Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share Computations and Antidilutive Securities Excluded (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class [Line Items]
Net loss from continuing operations	$ (12)	$ (14)
Net income from discontinued operations		147
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION	$ (12)	$ 133
Basic (loss) earnings per share:
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding	134	147
Continuing operations	$ (0.09)	$ (0.09)
Discontinued operations		$ 1.00
Covanta Holding Corporation	$ (0.09)	$ 0.91
Diluted (loss) earnings per share:
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding	134	147
Dilutive effect of stock options
Dilutive effect of restricted stock
Dilutive effect of warrants
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding	134	147
Continuing operations	$ (0.09)	$ (0.09)
Discontinued operations		$ 1.00
Covanta Holding Corporation	$ (0.09)	$ 0.91
Stock options
Diluted (loss) earnings per share:
Securities excluded from the weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding		2
Restricted stock
Diluted (loss) earnings per share:
Securities excluded from the weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding	1	1
Restricted stock units
Diluted (loss) earnings per share:
Securities excluded from the weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding		1
Warrants
Diluted (loss) earnings per share:
Securities excluded from the weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding	28	27