Consolidated Debt (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding	$ 199	$ 403
Long-term Debt	2,289	2,085
Total Long Term Debt, Tax Exempt Bonds	357	357
Total Long Term Debt, Senior Notes	1,733	1,325
Current portion of long-term debt	(535)	(528)
Long-term debt, Noncurrent	1,754	1,557
Project Debt	228	236
Other Project Debt	22	23
Current portion of project debt	(53)	(55)
Project Debt Noncurrent	175	181
Debt, Total	2,517	2,321
Debt, Current	(588)	(583)
Debt, Noncurrent	1,929	1,738
North America [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Project Debt	206	213
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding	0	110
Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding	200	294
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	1	1
Long-term Debt, Gross	199	293
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		300
Senior Notes 7.25 Percent Due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	400	400
Senior Notes 6.375 Percent Due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	400	400
Senior Notes 5.875 Percent Due 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	400	0
Cash Convertible Senior Notes 3.25 Percent Due 2014 [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	(6)	(13)
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	79	78
Long-term Debt	533	525
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	460	460
Debt Discount, current	6	13
Derivative Liabilities, Current	79	78
Tax Exempt Bonds due 2024 to 2042 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	335	335
Americas Project Debt Related To Service Fee Structures [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Project Debt	161	167
Americas Project Debt Related To Tip Fee Structures [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Project Debt	44	45
Project Debt Type [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Premium	1	1
Debt Discount, current	1	1
Covanta Delaware Valley L P [Member] \| Variable Rate Tax Exempt Bond due 2043 [Member] [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	$ 22	$ 22

Debt Discount, current

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Debt, Noncurrent

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Debt, Total

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Other Project Debt

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Total project debt.

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Project debt current.

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Project debt noncurrent.

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Total Long Term Debt, Senior Notes and Debentures

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Amount of short-term debt and current maturity of long-term debt and capital lease obligations due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

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The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

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The amount of debt premium that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

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Fair value before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset.

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Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

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Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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