Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share Computations (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class [Line Items]
Net income from continuing operations									$ 116	$ 79	$ 30
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations									(2)	140	32
Net income attributable to Covanta Holding Corporation	82	26	18	(12)	26	42	18	133	114	219	62
Basic earnings per share:
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding									132	141	153
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share	$ 0.63	$ 0.20	$ 0.15	$ (0.09)	$ 0.20	$ 0.35	$ 0.12	$ (0.09)	$ 0.88	$ 0.56	$ 0.19
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.01	$ 1.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.99	$ 0.21
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.63	$ 0.20	$ 0.14	$ (0.09)	$ 0.19	$ 0.30	$ 0.13	$ 0.91	$ 0.87	$ 1.55	$ 0.40
Diluted earnings per share:
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding									132	141	153
Dilutive effect of stock options									0	0	0
Dilutive effect of restricted stock									1	1	1
Dilutive effect of convertible debentures									0	0	0
Dilutive effect of warrants									0	0	0
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding									133	142	154
Continuing operations	$ 0.62	$ 0.19	$ 0.15	$ (0.09)	$ 0.20	$ 0.35	$ 0.12	$ (0.09)	$ 0.87	$ 0.56	$ 0.19
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.01	$ 1.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.98	$ 0.21
Covanta Holding Corporation	$ 0.62	$ 0.19	$ 0.14	$ (0.09)	$ 0.19	$ 0.30	$ 0.13	$ 0.91	$ 0.86	$ 1.54	$ 0.40
Common stock, par value	$ 0.10				$ 0.10				$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Warrants [Member]
Diluted earnings per share:
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Other									$ 0
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Strike Price, Adjusted									$ 22.20
Stock Options [Member]
Diluted earnings per share:
Securities excluded from the weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive:									2	2	2
Restricted stock
Diluted earnings per share:
Securities excluded from the weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive:									0	0	0
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Diluted earnings per share:
Securities excluded from the weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive:									0	0	0
Warrants [Member]
Diluted earnings per share:
Securities excluded from the weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive:									29	28	27