Segment and Related Information - Reportable Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 3,360	$ 3,602	$ 9,715	$ 10,559
Income from operations	601	546	1,543	1,547
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,981	4,238	11,490	12,417
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(621)	(636)	(1,775)	(1,858)
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from operations	(118)	(240)	(380)	(579)
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	742	757	2,176	2,225
Income from operations	226	230	652	671
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	886	895	2,590	2,630
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(144)	(138)	(414)	(405)
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,369	1,355	3,935	3,929
Income from operations	350	349	921	968
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,677	1,662	4,808	4,814
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(308)	(307)	(873)	(885)
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	732	763	2,130	2,235
Income from operations	151	169	397	442
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	869	910	2,540	2,668
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(137)	(147)	(410)	(433)
Solid Waste [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	2,843	2,875	8,241	8,389
Income from operations	727	748	1,970	2,081
Solid Waste [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,432	3,467	9,938	10,112
Solid Waste [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(589)	(592)	(1,697)	(1,723)
Wheelabrator [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		177		561
Income from operations		48	1	102
Wheelabrator [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		205		641
Wheelabrator [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		(28)		(80)
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	517	550	1,474	1,609
Income from operations	(8)	(10)	(48)	(57)
Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	549	566	1,552	1,664
Other [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(32)	(16)	(78)	(55)
Operating Group Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,360	3,602	9,715	10,559
Income from operations	719	786	1,923	2,126
Operating Group Total [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,981	4,238	11,490	12,417
Operating Group Total [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ (621)	$ (636)	$ (1,775)	$ (1,858)