CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
OPERATING REVENUES:
Total operating revenue	$ 506,000	$ 454,000	$ 1,004,000	$ 922,000
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of operations	390,000	351,000	788,000	722,000
Other operating expense, net	3,000	2,000	(1,000)	4,000
General and administrative expense	33,000	27,000	66,000	57,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	55,000	56,000	112,000	114,000
Impairment charges	0	0	0	19,000
Total operating expense	481,000	436,000	965,000	916,000
Operating income	25,000	18,000	39,000	6,000
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(32,000)	(34,000)	(63,000)	(68,000)
Net gain on sale of business and investments	0	0	0	9,000
Other expense	0	(1,000)	0	(2,000)
Total expense	(32,000)	(35,000)	(63,000)	(61,000)
Loss before income tax (expense) benefit and equity in net income from unconsolidated investments	(7,000)	(17,000)	(24,000)	(55,000)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(12,000)	4,000	6,000	9,000
Equity in net income from unconsolidated investments	0	0	1,000	1,000
Net loss	$ (19,000)	$ (13,000)	$ (17,000)	$ (45,000)
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic	133	132	133	132
Diluted	133	132	133	132
Earnings Per Share Attributable to Covanta Holding Corporation stockholders':
Basic	$ (0.14)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.34)
Diluted	(0.14)	(0.10)	(0.13)	(0.34)
Cash Dividend Declared Per Share	$ 0.08	$ 0.08	$ 0.16	$ 0.33
Waste revenue
OPERATING REVENUES:
Total operating revenue	$ 364,000	$ 337,000	$ 707,000	$ 677,000
Energy revenue
OPERATING REVENUES:
Total operating revenue	86,000	78,000	190,000	171,000
Materials sales revenue
OPERATING REVENUES:
Total operating revenue	38,000	20,000	74,000	37,000
Services revenue
OPERATING REVENUES:
Total operating revenue	$ 18,000	$ 19,000	$ 33,000	$ 37,000