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Shareholders' Equity (Narrative) (Detail) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 16 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jul. 26, 2017 $ / shares | Jul. 24, 2017 shares | Oct. 31, 2016 $ / shares | Sep. 30, 2016 $ / shares shares | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares | Sep. 30, 2016 $ / shares shares | Jul. 31, 2017 shares | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares shares | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2016 shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock split description |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | On April 26, 2017, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a split of its common shares on a three-for-two basis, which was approved by its shareholders at the Company's Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders of Waste Connections on May 23, 2017. Shareholders of record on June 7, 2017 received from the Company's transfer agent on June 16, 2017, one additional common share for every two common shares held. All share and per share amounts for all periods presented have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the share split. |  |  |
Stockholders equity stock conversion ratio |  |  |  |  | 1.5 |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares issued |  |  |  |  | 263,640,287 |  |  | 263,640,287 |  | 263,640,287 | 263,140,777
Other long-term liabilities | $ |  |  |  |  | $ 1,080 |  |  | $ 1,080 |  | $ 1,080 |
Maximum number of shares authorized for repurchase |  | 13,181,806 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Share repurchase plan expiration date |  | Aug. 07, 2018 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Daily repurchase of shares, maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  | 80,287 |  |  |  |
Average daily trading volume during period |  |  |  |  |  |  | 321,151 |  |  |  |
Repurchase of common stock (shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  |
Cash dividend per share | $ / shares |  |  | $ 0.12 | $ 0.097 | $ 0.120 | $ 0.097 |  | $ 0.360 | $ 0.290 |  |
Cash dividend per common share, increase | $ / shares |  |  | $ 0.023 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash dividends on common stock | $ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 95,201 | $ 61,001 |  |
Dividends per share amount | $ / shares | $ 0.12 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average grant-date fair value of award | $ / shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 57.02 |  |  |
Shares outstanding |  |  |  |  | 1,040,176 |  |  | 1,040,176 |  | 1,040,176 | 1,252,291
Units granted in period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 413,179 |  |  |
Units forfeited in period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 45,409 |  |  |
Vested deferred RSUs outstanding |  |  |  | 366,337 | 352,214 | 366,337 |  | 352,214 | 366,337 | 352,214 |
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] | Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Units granted in period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |
Performance Shares [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average grant-date fair value of award | $ / shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 57.47 |  |  |
Vesting period of award |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 years |  |  |
Performance period end date |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Dec. 31, 2019 |  |  |
Shares outstanding |  |  |  |  | 514,461 |  |  | 514,461 |  | 514,461 | 427,144
Units granted in period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 210,103 |  |  |
Performance Shares [Member] | Officer [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Vesting period of award |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 years |  |  |
Performance Shares [Member] | Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Units granted in period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |
Performance Shares [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Vesting period of award |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 year |  |  |
Employee Stock Option [Member] | Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Options granted in period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |

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