Segment and Related Information - Reportable Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 3,548	$ 3,360	$ 10,149	$ 9,715
Income from operations	560	601	1,679	1,543
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	4,239	3,981	12,112	11,490
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(691)	(621)	(1,963)	(1,775)
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from operations	(138)	(118)	(404)	(380)
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,126	1,092	3,242	3,171
Income from operations	369	344	1,065	937
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,364	1,316	3,921	3,803
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(238)	(224)	(679)	(632)
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	723	694	2,060	2,022
Income from operations	121	168	423	458
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	885	851	2,522	2,484
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(162)	(157)	(462)	(462)
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,141	1,057	3,303	3,048
Income from operations	238	215	681	575
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,382	1,265	3,989	3,651
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(241)	(208)	(686)	(603)
Solid Waste [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	2,990	2,843	8,605	8,241
Income from operations	728	727	2,169	1,970
Solid Waste [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,631	3,432	10,432	9,938
Solid Waste [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(641)	(589)	(1,827)	(1,697)
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	558	517	1,544	1,474
Income from operations	(30)	(8)	(86)	(48)
Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	608	549	1,680	1,552
Other [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(50)	(32)	(136)	(78)
Operating Group Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,548	3,360	10,149	9,715
Income from operations	698	719	2,083	1,923
Operating Group Total [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	4,239	3,981	12,112	11,490
Operating Group Total [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ (691)	$ (621)	$ (1,963)	(1,775)
Wheelabrator [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from operations				$ 1