CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 860	$ 1,009	$ 1,002
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,297	1,229	1,194
Deferred income tax provision	67	198	154
Interest accretion on landfill liabilities	84	84	82
Interest accretion on and discount rate adjustments to environmental remediation liabilities and recovery assets	6	23	8
Provision for bad debts	57	44	41
Equity-based compensation expense	29	45	36
Excess tax benefits associated with equity-based transactions	(11)	(8)	(9)
Net gain on disposal of assets	(21)	(24)	(22)
Effect of (income) expense from divestitures, asset impairments and unusual items and other	99	10	(1)
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities, net of dividends	46	31	20
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:
Receivables	(131)	(110)	(159)
Other current assets	(50)	(23)	47
Other assets	105	28	(3)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(57)	65	(57)
Deferred revenues and other liabilities	(85)	(132)	(58)
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,295	2,469	2,275
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(250)	(867)	(407)
Capital expenditures	(1,510)	(1,324)	(1,104)
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets	44	36	44
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts	14	107	48
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(77)	(155)	(173)
Other	(51)	18	(14)
Net cash provided by investing activities	(1,830)	(2,185)	(1,606)
Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings	1,180	1,201	908
Debt repayments	(1,058)	(503)	(1,112)
Common stock repurchases		(575)	(501)
Cash dividends	(658)	(637)	(604)
Exercise of common stock options	43	45	54
Excess tax benefits associated with equity-based transactions	11	8	9
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests	(46)	(59)	(45)
Other	(2)	(46)	18
Net cash used in financing activities	(530)	(566)	(1,273)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	1	1	3
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(64)	(281)	(601)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	258	539	1,140
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 194	$ 258	$ 539