NEW BUSINESS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT (Notes)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract]
New Business and Asset Management	NEW BUSINESS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT The acquisitions in the section below are not material to our consolidated financial statements individually or in the aggregate and therefore, disclosures of pro forma financial information have not been presented. The results of operations reflect the period of ownership of the acquired businesses, business development projects and dispositions. Environmental Services Acquisitions During 2016, we acquired two environmental services business, in separate transactions, for a total of $9 million. During 2015, we acquired four environmental services businesses (one of which was accounted for as an asset purchase), in separate transactions, for a total of $69 million. During 2014, we acquired one environmental services business for $13 million. These acquisitions expand our Covanta Environmental Solutions capabilities and client service offerings, and allow us to direct additional non-hazardous profiled waste volumes into our EfW facilities, and therefore are highly synergistic with our existing business. Pittsfield EfW Facility In March 2016, we exercised an early termination option available under the steam sale agreement at our Pittsfield EfW facility that would have been effective in March 2017. Upon termination of the steam agreement, we intended to cease operations at the Pittsfield facility. As a result, during the first quarter of 2016, we recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $13 million, pre-tax, which was calculated based on the estimated cash flows for this facility during its remaining operations utilizing Level 3 inputs. For more information regarding fair value measurements, see Note 12. Financial Instruments. In October 2016, we withdrew our termination notice. The City of Pittsfield has agreed to fund certain upgrades to the facility and the State of Massachusetts will provide energy tax credits, both of which will serve to improve the economics of the facility. In addition, we will continue to sell steam generated by the facility under an amended agreement. Dublin EfW Facility In 2014, we entered into agreements to build, own and operate the Dublin EfW facility, a 600,000 metric ton-per-year, 58 megawatt facility in Dublin, Ireland. The project will source residential, commercial and profiled waste from Dublin and the surrounding areas and will sell electricity into the local electricity grid, with over 50% of the facility’s generation expected to qualify for preferential pricing under Ireland’s renewable feed-in tariff. We commenced construction of the facility in the fourth quarter of 2014, with operational commencement expected in late-2017. We will operate the facility under a 45-year public-private-partnership, after which ownership of the facility will transfer to the City of Dublin. Our total investment in the project is expected to be approximately €500 million, funded by project equity (approximately €125 million) and third party non-recourse project financing (€375 million). For additional information related to funding for this project, see Note 11. Consolidated Debt - Dublin Project Financing. New York City Waste Transport and Disposal Contract In 2013, New York City's Department of Sanitation awarded us a contract to handle waste transport and disposal from two marine transfer stations located in Queens and Manhattan. We are utilizing capacity at existing facilities for the disposal of an estimated 800,000 tons per year of municipal solid waste. Service for the Queens marine transfer station began in early 2015, with service for the Manhattan marine transfer station expected to follow pending notice to proceed to be issued by New York City, which is anticipated in 2018. The contract is for 20 years, effective from the commencement of operations at the Queens marine transfer station in March 2015, with options for New York City to extend the term for two additional five-year periods, and requires waste to be transported using a multi-modal approach. We have acquired equipment, including barges, railcars, containers, and intermodal equipment to support this contract. We expect that our total initial investment will be approximately $150 million, including the cost to acquire equipment of approximately $114 million and approximately $36 million of enhancements to existing facilities that will be part of the network of assets supporting this contract. During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, we invested $3 million, $31 million and $59 million, respectively, in property, plant and equipment relating to this contract. Since 2013, we have invested a total of $115 million in property, plant and equipment relating to this contract. Pinellas County Energy-from-Waste Facility In 2014, we entered into a ten-year service fee contract to operate an existing 3,150 ton-per-day energy-from-waste facility located in Pinellas County, Florida, and we assumed operations of the facility in December of 2014. In addition to the annual service fee, during the initial few years of the contract we will complete a number of projects to improve operations of the facility. Our client will pay for these projects, for which we will record construction revenue and expense. Durham-York Energy-from-Waste Facility During 2011, we began construction of a municipally-owned 140,000 metric ton-per-year greenfield EfW facility located in Durham Region of Canada and owned by our municipal clients, the Durham and York Regions. We built the facility under the terms of a fixed-price construction contract totaling C$250 million. The project entered commercial operations in January 2016 under a 20-year service fee contract. We are currently seeking to resolve outstanding disputes with our primary contractor for the Durham-York construction project, for additional information see Note 18. Commitments and Contingencies.

NEW BUSINESS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT

The acquisitions in the section below are not material to our consolidated financial statements individually or in the aggregate and therefore, disclosures of pro forma financial information have not been presented. The results of operations reflect the period of ownership of the acquired businesses, business development projects and dispositions.

Environmental Services Acquisitions

During 2016, we acquired two environmental services business, in separate transactions, for a total of $9 million. During 2015, we acquired four environmental services businesses (one of which was accounted for as an asset purchase), in separate transactions, for a total of $69 million. During 2014, we acquired one environmental services business for $13 million.

These acquisitions expand our Covanta Environmental Solutions capabilities and client service offerings, and allow us to direct additional non-hazardous profiled waste volumes into our EfW facilities, and therefore are highly synergistic with our existing business.

Pittsfield EfW Facility

In March 2016, we exercised an early termination option available under the steam sale agreement at our Pittsfield EfW facility that would have been effective in March 2017. Upon termination of the steam agreement, we intended to cease operations at the Pittsfield facility. As a result, during the first quarter of 2016, we recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $13 million, pre-tax, which was calculated based on the estimated cash flows for this facility during its remaining operations utilizing Level 3 inputs. For more information regarding fair value measurements, see Note 12. Financial Instruments.

In October 2016, we withdrew our termination notice. The City of Pittsfield has agreed to fund certain upgrades to the facility and the State of Massachusetts will provide energy tax credits, both of which will serve to improve the economics of the facility. In addition, we will continue to sell steam generated by the facility under an amended agreement.

Dublin EfW Facility

In 2014, we entered into agreements to build, own and operate the Dublin EfW facility, a 600,000 metric ton-per-year, 58 megawatt facility in Dublin, Ireland. The project will source residential, commercial and profiled waste from Dublin and the surrounding areas and will sell electricity into the local electricity grid, with over 50% of the facility’s generation expected to qualify for preferential pricing under Ireland’s renewable feed-in tariff. We commenced construction of the facility in the fourth quarter of 2014, with operational commencement expected in late-2017. We will operate the facility under a 45-year public-private-partnership, after which ownership of the facility will transfer to the City of Dublin. Our total investment in the project is expected to be approximately €500 million, funded by project equity (approximately €125 million) and third party non-recourse project financing (€375 million). For additional information related to funding for this project, see Note 11. Consolidated Debt - Dublin Project Financing.

New York City Waste Transport and Disposal Contract

In 2013, New York City's Department of Sanitation awarded us a contract to handle waste transport and disposal from two marine transfer stations located in Queens and Manhattan. We are utilizing capacity at existing facilities for the disposal of an estimated 800,000 tons per year of municipal solid waste. Service for the Queens marine transfer station began in early 2015, with service for the Manhattan marine transfer station expected to follow pending notice to proceed to be issued by New York City, which is anticipated in 2018. The contract is for 20 years, effective from the commencement of operations at the Queens marine transfer station in March 2015, with options for New York City to extend the term for two additional five-year periods, and requires waste to be transported using a multi-modal approach. We have acquired equipment, including barges, railcars, containers, and intermodal equipment to support this contract. We expect that our total initial investment will be approximately $150 million, including the cost to acquire equipment of approximately $114 million and approximately $36 million of enhancements to existing facilities that will be part of the network of assets supporting this contract. During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, we invested $3 million, $31 million and $59 million, respectively, in property, plant and equipment relating to this contract. Since 2013, we have invested a total of $115 million in property, plant and equipment relating to this contract.

Pinellas County Energy-from-Waste Facility

In 2014, we entered into a ten-year service fee contract to operate an existing 3,150 ton-per-day energy-from-waste facility located in Pinellas County, Florida, and we assumed operations of the facility in December of 2014. In addition to the annual service fee, during the initial few years of the contract we will complete a number of projects to improve operations of the facility. Our client will pay for these projects, for which we will record construction revenue and expense.

Durham-York Energy-from-Waste Facility

During 2011, we began construction of a municipally-owned 140,000 metric ton-per-year greenfield EfW facility located in Durham Region of Canada and owned by our municipal clients, the Durham and York Regions. We built the facility under the terms of a fixed-price construction contract totaling C$250 million. The project entered commercial operations in January 2016 under a 20-year service fee contract. We are currently seeking to resolve outstanding disputes with our primary contractor for the Durham-York construction project, for additional information see Note 18. Commitments and Contingencies.