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Income Taxes - Additional information (Detail) - USD ($) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities |  | $ 44,000,000 | $ 38,000,000 | $ 53,000,000
Interest expense |  | 376,000,000 | 385,000,000 | 466,000,000
Other federal tax credits |  | 14,000,000 | 15,000,000 | 13,000,000
Reduction in provision for income taxes due to tax audit settlements |  | (11,000,000) | (10,000,000) | (12,000,000)
Reduction in provision for income taxes due to state net operating losses and credits |  | 10,000,000 | 17,000,000 | 16,000,000
Increase (decrease) to accruals and related deferred taxes |  | (10,000,000) | (18,000,000) | (24,000,000)
Increase (decrease) in provision for income taxes due to impairments |  | 15,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 8,000,000
(Income) expense from divestitures |  | 9,000,000 | (7,000,000) | (515,000,000)
Unremitted earnings in foreign subsidiaries |  | 950,000,000 |  |
Increase in valuation allowance |  | 19,000,000 |  |
Net unrecognized tax benefits that would impact effective tax rate in future period |  | 69,000,000 |  |
Accrued interest |  | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 1,000,000
Accrued interest in balance sheet |  | 5,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
Unrecognized tax benefits related to accrued liabilities or expense for penalties |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits including accrued interest that may be reversed within the next 12 months |  | 7,000,000 |  |
Deferred tax assets related to unrecognized tax benefits that may be reversed within the next 12 months |  | $ 3,000,000 |  |
Wheelabrator [Member] |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |
(Income) expense from divestitures | $ 7,000,000 |  |  | (519,000,000)
2014 Audit [Member] |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Expected time of completion of IRS audits |  | 9 months |  |
2015 Audit [Member] |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Expected time of completion of IRS audits |  | 12 months |  |
2016 Audit [Member] |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Expected time of completion of IRS audits |  | 18 months |  |
2017 Audit [Member] |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Expected time of completion of IRS audits |  | 30 months |  |
Tax Implications [Member] |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Hypothetical tax expense (benefit) associated with gain on sale of business |  | $ (5,000,000) |  |
(Income) expense from divestitures |  | 9,000,000 |  |
Tax Implications [Member] | Wheelabrator [Member] |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Hypothetical tax expense (benefit) associated with gain on sale of business |  |  | 4,000,000 | 138,000,000
(Income) expense from divestitures |  |  | (10,000,000) | (515,000,000)
Federal [Member] |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Net operating loss carry-forwards |  | $ 25,000,000 |  |
Operating loss carry-forwards, expiration date |  | Dec. 31, 2036 |  |
Capital loss carry-forward |  | $ 453,000,000 |  |
Capital loss carry-forward, expiration year one |  | 2019 |  |
Capital loss carry-forward, expiration year two |  | 2021 |  |
State [Member] |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Net operating loss carry-forwards |  | $ 2,000,000,000 |  |
Operating loss carry-forwards, expiration date |  | Dec. 31, 2036 |  |
State tax credit carry-forward |  | $ 24,000,000 |  |
Investments Qualifying for Federal Tax Credits [Member] |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities |  | 31,000,000 | 30,000,000 | 32,000,000
Interest expense |  | 3,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 5,000,000
Income tax benefit, including tax credits, from equity method investment |  | $ 55,000,000 | $ 57,000,000 | $ 58,000,000

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