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
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-Topic 944
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-Section S99
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The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

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Segment and Related Information - Reportable Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues	$ 3,460	$ 3,548	$ 3,425	$ 3,176	$ 3,246	$ 3,360	$ 3,315	$ 3,040	$ 13,609	$ 12,961	$ 13,996
Income from operations	617	$ 560	$ 611	$ 508	502	$ 601	$ 502	$ 440	2,296	2,045	2,299
Depreciation and amortization									1,301	1,245	1,292
Capital Expenditures									1,347	1,229	1,181
Total Assets	20,859				20,367				20,859	20,367	21,252
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues									16,246	15,350	16,457
Total Assets	21,137				20,906				21,137	20,906	21,843
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues									(2,637)	(2,389)	(2,461)
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from operations									(550)	(522)	(769)
Depreciation and amortization									56	64	71
Capital Expenditures									45	56	74
Total Assets	1,401				1,783				1,401	1,783	2,805
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues									4,330	4,227	4,283
Income from operations									1,430	1,290	1,301
Depreciation and amortization									424	428	408
Capital Expenditures									452	382	388
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues									5,241	5,083	5,117
Total Assets	6,188				6,098				6,188	6,098	6,150
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member] \| Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues									(911)	(856)	(834)
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues									2,771	2,691	2,853
Income from operations									604	629	711
Depreciation and amortization									280	280	287
Capital Expenditures									295	251	223
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues									3,391	3,304	3,516
Total Assets	5,488				5,394				5,488	5,394	5,648
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member] \| Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues									(620)	(613)	(663)
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues									4,415	4,085	4,030
Income from operations									912	808	787
Depreciation and amortization									440	379	361
Capital Expenditures									451	412	351
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues									5,336	4,898	4,816
Total Assets	6,571				5,930				6,571	5,930	5,449
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member] \| Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues									(921)	(813)	(786)
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues									2,093	1,958	2,115
Income from operations									(100)	(160)	(400)
Depreciation and amortization									101	94	128
Capital Expenditures									104	128	134
Other [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues									2,278	2,065	2,191
Total Assets	1,489				1,701				1,489	1,701	1,791
Other [Member] \| Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues									(185)	(107)	(76)
Wheelabrator [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues											715
Income from operations											669
Depreciation and amortization											37
Capital Expenditures											11
Wheelabrator [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues											817
Wheelabrator [Member] \| Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues											(102)
Operating Group Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues									13,609	12,961	13,996
Income from operations									2,846	2,567	3,068
Depreciation and amortization									1,245	1,181	1,221
Capital Expenditures									1,302	1,173	1,107
Operating Group Total [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues									16,246	15,350	16,457
Total Assets	$ 19,736				$ 19,123				19,736	19,123	19,038
Operating Group Total [Member] \| Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Operating revenues									$ (2,637)	$ (2,389)	$ (2,461)