Segment and Related Information - Reportable Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 3,396	$ 3,336
Income from operations	469	402
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,976	3,924
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(580)	(588)
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	721	710
Income from operations	218	207
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	850	843
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(129)	(133)
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,234	1,241
Income from operations	284	298
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,502	1,516
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(268)	(275)
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	712	698
Income from operations	124	109
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	847	826
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(135)	(128)
Solid Waste [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	2,667	2,649
Income from operations	626	614
Solid Waste [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,199	3,185
Solid Waste [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(532)	(536)
Wheelabrator [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	203	178
Income from operations	34	9
Wheelabrator [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	230	205
Wheelabrator [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(27)	(27)
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	526	509
Income from operations	(18)	(41)
Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	547	534
Other [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(21)	(25)
Operating Group Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,396	3,336
Income from operations	642	582
Operating Group Total [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,976	3,924
Operating Group Total [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(580)	(588)
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues
Income from operations	(173)	(180)
Corporate and Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues
Corporate and Other [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues