Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Note 8 - Divestitures and Discontinued Operations (Details) - Current and Long-term Accrued Environmental Liabilities

v2.4.1.9
Note 8 - Divestitures and Discontinued Operations (Details) - Current and Long-term Accrued Environmental Liabilities (USD $)
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Environmental Exit Cost [Line Items]    
Current Accrual $ 728,000us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesCurrent  
Long-term Accrual 288,000us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent  
Total 1,016,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies 1,031,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
PFD [Member]    
Environmental Exit Cost [Line Items]    
Current Accrual 3,000us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= pesi_PFDMember
 
Long-term Accrual 66,000us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= pesi_PFDMember
 
Total 69,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= pesi_PFDMember
 
PFM [Member]    
Environmental Exit Cost [Line Items]    
Current Accrual 30,000us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= pesi_PFMMember
 
Long-term Accrual 15,000us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= pesi_PFMMember
 
Total 45,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= pesi_PFMMember
 
PFSG [Member]    
Environmental Exit Cost [Line Items]    
Current Accrual 618,000us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= pesi_PFSGMember
 
Long-term Accrual 207,000us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= pesi_PFSGMember
 
Total 825,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= pesi_PFSGMember
 
PFMI [Member]    
Environmental Exit Cost [Line Items]    
Current Accrual 77,000us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= pesi_PFMIMember
 
Total $ 77,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= pesi_PFMIMember