CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
OPERATING REVENUES:
Total operating revenue	$ 498,000	$ 468,000
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of operations	398,000	371,000
Other operating expense, net	(4,000)	2,000
General and administrative expense	33,000	30,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	57,000	58,000
Impairment charges	0	19,000
Total operating expense	484,000	480,000
Operating income (loss)	14,000	(12,000)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(31,000)	(34,000)
Net gain on sale of business and investments	0	9,000
Other expense	0	(1,000)
Total other expense	(31,000)	(26,000)
Loss before income tax benefit and equity in net income from unconsolidated investments	(17,000)	(38,000)
Income tax benefit	18,000	5,000
Equity in net income from unconsolidated investments	1,000	1,000
Net income (loss)	$ 2,000	$ (32,000)
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic	132	131
Diluted	137	131
Earnings Per Share Attributable to Covanta Holding Corporation stockholders':
Basic	$ 0.02	$ (0.24)
Diluted	0.01	(0.24)
Cash Dividend Declared Per Share	$ 0.08	$ 0.25
Waste revenue
OPERATING REVENUES:
Total operating revenue	$ 343,000	$ 340,000
Energy revenue
OPERATING REVENUES:
Total operating revenue	104,000	93,000
Materials sales revenue
OPERATING REVENUES:
Total operating revenue	36,000	17,000
Services revenue
OPERATING REVENUES:
Total operating revenue	$ 15,000	$ 18,000