CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
OPERATING REVENUES:
Total operating revenue	$ 453	$ 458
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	359	345
Other operating expense, net	17	8
General and administrative expense	30	31
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net	55	54
Total operating expense	461	438
Operating (loss) income	(8)	20
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(36)	(38)
Net gain on sale of business and investments	50	210
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	1	0
Total other income	15	172
Income before income tax (expense) benefit and equity in net income from unconsolidated investments	7	192
Income tax (expense) benefit	(2)	9
Equity in net income from unconsolidated investments	0	0
Net income	$ 5	$ 201
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic	131	130
Diluted	133	132
Earnings Per Share Attributable to Covanta Holding Corporation stockholders':
Basic	$ 0.04	$ 1.55
Diluted	0.03	1.53
Cash Dividend Declared Per Share	$ 0.25	$ 0.25
Waste And Service [Member]
OPERATING REVENUES:
Total operating revenue	$ 327	$ 312
Electricity [Member]
OPERATING REVENUES:
Total operating revenue	94	100
Recycled Metals [Member]
OPERATING REVENUES:
Total operating revenue	21	24
Revenue Type [Domain]
OPERATING REVENUES:
Total operating revenue	$ 11	$ 22