Acquisitions and Divestitures - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 26, 2015	Dec. 19, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired					$ 454	$ 26
Wheelabrator [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture of business		$ 1,950
Income expense from divestitures asset impairment		$ 519
Period of agreement		7 years
Puerto Rico Operation and Certain Other Collection and Landfill Assets [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture of business				$ 80
Income expense from divestitures asset impairment				(25)		$ (25)
Puerto Rico Operation and Certain Other Collection and Landfill Assets [Member] | Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture of business				15
Puerto Rico Operation and Certain Other Collection and Landfill Assets [Member] | Cash [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture of business				$ 65
Deffenbaugh Disposal, Inc. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	$ 413
Total consideration paid	416		$ 415		415
Business acquisition, revenue recognized			48		48
Business acquisition, net (losses) less than			(1)		(1)
Purchase price allocation to goodwill	140		160		160
Other intangible assets	$ 134		$ 101		101
Deffenbaugh Disposal, Inc. [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total intangible assets subject to amortization					$ 95
Total other intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted average amortization period					15 years
Deffenbaugh Disposal, Inc. [Member] | Trade Name [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total intangible assets subject to amortization					$ 6
Total other intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted average amortization period					15 years