CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ 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]	APIC [Member]
Shares, Outstanding		136
Common Stock, Value, Issued		$ 14
Additional Paid in Capital			$ 805
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax				$ (22)
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)					$ (15)
Treasury Stock, Shares						3
Treasury Stock, Value						$ 0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest							$ 2
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 784
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	18		18
Dividends, Common Stock	(133)				(133)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	(32)		(13)		(19)
Adjustment to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Effect from Share-based Compensation, Net	(5)		(5)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares						2
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	(1)						(1)
Stockholders' Equity, Other	1		0		1
Acquisition Of Noncontrolling Interests In Subsidiaries	(4)		(4)				0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	56			(12)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION	68				68
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest							1
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
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)
Treasury Stock, Shares						5
Treasury Stock, Value						$ 0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest							2
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	640
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition	16		16
Dividends, Common Stock	(132)				(132)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	(18)		(6)		(11)	$ (1)
Adjustment to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Effect from Share-based Compensation, Net	(4)		(4)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests	(2)						(2)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares						1
Stockholders' Equity, Other	1				1
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
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
Treasury Stock, Value	(1)					$ (1)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest							0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	469
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition	18		18
Dividends, Common Stock	$ (132)				(132)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues	(1)
Adjustment to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Effect from Share-based Compensation, Net	$ (4)		(4)
Stockholders' Equity, Other	1				1
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	64			7
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION	57
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	64
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	0
Shares, Outstanding		136
Common Stock, Value, Issued		$ 14
Additional Paid in Capital			$ 822
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(55)			$ (55)
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	(353)				(353)
Treasury Stock, Shares						5
Treasury Stock, Value	(1)					$ (1)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest							$ 0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	427
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	$ 11				$ 10			$ 1