Segment and Related Information - Reportable Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 3,716	$ 3,548	$ 10,833	$ 10,149
Income from operations	701	560	1,932	1,679
Operating Group Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,716	3,548	10,833	10,149
Income from operations	837	698	2,370	2,083
Solid Waste [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,118	2,990	9,079	8,605
Income from operations	853	728	2,436	2,169
Tier 1 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,174	1,126	3,435	3,242
Income from operations	398	369	1,159	1,065
Tier 2 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	753	723	2,189	2,060
Income from operations	180	121	527	423
Tier 3 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,191	1,141	3,455	3,303
Income from operations	275	238	750	681
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	598	558	1,754	1,544
Income from operations	(16)	(30)	(66)	(86)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	4,465	4,239	12,993	12,112
Operating Segments [Member] | Operating Group Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	4,465	4,239	12,993	12,112
Operating Segments [Member] | Solid Waste [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,803	3,631	11,071	10,432
Operating Segments [Member] | Tier 1 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,432	1,364	4,189	3,921
Operating Segments [Member] | Tier 2 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	924	885	2,682	2,522
Operating Segments [Member] | Tier 3 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,447	1,382	4,200	3,989
Operating Segments [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	662	608	1,922	1,680
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(749)	(691)	(2,160)	(1,963)
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Operating Group Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(749)	(691)	(2,160)	(1,963)
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Solid Waste [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(685)	(641)	(1,992)	(1,827)
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Tier 1 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(258)	(238)	(754)	(679)
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Tier 2 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(171)	(162)	(493)	(462)
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Tier 3 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(256)	(241)	(745)	(686)
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	(64)	(50)	(168)	(136)
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from operations	$ (136)	$ (138)	$ (438)	$ (404)