Segment and Related Information - Reportable Segments (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Impairment charges			$ 89	$ 345	$ 472
(Income) expense from divestitures			(7)	(515)	(8)
Assets		$ 21,297	20,419	21,297	22,490
Goodwill, Beginning balance	$ 5,740		5,740	6,070
Acquired goodwill			325	31
Divested goodwill, net of assets held-for-sale			(7)	(308)
Impairments				(10)	(509)
Translation and other adjustments			(74)	(43)
Goodwill, Ending balance		5,740	5,984	5,740	6,070
Operating Segments Corporate and Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Impairment charges					981
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets		21,888	20,958	21,888	23,102
Elimination of Intercompany Investments and Advances [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets		(591)	(539)	(591)	(612)
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	2,178		2,178	2,183
Acquired goodwill			27	4
Translation and other adjustments			(15)	(9)
Goodwill, Ending balance		2,178	2,190	2,178	2,183
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets		6,150	6,098	6,150	6,180
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	1,795		1,795	1,814
Acquired goodwill			42	16
Divested goodwill, net of assets held-for-sale			(6)	(1)
Translation and other adjustments			(59)	(34)
Goodwill, Ending balance		1,795	1,772	1,795	1,814
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets		5,648	5,394	5,648	5,850
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	1,662		1,662	1,653
Acquired goodwill			151	11
Divested goodwill, net of assets held-for-sale			(1)	(2)
Goodwill, Ending balance		1,662	1,812	1,662	1,653
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member] | Operating Segments Corporate and Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Impairment charges					253
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets		5,449	5,930	5,449	5,512
Wheelabrator [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
(Income) expense from divestitures	7	(519)		(519)
Goodwill, Beginning balance				305
Divested goodwill, net of assets held-for-sale				(305)
Impairments					(483)
Goodwill, Ending balance					305
Wheelabrator [Member] | Operating Segments Corporate and Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Impairment charges					627
Wheelabrator [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets					2,037
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	$ 105		105	115
Acquired goodwill			105
Impairments				(10)
Goodwill, Ending balance		105	210	105	115
Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets		$ 1,791	$ 1,701	$ 1,791	$ 2,177