Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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The amount of goodwill arising from a business combination that is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillExpectedTaxDeductibleAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

For receivables acquired in a business combination, excluding certain loans and debt securities acquired in a transfer (as defined), this element represents the best estimate at the acquisition date of the contractual cash flows not expected to be collected, by major class of receivable, such as loans, direct finance leases (as defined), and any other class of receivables.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84161108&loc=d3e4845-128472

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

For receivables acquired in a business combination, excluding certain loans and debt securities acquired in a transfer (as defined), this element represents the gross contractual amounts receivable, by major class of receivable, such as loans, direct finance leases (as defined), and any other class of receivables.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 20
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84161108&loc=d3e4845-128472

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 23
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84229725&loc=d3e1043-128460

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of liability recognized arising from contingent consideration in a business combination.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 35
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 25
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911189&loc=d3e6408-128476

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
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Interest rate used to find the present value of an amount to be paid or received in the future as an input to measure fair value. For example, but not limited to, weighted average cost of capital (WACC), cost of capital, cost of equity and cost of debt.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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The number of businesses acquired by the entity during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
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Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration, Payments, Payable Term

No definition available.

Name:	wcn_BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationPaymentsPayableTerm
Namespace Prefix:	wcn_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the number of acquisitions for which the initial accounting is incomplete.

No definition available.

Name:	wcn_BusinessCombinationProvisionalInformationInitialAccountingIncompleteNumberOfAcquisitions
Namespace Prefix:	wcn_
Data Type:	xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of collection operations acquired

No definition available.

Name:	wcn_NumberOfCollectionOperationsAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	wcn_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Number of customers served by company acquired

No definition available.

Name:	wcn_NumberOfCustomersServedByCompanyAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	wcn_
Data Type:	xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of businesses acquired by the entity during the period that are not specifically described.

No definition available.

Name:	wcn_NumberOfIndividualBusinessesAcquiredThatAreNotSpecificallyDescribed
Namespace Prefix:	wcn_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of recycling facilities acquired

No definition available.

Name:	wcn_NumberOfRecyclingFacilitiesAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	wcn_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Number of transfer stations acquired

No definition available.

Name:	wcn_NumberOfTransferStationsAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	wcn_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

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Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=wcn_GrootIndustriesInc.Member
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=wcn_OneAcquisitionMember
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