Segment and Related Information - Summary (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 3,652	$ 3,716	$ 3,677	$ 3,440	$ 3,460	$ 3,548	$ 3,425	$ 3,176	$ 14,485	$ 13,609	$ 12,961
Income from operations	704	$ 701	$ 673	$ 558	617	$ 560	$ 611	$ 508	2,636	2,296	2,045
Depreciation and amortization									1,376	1,301	1,245
Capital Expenditures									1,568	1,347	1,229
Total Assets	21,829				20,859				21,829	20,859	20,367
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									17,370	16,246	15,350
Total Assets	22,116				21,137				22,116	21,137	20,906
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									(2,885)	(2,637)	(2,389)
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from operations									(585)	(550)	(522)
Depreciation and amortization									45	56	64
Capital Expenditures									92	45	56
Total Assets	1,327				1,401				1,327	1,401	1,783
Elimination of Intercompany Investments and Advances [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Assets	(287)				(278)				(287)	(278)	(539)
Operating Group Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									14,485	13,609	12,961
Operating Group Total [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									17,370	16,246	15,350
Income from operations									3,221	2,846	2,567
Depreciation and amortization									1,331	1,245	1,181
Capital Expenditures									1,476	1,302	1,173
Total Assets	20,789				19,736				20,789	19,736	19,123
Operating Group Total [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									(2,885)	(2,637)	(2,389)
Solid Waste [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									12,167	11,516	11,003
Solid Waste [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									14,832	13,968	13,285
Income from operations									3,289	2,946	2,727
Depreciation and amortization									1,228	1,144	1,087
Capital Expenditures									1,383	1,198	1,045
Total Assets	19,004				18,247				19,004	18,247	17,422
Solid Waste [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									(2,665)	(2,452)	(2,282)
Tier 1 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									4,574	4,330	4,227
Tier 1 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									5,576	5,241	5,083
Income from operations									1,538	1,430	1,290
Depreciation and amortization									451	424	428
Capital Expenditures									603	452	382
Total Assets	6,528				6,188				6,528	6,188	6,098
Tier 1 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									(1,002)	(911)	(856)
Tier 2 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									2,116	1,996	1,933
Tier 2 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									2,559	2,400	2,322
Income from operations									552	522	446
Depreciation and amortization									203	190	190
Capital Expenditures									185	157	147
Total Assets	3,749				3,562				3,749	3,562	3,497
Tier 2 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									(443)	(404)	(389)
Tier 3 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									5,477	5,190	4,843
Tier 3 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									6,697	6,327	5,880
Income from operations									1,199	994	991
Depreciation and amortization									574	530	469
Capital Expenditures									595	589	516
Total Assets	8,727				8,497				8,727	8,497	7,827
Tier 3 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									(1,220)	(1,137)	(1,037)
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									2,318	2,093	1,958
Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									2,538	2,278	2,065
Income from operations									(68)	(100)	(160)
Depreciation and amortization									103	101	94
Capital Expenditures									93	104	128
Total Assets	$ 1,785				$ 1,489				1,785	1,489	1,701
Other [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues									$ (220)	$ (185)	$ (107)