CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings, Unappropriated [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Shares, Outstanding		136,000,000
Common Stock, Value, Issued		$ 14
Additional Paid in Capital			$ 790
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax				$ (2)
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)					$ 101
Treasury Stock, Shares						6,000,000
Treasury Stock, Value						$ (1)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest							$ 4
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 906
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition	17		17
Dividends, Common Stock	(114)				(114)
Cost of Repurchased Shares for Tax Wittholding for Share Based Compensation	(4)		(4)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	$ 10		10			$ (1)
Shares issuable from warrant exercises	1,430,870					(1,000,000)
Proceeds from Warrant Exercises	$ 1					$ 1
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Net of Forfeitures						(1,000,000)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Restricted Stock Award, Net of Forfeitures	0
Stockholders' Equity, Other	1		(1)
Acquisition Of Noncontrolling Interests In Subsidiaries	(12)		(9)				(3)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(22)			(20)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION	(2)				(2)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest							(1)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(21)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	1
Shares, Outstanding		136,000,000
Common Stock, Value, Issued		$ 14
Additional Paid in Capital			805
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(22)			(22)
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)					(15)
Treasury Stock, Shares						3,000,000
Treasury Stock, Value						$ 0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest							2
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	784
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition	18		18
Dividends, Common Stock	(133)				(133)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	(32)		(13)		(19)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares						2,000,000
Cost of Repurchased Shares for Tax Wittholding for Share Based Compensation			(5)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	(1)						(1)
Stockholders' Equity, Other	1				(1)
Acquisition Of Noncontrolling Interests In Subsidiaries	4		(4)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	56			(12)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION	68
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	57
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	1
Shares, Outstanding		136,000,000
Common Stock, Value, Issued		$ 14
Additional Paid in Capital			801
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(34)			(34)
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	(143)				(143)
Treasury Stock, Shares						5,000,000
Treasury Stock, Value	0					$ 0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2						2
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	640
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	(45)				(45)
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition			16
Dividends, Common Stock	(132)				(132)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value			(6)		(11)	$ (1)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests							2
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares						1,000,000
Cost of Repurchased Shares for Tax Wittholding for Share Based Compensation			(4)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(32)			(28)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION	(4)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(32)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	0
Shares, Outstanding		136,000,000
Common Stock, Value, Issued		$ 14
Additional Paid in Capital			$ 807
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(62)			$ (62)
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	(289)				$ (289)
Treasury Stock, Shares						6,000,000
Treasury Stock, Value	(1)					$ (1)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0						$ 0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 469