Segment and Related Information - Reportable Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 3,561	$ 3,526	$ 6,957	$ 6,862
Income from operations	532	510	1,001	912
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	4,203	4,172	8,179	8,096
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(642)	(646)	(1,222)	(1,234)
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	747	747	1,468	1,457
Income from operations	223	221	441	428
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	885	891	1,735	1,734
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(138)	(144)	(267)	(277)
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,340	1,328	2,574	2,569
Income from operations	335	325	619	623
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,650	1,641	3,152	3,157
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(310)	(313)	(578)	(588)
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	760	732	1,472	1,430
Income from operations	149	131	273	240
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	911	871	1,758	1,697
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(151)	(139)	(286)	(267)
Solid Waste [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	2,847	2,807	5,514	5,456
Income from operations	707	677	1,333	1,291
Solid Waste [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,446	3,403	6,645	6,588
Solid Waste [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(599)	(596)	(1,131)	(1,132)
Wheelabrator [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	181	188	384	366
Income from operations	20	4	54	13
Wheelabrator [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	206	215	436	420
Wheelabrator [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(25)	(27)	(52)	(54)
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	533	531	1,059	1,040
Income from operations	(29)	(27)	(47)	(68)
Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	551	554	1,098	1,088
Other [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(18)	(23)	(39)	(48)
Operating Group Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,561	3,526	6,957	6,862
Income from operations	698	654	1,340	1,236
Operating Group Total [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	4,203	4,172	8,179	8,096
Operating Group Total [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(642)	(646)	(1,222)	(1,234)
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues
Income from operations	(166)	(144)	(339)	(324)
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