Segment and Related Information - Reportable Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 3,315	$ 3,561	$ 6,355	$ 6,957
Income from operations	502	532	942	1,001
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,934	4,203	7,509	8,179
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(619)	(642)	(1,154)	(1,222)
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	731	747	1,434	1,468
Income from operations	215	223	426	441
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	873	885	1,704	1,735
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(142)	(138)	(270)	(267)
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,357	1,340	2,566	2,574
Income from operations	295	335	571	619
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,663	1,650	3,131	3,152
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(306)	(310)	(565)	(578)
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	726	760	1,398	1,472
Income from operations	120	149	246	273
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	873	911	1,671	1,758
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(147)	(151)	(273)	(286)
Solid Waste [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	2,814	2,847	5,398	5,514
Income from operations	630	707	1,243	1,333
Solid Waste [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,409	3,446	6,506	6,645
Solid Waste [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(595)	(599)	(1,108)	(1,131)
Wheelabrator [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		181		384
Income from operations	8	20	1	54
Wheelabrator [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		206		436
Wheelabrator [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		(25)		(52)
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	501	533	957	1,059
Income from operations	(17)	(29)	(40)	(47)
Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	525	551	1,003	1,098
Other [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(24)	(18)	(46)	(39)
Operating Group Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,315	3,561	6,355	6,957
Income from operations	621	698	1,204	1,340
Operating Group Total [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,934	4,203	7,509	8,179
Operating Group Total [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(619)	(642)	(1,154)	(1,222)
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from operations	$ (119)	$ (166)	$ (262)	$ (339)