfills and landfills operated under life-of-site operating agreements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wcn_AverageRemainingLandfillLifeBasedOnPermittedCapacityAndProjectedAnnualDisposalVolumes
Namespace Prefix: | wcn_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Average remaining landfill life, based on permitted capacity, projected annual disposal volumes and probable expansion capacity, for the Company's owned landfills and landfills operated under life-of-site operating agreements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wcn_AverageRemainingLandfillLifeBasedOnPermittedCapacityProjectedAnnualDisposalVolumesAndProbableExpansionCapacity
Namespace Prefix: | wcn_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The credit-adjusted risk-free rate applied to the undiscounted amount of final capping, closure and post-closure obligations to arrive at the net present value recorded as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wcn_DiscountRateForPurposesOfComputingLayersForFinalCappingClosureAndPostClosureObligations
Namespace Prefix: | wcn_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The inflation rate applied to the total final capping, closure and post-closure obligation in current dollars based upon the expected date of the expenditure. This inflated total is then discounted to its present value using a credit-adjusted risk free rate. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wcn_InflationRateForPurposesOfComputingLayersForFinalCappingClosureAndPostClosureObligations
Namespace Prefix: | wcn_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Landfill Accounting [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wcn_LandfillAccountingLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | wcn_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Maximum range of the life of Company's owned landfills and landfills operated under life of site operating agreements, when considering remaining permitted capacity, probable expansion capacity and projected annual disposal volume. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wcn_LifeOfCompanysOwnedLandfillsAndLandfillsOperatedUnderLifeOfSiteOperatingAgreementsMaxRange
Namespace Prefix: | wcn_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Minimum range of the life of Company's owned landfills and landfills operated under life of site operating agreements, when considering remaining permitted capacity, probable expansion capacity and projected annual disposal volume. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wcn_LifeOfCompanysOwnedLandfillsAndLandfillsOperatedUnderLifeOfSiteOperatingAgreementsMinRange
Namespace Prefix: | wcn_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number Of Landfills Operated Not Owned Under Life Of Site Operating Agreements + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wcn_NumberOfLandfillsOperatedNotOwnedUnderLifeOfSiteOperatingAgreements
Namespace Prefix: | wcn_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of landfills operated under life-of-site operating agreements in which the company is seeking to expand permitted disposal capacity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wcn_NumberOfLandfillsOperatedUnderLifeOfSiteOperatingAgreementsThatCompanyIsSeekingToExpand
Namespace Prefix: | wcn_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of landfills operated under limited-term operating agreements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wcn_NumberOfLandfillsOperatedUnderLimitedTermOperatingAgreements
Namespace Prefix: | wcn_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of landfills owned and operated by company + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wcn_NumberOfLandfillsOwnedAndOperatedByCompany
Namespace Prefix: | wcn_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of owned landfills in which the company is seeking to expand permitted disposal capacity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wcn_NumberOfOwnedLandfillsCompanyIsSeekingToExpand
Namespace Prefix: | wcn_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_LandfillMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |