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Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Quarterly Financial Information |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on sale of assets |  |  | $ 40 |  |  |  | $ 96 | $ 38 | $ (9)
Positive (negative) impact on earnings per share | $ 0.07 | $ (0.05) | $ 0.07 |  | $ (0.03) | $ 0.01 |  |  |
Reduction in provision for income taxes due to tax audit settlements |  |  | $ (33) |  |  |  | (40) | (2) | (11)
Net reduction in income tax expense due to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (529) |
Net pre-tax (gains) losses |  | $ 32 |  | $ 26 |  |  |  |  |
Impairment charges | $ 8 |  |  |  |  |  | 38 | 41 | 59
Deferred tax adjustment |  |  |  |  |  |  | (17) |  |
Excess tax benefits associated with equity-based compensation |  |  |  |  |  | $ 32 | 17 | 37 |
Remeasurement of net deferred tax assets and liabilities due to tax legislation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (595) |
Mandatory transition tax due to tax legislation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 66 |
Goodwill impairment charges |  |  |  | $ 34 |  |  | 6 | 34 | 12
Debt repayments |  |  |  |  |  |  | 499 | $ 1,907 | 2,682
Senior Notes, 6.1 Percent, Due March 2018 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Positive (negative) impact on earnings per share |  |  |  | $ (0.01) |  |  |  |  |
Loss on early extinguishment of debt |  |  |  | $ (6) |  |  |  |  |
Debt repayments |  |  |  | $ 590 |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate |  |  |  | 6.10% |  |  |  | 6.10% |
Waste Diversion Technology Company [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Positive (negative) impact on earnings per share |  |  |  | $ (0.02) |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investments impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  | $ 25 |  | $ 29 |
Cost method investment impairment |  |  |  | $ 11 |  |  |  | 11 | 42
Withdrawal from Multiemployer Pension Plans [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Charge to "Operating" expenses |  |  |  |  | $ 11 |  | 3 | 12 |
San Jacinto Waste Pits [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revisions in estimate |  |  |  |  | $ 9 |  |  | 11 | 44
Business Activity Gain (Loss) [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Positive (negative) impact on earnings per share |  |  |  | $ 0.03 |  |  |  |  |
Oil and Gas Well [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gains from sale of oil and gas properties |  |  |  | $ 31 |  |  |  | 31 |
Energy and Environmental Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Decrease in contingent consideration |  |  |  | $ (30) |  |  |  | (30) |
Lamp Tracker Reporting Unit [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill impairment charges | $ 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Landfill [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment charges |  | $ 29 |  |  |  |  | 30 |  | $ 43
Tax Implications [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Positive (negative) impact on earnings per share | $ 0.04 | $ 0.06 |  | $ 1.21 |  |  |  |  |
Net reduction in income tax expense due to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act |  | $ (27) |  | $ (529) |  |  |  |  |
Deferred tax adjustment | $ (17) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Remeasurement of net deferred tax assets and liabilities due to tax legislation |  |  |  | (595) |  |  |  |  |
Mandatory transition tax due to tax legislation |  |  |  | $ 66 |  |  |  |  |
Tier 1 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on sale of assets | $ 52 |  |  |  |  |  | 52 |  |
Other [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on sale of assets |  |  |  |  |  |  | 44 |  |
Goodwill impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 6 | $ 34 |

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