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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 |

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