Segment and Related Information - Reportable Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Gross Operating Revenues									$ 16,008	$ 15,409	$ 14,477
Intercompany Operating Revenues									(2,359)	(2,031)	(1,962)
Total operating revenues	3,434	3,461	3,459	3,295	3,406	3,522	3,347	3,103	13,649	13,378	12,515
Income from operations	484	500	466	401	552	543	506	427	1,851	2,028	2,116
Depreciation and amortization									1,297	1,229	1,194
Capital Expenditures									1,438	1,362	1,167
Total Assets	23,097				22,569				23,097	22,569	21,476
Total assets, as reported above [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Total Assets	23,797				23,241				23,797	23,241	22,169
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Gross Operating Revenues									3,370	3,337	3,334
Intercompany Operating Revenues									(521)	(425)	(418)
Total operating revenues									2,849	2,912	2,916
Income from operations									851	859	857
Depreciation and amortization									273	268	270
Capital Expenditures									242	215	207
Total Assets	3,656				3,610				3,656	3,610	3,475
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Gross Operating Revenues									6,273	6,332	6,076
Intercompany Operating Revenues									(1,096)	(980)	(936)
Total operating revenues									5,177	5,352	5,140
Income from operations									1,270	1,237	1,130
Depreciation and amortization									512	492	504
Capital Expenditures									511	526	406
Total Assets	8,394				8,337				8,394	8,337	7,899
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Gross Operating Revenues									3,413	3,329	3,203
Intercompany Operating Revenues									(523)	(444)	(438)
Total operating revenues									2,890	2,885	2,765
Income from operations									504	512	508
Depreciation and amortization									259	261	242
Capital Expenditures									271	234	228
Total Assets	5,088				4,987				5,088	4,987	4,768
Wheelabrator [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Gross Operating Revenues									846	877	889
Intercompany Operating Revenues									(123)	(121)	(125)
Total operating revenues									723	756	764
Income from operations									113	172	210
Depreciation and amortization									69	67	64
Capital Expenditures									36	35	38
Total Assets	2,605				2,542				2,605	2,542	2,554
Other [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Gross Operating Revenues									2,106	1,534	975
Intercompany Operating Revenues									(96)	(61)	(45)
Total operating revenues									2,010	1,473	930
Income from operations									(242)	(164)	(157)
Depreciation and amortization									111	77	52
Capital Expenditures									239	223	198
Total Assets	2,503				2,203				2,503	2,203	1,783
Operating Group Total [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Gross Operating Revenues									16,008	15,409	14,477
Intercompany Operating Revenues									(2,359)	(2,031)	(1,962)
Total operating revenues									13,649	13,378	12,515
Income from operations									2,496	2,616	2,548
Depreciation and amortization									1,224	1,165	1,132
Capital Expenditures									1,299	1,233	1,077
Total Assets	22,246				21,679				22,246	21,679	20,479
Corporate and Other [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Income from operations									(645)	(588)	(432)
Depreciation and amortization									73	64	62
Capital Expenditures									139	129	90
Total Assets	$ 1,551				$ 1,562				$ 1,551	$ 1,562	$ 1,690