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Landfill and Environmental Costs (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Landfills
CubicYards
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Environmental Exit Cost [Line Items]      
Remediation liability $ 543.7 $ 552.1 $ 554.1
Summary of landfill and environmental liabilities      
Landfill final capping, closure and post-closure liabilities 1,037.0 1,046.5 1,074.5
Remediation 543.7 552.1 554.1
Landfill and environmental liabilities 1,580.7 1,598.6  
Less: Current portion (184.2) (182.0)  
Long-term portion 1,396.5 1,416.6  
Activity in asset retirement obligation liabilities, which includes liabilities for final capping, closure and post-closure      
Asset retirement obligation liabilities, beginning of year 1,046.5 1,074.5 1,040.6
Non-cash additions 33.9 31.4 32.5
Acquisitions and other adjustments 15.8 (3.0) 72.3
Asset retirement obligation adjustments (31.5) (27.9) (57.4)
Payments (105.7) (111.3) (100.9)
Accretion expense 78.0 80.5 88.8
Adjustments to liabilities related to assets held for sale   2.3 (1.4)
Asset retirement obligation liabilities, end of period 1,037.0 1,046.5 1,074.5
Less: Current portion (85.2) (93.9) (137.5)
Long-term portion 951.8 952.6 937.0
Summary of expected future payments for final capping, closure and post-closure      
2012 85.2    
2013 111.0    
2014 97.0    
2015 98.7    
2016 94.3    
Thereafter 4,628.9    
Total 5,115.1    
Activity in environmental remediation liabilities      
Remediation liabilities, beginning of year 552.1 554.1 389.9
Acquisitions and other adjustments   1.5 181.9
Additions charged to expense 3.6 17.9 4.9
Payments (45.0) (50.5) (56.2)
Accretion expense (non-cash interest expense) 33.0 29.1 33.6
Remediation liabilities, end of period 543.7 552.1 554.1
Less: Current portion (99.0) (88.1) (107.9)
Long-term portion 444.7 464.0 446.2
Summary of expected undiscounted future payments for remediation costs      
2012 99.0    
2013 64.3    
2014 45.7    
2015 37.7    
2016 32.6    
Thereafter 458.7    
Total 738.0    
Landfill and Environmental Costs (Textual)      
Number of active solid waste landfills 191    
Total available disposal capacity (billion in-place cubic yards) 4,800,000,000    
Number of closed landfills 130    
Closure and post-closure reserve fair value, increase     72.3
Closure and post-closure obligations, risk free rate 9.75%   9.75%
Net Increase (Decrease) in amortization expense 9.6 10.2 5.1
Fair value of assets that are legally restricted for final capping, closure and post-closure obligations 54.9    
Amount of aggregate potential remediation liability 197    
Aggregate potential remediation liability If we used the reasonably possible high ends of our ranges, our aggregate potential remediation liability at December 31, 2011 would be approximately $197 million higher than the amounts recorded.    
Allied [Member]
      
Environmental Exit Cost [Line Items]      
Remediation reserve 181.9    
Countywide Landfill [Member]
      
Environmental Exit Cost [Line Items]      
Remediation liability 56.8    
Expected remediation liability to be paid during the remainder of the current year 5.0    
Range of loss for remediation costs (minimum) 53    
Range of loss for remediation costs (maximum) 74    
Summary of landfill and environmental liabilities      
Remediation 56.8    
Activity in environmental remediation liabilities      
Remediation liabilities, end of period 56.8    
Congress Landfill [Member]
      
Environmental Exit Cost [Line Items]      
Remediation liability 83.6    
Expected remediation liability to be paid during the remainder of the current year 7.4    
Range of loss for remediation costs (minimum) 53    
Range of loss for remediation costs (maximum) 154    
Summary of landfill and environmental liabilities      
Remediation 83.6    
Activity in environmental remediation liabilities      
Remediation liabilities, end of period $ 83.6