Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Note 5 - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - Changes in the Carrying Amount of Permits

v2.4.1.9
Note 5 - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - Changes in the Carrying Amount of Permits (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Amortization of intangible assets $ (638,000)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets $ (745,000)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Balance 1,967,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet  
Permits [Member]    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Balance 16,744,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= pesi_PermitsMember 		16,799,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= pesi_PermitsMember
Amortization of intangible assets (55,000)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= pesi_PermitsMember 		[1] (55,000)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= pesi_PermitsMember 		[1]
Permit in progress 20,000pesi_PermitInProgress
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= pesi_PermitsMember 		 
Balance $ 16,709,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= pesi_PermitsMember 		$ 16,744,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= pesi_PermitsMember
[1] Amortization for the one definite-lived permit capitalized in 2009 in connection with the authorization issued by the U.S. EPA to our DSSI facility to commercially store and dispose of radioactive Polychlorinated Biphenyles or "PCBs." This permit is being amortized over a ten year period in accordance with its estimated useful life. Net carrying value of this permit was approximately $227,000 as of December 31, 2014.