Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 2,605,300	$ 2,517,800	$ 5,075,900	$ 4,945,200
Expenses:
Cost of operations	1,617,000	1,577,200	3,123,100	3,047,000
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	264,200	255,500	515,800	518,600
Accretion	20,500	20,200	40,900	40,600
Selling, general and administrative	264,500	252,900	530,900	514,000
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets and asset impairments, net	200	0	500	(700)
Restructuring charges	1,500	3,800	4,500	13,300
Operating income	437,400	408,200	860,200	812,400
Interest expense	(98,500)	(96,500)	(198,900)	(191,300)
Loss from unconsolidated equity method investment	(11,500)	(100)	(23,100)	(100)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	(300)	0	(300)
Interest income	1,400	200	3,300	400
Other (expense) income, net	(200)	1,100	(100)	2,200
Income before income taxes	328,600	312,600	641,400	623,300
Provision for income taxes	77,700	76,900	155,600	149,700
Net income	250,900	235,700	485,800	473,600
Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiary	600	(800)	(100)	(1,000)
Net income attributable to Republic Services, Inc.	$ 251,500	$ 234,900	$ 485,700	$ 472,600
Basic earnings per share attributable to Republic Services, Inc. stockholders:
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.78	$ 0.72	$ 1.51	$ 1.44
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	321,718	327,365	322,000	329,003
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Republic Services, Inc. stockholders:
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.78	$ 0.71	$ 1.50	$ 1.43
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	322,765	328,830	323,109	330,513
Cash dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.375	$ 0.345	$ 0.750	$ 0.690