Annual report pursuant to section 13 and 15(d)

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details)

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended						3 Months Ended
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012 Installments	Sep. 28, 2010	Aug. 31, 2005	Dec. 31, 2012 Continuing Operations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Continuing Operations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Continuing Operations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Discontinued Operations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Discontinued Operations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Discontinued Operations [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 First Installment [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Second Installment [Member]
Earn-Out Amount [Abstract]
Maximum earn out amount	$ 4,552,000
Earn out amount paid	3,896,000
Earn out amount paid in cash	2,574,000
Earn out amount paid in promissory note		1,322,000
Number of monthly installments	36
Periodic payment	40,000
Offset amount representing indemnification obligation	656,000
Maximum offset amount relating to merger agreement	1,000,000
Offset amount relating to excise tax issue and refund request	93,000
Anticipated offset amount relating to nonconforming waste	563,000
Pension Liability [Abstract]
Pension withdrawal liability	301,000
Demand letter from central states teamsters pension fund for amending liability			1,629,000
Demand notice from Central States Teamsters Pension Fund for per month payment	22,000
Interest on pension liability (in hundredths)	8.00%
Period for payment of demand notice per month from Pension Fund Authority	8 years
Insurance [Abstract]
Period of finite risk insurance policy (in years)	25 years
Maximum allowable coverage of insurance policy	39,000,000
Final payment to insurer	18,305,000									1,073,000	1,054,000
Number of installments for insurance policy	14
Final payment to insurer deposited in sinking fund account	14,472,000
Final payment to insurer representing terrorism premium	2,883,000
Final payment to insurer representing fee payable	950,000
Financial assurance coverage amount under insurance policy	37,524,000
Sinking fund related to the insurance policy	15,382,000
Interest earned on sinking fund	911,000
Interest income on sinking fund during the period	30,000
Insurer's obligation to entity on termination of contract (in hundredths)	100.00%
Contract termination election minimum period	4 years
Financial assurance coverage amount under second insurance policy	7,800,000
Annual growth rate of financial assurance coverage amount under second insurance policy (in hundredths)	1.50%
Period of finite second insurance policy (in years)	4 years
Maximum financial assurance coverage amount under second insurance policy	8,200,000
Total payment under second policy	7,158,000
Amount of annual payment deposited in sinking fund under second insurance policy	5,700,000
Initial payment representing premium under second insurance policy	1,458,000
Sinking fund related to the second insurance policy	5,890,000
Operating Leases [Abstract]
2013	883,000
2014	802,000
2015	733,000
2016	587,000
2017	529,000
beyond 2017	174,000
Total	3,708,000
Total rent expenses				1,569,000	1,289,000	1,025,000	42,000	239,000	269,000
Payments on non-cancelable operating leases				$ 972,000	$ 762,000	$ 653,000	$ 5,000	$ 135,000	$ 216,000