Landfill and Environmental Costs (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011 Years CubicYards Landfills	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 Years Segments RetirementPlans Employees Claims CubicYards Landfills	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Activity in asset retirement obligation liabilities, which includes liabilities for final capping, closure and post-closure
Asset retirement obligation liabilities, beginning of year			$ 1,046.5	$ 1,074.5
Non-cash additions			16.4	15.6
Acquisitions and other adjustments			14.4	(0.7)
Asset retirement obligation adjustments			(15.0)	(7.6)
Payments			(35.2)	(28.0)
Accretion expense	19.5	20.2	39.2	40.4
Asset retirement obligation liabilities, end of period	1,066.3	1,094.2	1,066.3	1,094.2
Less: Current portion	(96.7)	(123.7)	(96.7)	(123.7)
Long-term portion	969.6	970.5	969.6	970.5
Remediation liability till March 31, 2011	555.4	549.3	555.4	549.3
Summary of landfill and environmental liabilities
Landfill final capping, closure and post-closure liabilities	1,066.3	1,094.2	1,066.3	1,094.2
Remediation	555.4	549.3	555.4	549.3
Landfill and environmental liabilities	1,621.7		1,621.7		1,598.6
Less: Current portion	(187.9)		(187.9)		(182.0)
Long-term portion	1,433.8		1,433.8		1,416.6
Activity in environmental remediation liabilities
Remediation liabilities, beginning of year			552.1	554.1
Acquisitions and other adjustments				1.5
Additions charged to expense			3.0	2.6
Payments			(16.2)	(23.4)
Accretion expense			16.5	14.5
Remediation liabilities, end of period	555.4	549.3	555.4	549.3
Less: Current portion	(91.2)	(102.2)	(91.2)	(102.2)
Long-term portion	464.2	447.1	464.2	447.1
Landfill and Environmental Costs (Textuals)
Number of active solid waste landfills	193		193
Total available disposal capacity (billion in-place cubic yards)	4,800,000,000		4,800,000,000
Number of closed landfills	130		130
Fair value of assets that are legally restricted for final capping, closure and post-closure obligations	50.7		50.7		59.1
Aggregate potential remediation liability			If we used the reasonably possible high ends of our ranges, our aggregate potential remediation liability at June 30, 2011 would be approximately $141 million higher than the amounts recorded.
Site contingency, loss exposure in excess of accrual, high estimate			141
Countywide Landfill [Member]
Activity in asset retirement obligation liabilities, which includes liabilities for final capping, closure and post-closure
Remediation liability till March 31, 2011	63.9		63.9
Remainder Remediation liability till 2010			4.6
Range of loss for remediation costs (minimum)			55
Range of loss for remediation costs (maximum)			76
Summary of landfill and environmental liabilities
Remediation	63.9		63.9
Activity in environmental remediation liabilities
Remediation liabilities, end of period	63.9		63.9
West Contra Costa County Landfill [Member]
Activity in asset retirement obligation liabilities, which includes liabilities for final capping, closure and post-closure
Remediation liability till March 31, 2011	45.7		45.7
Remainder Remediation liability till 2010			2.4
Range of loss for remediation costs (minimum)			36
Range of loss for remediation costs (maximum)			62
Summary of landfill and environmental liabilities
Remediation	45.7		45.7
Activity in environmental remediation liabilities
Remediation liabilities, end of period	45.7		45.7
Sunrise Landfill [Member]
Activity in asset retirement obligation liabilities, which includes liabilities for final capping, closure and post-closure
Remediation liability till March 31, 2011	36.8		36.8
Remainder Remediation liability till 2010			24.0
Range of loss for remediation costs (minimum)			28
Range of loss for remediation costs (maximum)			43
Summary of landfill and environmental liabilities
Remediation	36.8		36.8
Activity in environmental remediation liabilities
Remediation liabilities, end of period	36.8		36.8
Congress Development Landfill [Member]
Activity in asset retirement obligation liabilities, which includes liabilities for final capping, closure and post-closure
Remediation liability till March 31, 2011	83.7		83.7
Remainder Remediation liability till 2010			8.0
Range of loss for remediation costs (minimum)			44
Range of loss for remediation costs (maximum)			144
Summary of landfill and environmental liabilities
Remediation	83.7		83.7
Activity in environmental remediation liabilities
Remediation liabilities, end of period	$ 83.7		$ 83.7