Balance Sheets [Abstract] Balance Sheets [Abstract] Balance Sheets. Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Assets [Abstract] Assets, Current [Abstract] Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Assets, Current Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Goodwill Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net Restricted Cash and Investments, Noncurrent Other Assets, Noncurrent Assets Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Accounts Payable, Current Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Current Deferred Revenue, Current Accrued Capping, Closure, Post-closure and Environmental Costs Liabilities, Current Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations Accrued Capping, Closure, Post-closure and Environmental Costs, Noncurrent Self Insurance Reserve Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Commitments and Contingencies Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Common Stock, Value, Issued Additional Paid in Capital Treasury Stock, Value Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Treasury Stock, Shares Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Interest Payable Sales Revenue, Net Cost of Goods and Services Sold Amortization of Intangible Assets Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction Restructuring Charges Asset Impairment Charges Asset Retirement Obligation, Accretion Expense Selling, General and Administrative Expense Provision for Doubtful Accounts Operating Income (Loss) Investment Income, Interest Nonoperating Income (Expense) Interest Expense Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract] Earnings Per Share, Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract] Earnings Per Share, Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Other Comprehensive Income, Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Parent [Member] Common Stock Par Value Preferred Stock [Member] Capital Units [Member] Common Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital [Member] Preferred Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital Other Additional Capital [Member] Deferred Compensation, Share-based Payments [Member] Treasury Stock Retained Earnings Retained Earnings, Appropriated [Member] Retained Earnings, Unappropriated [Member] Undistributed Income from Other than Gain or Loss on Sale of Properties [Member] Undistributed Net Realized Gain or Loss on Sale of Properties [Member] Accumulated Distributions in Excess of Net Income [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member] Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member] Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] Non Controlling Interests Comprehensive Income [Member] Shares, Issued Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Par Value Method Dividends, Common Stock, Cash Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Tax Benefit from Stock Options Exercised Adjustments, Noncash Items, to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Other Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid, Deferred Expense and Other Assets Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Payments of Dividends, Common Stock Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Other Accrued Liabilities, Current Deferred income taxes and other long-term tax liabilities Deferred income taxes and other long-term tax liabilities Deferred income taxes and other long-term tax liabilities. Statement of Income [Abstract] Statement of Income [Abstract] Statement of Income. Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statements of Cash Flows. Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions and divestures: Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions and divestures Abstract Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions and divestures. Current Assets - Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $56.2 and $65.7 as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively Accounts Receivable, Net, Current, Total Deferred tax assets Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Ending Balance Total Current Assets Assets, Current, Total Property and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Goodwill, net Goodwill, Beginning Balance Goodwill, Ending Balance Other assets Total Assets Total Assets LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities - Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current, Total Deferred revenue Deferred Revenue, Current, Total Accrued interest Other accrued liabilities Total Current Liabilities Liabilities, Current, Total Stockholders' Equity - Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; 50.0 shares authorized; none issued Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Total Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common stock; par value $0.01 per share; 750.0 shares authorized; 393.9 and 393.4 shares issued, including shares held in treasury, as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Total Additional Paid in Capital, Beginning Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Ending Balance Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Treasury stock, at cost (14.9 and 14.9 shares, respectively) Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Total Republic Services, Inc. Stockholders' Equity Total Republic Services, Inc. Stockholders' Equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Noncontrolling Interests Noncontrolling Interests Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Total Stockholders' Equity Total Stockholders' Equity Beginning Balance Ending Balance Other long-term liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total Commitments and Contingencies Net Income Attributable to Republic Services, Inc. Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests Net income Provision for income taxes Income before income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest, Total Other income, net Interest income Interest expense Interest Expense, Total Operating income Operating Income (Loss), Total Asset impairments Asset Impairment Charges, Total Selling, general and administrative Selling, General and Administrative Expense, Total Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction, Total Cost of operations Cost of Goods and Services Sold, Total Revenue Expenses: Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Total Cash Used in Financing Activities Purchases of common stock for treasury Excess income tax benefit from stock option exercises Issuances of common stock Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Cash proceeds from divestitures, net of cash divested Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested, Total Cash used in business acquisitions, net of cash acquired Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired, Total Proceeds from sales of property and equipment Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Purchases of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Cash Provided by Operating Activities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Total Prepaid expenses and other assets Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid, Deferred Expense and Other Assets, Total Accounts receivable Other non-cash items Income tax benefit from stock option exercises Deferred tax provision Basis of Presentation and Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract] Basis of Presentation and Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract] Basis of Presentation and Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements. Business Acquisitions and Divestitures, Assets Held For Sale and Restructuring Charges Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Property and Equipment, Net Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net. Business Acquisitions and Divestitures Assets Held For Sale And Restructuring Charges [Abstract] Business Acquisitions and Divestitures Assets Held For Sale And Restructuring Charges [Abstract] Business Acquisitions and Divestitures Assets Held For Sale And Restructuring Charges. Debt [Abstract] Debt [Abstract] Debt. Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Taxes. Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract] Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract] Employee Benefit Plans. Stockholders' Equity and Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity and Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity and Earnings Per Share. Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Other Comprehensive Income. Segment Information [Abstract] Segment Information [Abstract] Segment Information. Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies. Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Information Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Other Comprehensive Income Comprehensive Income Note [Text Block] Employee Benefit Plans Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Debt Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Property and Equipment, Net [Abstract] Property and Equipment, Net [Abstract] Property and Equipment, Net. Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests ASSETS Landfill and Environmental Costs [Abstract] Landfill and Environmental Costs [Abstract] Landfill and Environmental Costs. Landfill and Environmental Costs Landfill and Environmental Costs Text Block Description of the asset retirement obligation and the associated long-lived asset. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement from service of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. This element may be used for all the disclosures related to asset retirement obligations. Disclosures of environmental loss contingencies, such as presence of hazardous waste, relevant information from reports issued by regulators, and estimated costs to achieve compliance with regulatory requirements. This element may be used for all of an entity's disclosures about environmental loss contingencies. This element may be used as a single block of text to encapsulate the en tire inventory disclosure including data and tables. Document and Company Information [Abstract] Document and Company Information [Abstract] Document and Company Information. Balance Sheets [Parenthetical] [Abstract] Balance Sheets [Parenthetical] [Abstract] Balance Sheets Parenthetical. Statements of Stockholders Equity and Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Statements of Stockholders Equity and Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Statements of Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income. Preferred stock, par value Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred Stock, Shares Issued, Total Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Treasury stock, shares Treasury Stock, Shares, Beginning Balance Treasury Stock, Shares, Ending Balance Accretion Cash dividends per common share Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding Diluted earnings per share Diluted earnings per share Weighted average common shares outstanding Weighted average common shares outstanding Basic earnings per share Basic earnings per share Basic Earnings Per Share Attributable to Republic Services, Inc. Stockholders: Diluted Earnings Per Share Attributable to Republic Services, Inc. Stockholders: Restructuring charges Provision for income taxes Restricted cash and marketable securities Restricted cash and marketable securities Other intangible assets, net Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Total Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Current, Total Accrued landfill and environmental costs, current portion Accrued interest Long-term debt, net of current maturities Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Total Self-insurance reserves, net of current portion Landfill depletion and amortization Landfill depletion and amortization Landfill depletion and amortization. Non-cash interest expense - other Non-cash interest expense - other Amount recognized for the passage of time, typically for liabilities, that have been discounted to their net present values. Excludes accretion associated with asset retirement obligations. Cash dividends paid Depreciation, amortization and depletion Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total Other liabilities Capping, closure and post-closure payments Capping closure and post closure expenditures The amount of cash paid during the reporting period for costs accrued to comply with regulatory requirements pertaining to the retirement of a waste management facility (such as a landfill or waste treatment facility). Cash dividends declared Issuances of common stock Purchases of common stock for treasury Change in value of derivative instruments, net of tax Other Comprehensive Income, Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax, Total Beginning Balance , Shares Ending Balance ,Shares Comprehensive income Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent, Total Comprehensive income attributable to Republic Services, Inc. Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Comprehensive Income Document and Company Information [Abstract] Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Common Stock Additional Paid-in Capital Retained Earnings Treasury Stock Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax Non Controlling Interests Cash Provided by Operating Activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities: Cash Used in Financing Activities: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Allowance for doubtful accounts Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Beginning Balance Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Ending Balance Accrued landfill and environmental costs, net of current portion Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Amortization of intangible and other assets Amortization of Intangible Assets, Total Provision for doubtful accounts, net of adjustments Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Net income Other liabilities Cash dividends paid Treasury stock, at cost (14.9 shares as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008) Net income Cash payments for restructuring and synergy related charges Cash payments for restructuring and synergy related charges The amount of cash paid during the reporting period for charges associated with the consolidation and relocation of operations, disposition or abandonment of operations or productive assets (that is, for reorganizing and restructuring charges and other related expenses). These charges may be incurred in connection with a business combination, change in strategic plan, a managerial response to declines in demand, increasing costs or other environmental factors and costs to achieve synergies as a result of our acquisition. Other Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities Restructuring and synergy related charges Restructuring and synergy related charges Restructuring and synergy related charges. Tax effect on change in value of derivative instruments Other Comprehensive Income, Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Tax Effect, Total Other Comprehensive Income, Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Tax Effect Statements of Stockholders Equity and Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) [Abstract] Statements of Stockholders Equity and Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) [Abstract] Statements of Stockholders Equity and Comprehensive Income Parenthetical Abstract. Revenue Cash dividends per common share Subsequent Events [Abstract] Subsequent Events [Abstract] Subsequent Events. Subsequent Events Schedule of Subsequent Events [Text Block] Gain on disposition of assets, net Gain on disposition of assets net The net gain related to the disposition of assets as required by the department of Justice related to our acquisition of Allied. Non-cash interest expense - debt Accretion Expense Stock-based compensation Share-based Compensation, Total Share-based Compensation Gain on sale of divested assets Gain on divested assets Cash proceeds received related to the disposition of assets as required by the Department of Justice related to our acquisition of Allied. Remediation payments Payments for Environmental Liabilities Change in restricted cash and marketable securities Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash, Total Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash Proceeds from notes payable and long-term debt Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt and Capital Securities, Net, Total Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt and Capital Securities, Net Payments of notes payable and long-term debt Repayments of Long-term Debt, Long-term Capital Lease Obligations, and Capital Securities, Total Repayments of Long-term Debt, Long-term Capital Lease Obligations, and Capital Securities Stock-based compensation Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition, Value Stockholders' Equity and Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Document and Company Information [Abstract] Other Assets, Current Statement, Scenario [Axis] Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] Prepaid expenses and other current assets Basis of Presentation and Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Basis of Presentation and Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Text Block Basis of Presentation and Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Document and Company Information [Abstract] Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Associated With Property Plant And Equipment And Intangible Assets Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization associated with Property Plant and Equipment and Intangible Assets.