Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets, including but not limited to property plant and equipment, intangible assets and equity in securities of subsidiaries or equity method investee.

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Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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Segment and Related Information - Reportable Segments (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
(Income) expense from divestitures		$ 9	$ (7)	$ (515)
Assets		20,859	20,367	21,252
Goodwill, Beginning balance	$ 5,740	5,984	5,740
Acquired goodwill		280	325
Divested goodwill		(1)	(7)
Foreign currency translation		12	(74)
Goodwill, Ending balance		6,215	5,984	5,740
Impairments		(12)
Other adjustments		(48)
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	2,178	2,190	2,178
Acquired goodwill		11	27
Foreign currency translation		2	(15)
Goodwill, Ending balance		2,203	2,190	2,178
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	1,795	1,772	1,795
Acquired goodwill		12	42
Divested goodwill			(6)
Foreign currency translation		10	(59)
Goodwill, Ending balance		1,792	1,772	1,795
Other adjustments		(2)
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	1,662	1,812	1,662
Acquired goodwill		254	151
Divested goodwill		(1)	(1)
Goodwill, Ending balance		2,065	1,812	1,662
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	105	210	105
Acquired goodwill		3	105
Goodwill, Ending balance		155	210	105
Impairments		(12)
Other adjustments		(46)
Wheelabrator [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
(Income) expense from divestitures	$ 7			(519)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets		21,137	20,906	21,843
Operating Segments [Member] \| Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets		6,188	6,098	6,150
Operating Segments [Member] \| Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets		5,488	5,394	5,648
Operating Segments [Member] \| Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets		6,571	5,930	5,449
Operating Segments [Member] \| Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets		1,489	1,701	1,791
Elimination of Intercompany Investments and Advances [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets		$ (278)	$ (539)	$ (591)