Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Basic earnings per share:
Net income attributable to Republic Services, Inc.	$ 301,000	$ 263,400	$ 234,900	$ 237,700	$ 664,400	$ 223,200	$ 202,900	$ 187,800	$ 1,036,898	$ 1,278,374	$ 612,588
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)									326,897,000	337,051,000	343,024,000
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)									$ 3.17	$ 3.79	$ 1.79
Diluted earnings per share:
Net income attributable to Republic Services, Inc.	$ 301,000	$ 263,400	$ 234,900	$ 237,700	$ 664,400	$ 223,200	$ 202,900	$ 187,800	$ 1,036,898	$ 1,278,374	$ 612,588
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)									326,897,000	337,051,000	343,024,000
Effect of dilutive securities:
Options to purchase common stock (in shares)									745,000	1,246,000	1,076,000
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)									328,383,000	338,981,000	344,390,000
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.92	$ 0.81	$ 0.71	$ 0.72	$ 1.98	$ 0.66	$ 0.60	$ 0.55	$ 3.16	$ 3.77	$ 1.78
Antidilutive securities not included in the diluted earnings per share calculations (in shares)									0	0	0
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Effect of dilutive securities:
Unvested awards (in shares)									250,000	346,000	190,000
Performance Shares
Effect of dilutive securities:
Unvested awards (in shares)									491,000	338,000	100,000