Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Excess tax benefits associated with equity-based compensation				$ 32			$ 37
Positive (negative) impact on earnings per share			$ (0.03)	$ 0.01	$ (0.16)	$ (0.10)
Net reduction in income tax expense due to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act							(529)
Re-measurement of net deferred tax assets and liabilities due to tax legislation							(595)
Mandatory transition tax due to tax legislation							66
Goodwill impairment charges		$ 34					34	$ 12
Net pre-tax charges					$ 106
Loss on early extinguishment of debt							(6)	(4)	$ (555)
Debt repayments							1,907	2,682	2,764
Pre-tax impairment charges							41	59	89
Gain (loss) on sale of assets							38	(9)	7
Tax Implications [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Positive (negative) impact on earnings per share		$ 1.21
Net reduction in income tax expense due to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act		$ (529)
Re-measurement of net deferred tax assets and liabilities due to tax legislation		(595)
Mandatory transition tax due to tax legislation		$ 66
Senior Notes, 6.1 Percent, Due March 2018 [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Positive (negative) impact on earnings per share		$ (0.01)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		$ (6)					(6)
Debt repayments	$ 590
Interest rate	6.10%
Waste Diversion Technology Company [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Equity method investments impairment charges				$ 25			29
Positive (negative) impact on earnings per share		$ (0.02)
Cost method investment impairment		$ 11				$ 45	11	42	5
Withdrawal from Multiemployer Pension Plans [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Charge to "Operating" expenses			$ 11				12		51
San Jacinto Waste Pits [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revisions in estimate			$ 9		42		11	44
Business Activity Gain (Loss) [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Positive (negative) impact on earnings per share		$ 0.03
Net pre-tax charges		$ 26
Oil and Gas Well [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Gains from sale of oil and gas properties		31					31		$ 6
Energy and Environmental Services [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Decrease in contingent consideration		(30)					(30)
Goodwill impairment charges		32					$ 34
Investment In Majority Owned Organics Company [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale of assets					(8)			(8)
Western Pennsylvania [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax impairment charges					43			43
Lamp Tracker Reporting Unit [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment charges		$ 2			$ 10			$ 12