Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 2,470,600	$ 2,427,500
Expenses:
Cost of operations	1,506,100	1,469,800
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	251,500	263,100
Accretion	20,500	20,400
Selling, general and administrative	266,400	261,200
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets and asset impairments, net	300	(700)
Restructuring charges	3,000	9,500
Operating income	422,800	404,200
Interest expense	(100,400)	(94,800)
Loss from unconsolidated equity method investment	(11,600)	0
Interest income	1,900	200
Other income, net	100	1,000
Income before income taxes	312,800	310,600
Provision for income taxes	77,900	72,700
Net income	234,900	237,900
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiary	(700)	(200)
Net income attributable to Republic Services, Inc.	$ 234,200	$ 237,700
Basic earnings per share attributable to Republic Services, Inc. stockholders:
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.73	$ 0.72
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	322,282	330,655
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Republic Services, Inc. stockholders:
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.72	$ 0.72
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	323,450	332,208
Cash dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.375	$ 0.345