Document and Entity Information (USD $) In Billions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Oct. 22, 2010	Jun. 30, 2009
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	WASTE MANAGEMENT INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000823768
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2010
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2010
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 13.8
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (actual number)		475,800,764

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 550	$ 1,140
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $27 and $31, respectively	1,522	1,408
Other receivables	169	119
Parts and supplies	124	110
Deferred income taxes	62	116
Other assets	142	117
Total current assets	2,569	3,010
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $14,568 and $13,994, respectively	11,636	11,541
Goodwill	5,703	5,632
Other intangible assets, net	299	238
Other assets	1,132	733
Total assets	21,339	21,154
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	561	567
Accrued liabilities	1,143	1,128
Deferred revenues	446	457
Current portion of long-term debt	161	749
Total current liabilities	2,311	2,901
Long-term debt, less current portion	8,798	8,124
Deferred income taxes	1,602	1,509
Landfill and environmental remediation liabilities	1,470	1,357
Other liabilities	719	672
Total liabilities	14,900	14,563
Commitments and contingencies
Waste Management, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 1,500,000,000 shares authorized; 630,282,461 shares issued	6	6
Additional paid-in capital	4,524	4,543
Retained earnings	6,270	6,053
Accumulated other comprehensive income	184	208
Treasury stock at cost, 154,568,253 and 144,162,063 shares, respectively	(4,876)	(4,525)
Total Waste Management, Inc. stockholders' equity	6,108	6,285
Noncontrolling interests	331	306
Total equity	6,439	6,591
Total liabilities and equity	$ 21,339	$ 21,154

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Current assets:
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 27	$ 31
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	$ 14,568	$ 13,994
Waste Management, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	1,500,000,000	1,500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	630,282,461	630,282,461
Treasury stock, shares	154,568,253	144,162,063

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Operating revenues	$ 3,235	$ 3,023	$ 9,328	$ 8,785
Costs and expenses:
Operating	2,006	1,856	5,883	5,367
Selling, general and administrative	369	339	1,065	999
Depreciation and amortization	317	301	917	892
Restructuring	0	3	(1)	46
(Income) expense from divestitures, asset impairments and unusual items	(1)	(1)	(78)	50
Total costs and expenses	2,691	2,498	7,786	7,354
Income from operations	544	525	1,542	1,431
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(126)	(104)	(354)	(316)
Interest income	1	3	3	10
Other, net	(8)	1	(14)	1
Interest and Other Income Expense Total	(133)	(100)	(365)	(305)
Income before income taxes	411	425	1,177	1,126
Provision for income taxes	153	133	469	397
Consolidated net income	258	292	708	729
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	14	15	36	50
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$ 244	$ 277	$ 672	$ 679
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.51	$ 0.56	$ 1.4	$ 1.38
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.51	$ 0.56	$ 1.39	$ 1.37
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.315	$ 0.29	$ 0.945	$ 0.87

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 708	$ 729
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	917	892
Deferred income tax (benefit) provision	95	(10)
Interest accretion on landfill liabilities	61	59
Interest accretion on and discount rate adjustments to environmental remediation liabilities and recovery assets	17	(28)
Provision for bad debts	29	37
Equity-based compensation expense	28	19
Net gain on disposal of assets	(16)	(6)
Effect of (income) expense from divestitures, asset impairments and unusual items	(1)	50
Excess tax benefits associated with equity-based transactions	(4)	(2)
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities, net of dividends	14	1
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:
Receivables	(159)	(17)
Other current assets	38	(19)
Other assets	(4)	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(62)	2
Deferred revenues and other liabilities	(8)	(65)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,653	1,642
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(343)	(127)
Capital expenditures	(737)	(823)
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets	36	20
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts	36	98
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(162)	(5)
Other	(5)	7
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,175)	(830)
Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings	775	1,026
Debt repayments	(932)	(1,142)
Common stock repurchases	(443)	(65)
Cash dividends	(454)	(428)
Exercise of common stock options	28	10
Excess tax benefits associated with equity-based transactions	4	2
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests	(30)	(35)
Other	(17)	(51)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,069)	(683)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	1	3
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(590)	132
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,140	480
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 550	$ 612

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Noncontrolling Interests	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Comprehensive Income
Beginning at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 6,591	$ 306	$ 6	$ 4,543	$ 6,053	$ 208	$ (4,525)	$ 0
Shares, Beginning (in thousands) at Dec. 31, 2009			630,282				(144,162)
Net income	708							708
Net income	672				672
Net income	36	36
Unrealized losses resulting from changes in fair value of derivative instruments, net of taxes of $35	(54)					(54)		(54)
Realized losses on derivative instruments reclassified into earnings, net of taxes of $6	10					10		10
Unrealized gains on marketable securities, net of taxes of $1	1					1		1
Foreign currency translation adjustments	20					20		20
Change in funded status of post-retirement benefit obligations, net of taxes of $0	(1)					(1)		(1)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(24)							(24)
Comprehensive income	684							684
Cash dividends declared	(454)				(454)
Equity-based compensation transactions, including dividend equivalents, net of taxes	73			(19)	(1)		93
Equity-based compensation transactions, including dividend equivalents, net of taxes, shares							2,963
Common stock repurchases	(445)						(445)
Common stock repurchases, shares (in thousands)							(13,380)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests	(30)	(30)
Noncontrolling interests in acquired businesses	50	50
Deconsolidation of variable interests entities	(31)	(31)
Other	1						1
Other, shares (in thousands)							11
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(24)							(24)
Comprehensive income	684							684
Ending at Sep. 30, 2010	$ 6,439	$ 331	$ 6	$ 4,524	$ 6,270	$ 184	$ (4,876)	$ 0
Shares, Ending (in thousands) at Sep. 30, 2010			630,282				(154,568)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010
Tax effects on unrealized gains (losses) resulting from changes in fair values of derivative instruments	$ 35
Tax effects on realized (gains) losses on derivative instruments reclassified into earnings	6
Tax effects on unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	1
Tax effects on change in funded status of post-retirement benefit obligations	0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Tax effects on unrealized gains (losses) resulting from changes in fair values of derivative instruments	35
Tax effects on realized (gains) losses on derivative instruments reclassified into earnings	6
Tax effects on unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	1
Tax effects on change in funded status of post-retirement benefit obligations	0
Comprehensive Income
Tax effects on unrealized gains (losses) resulting from changes in fair values of derivative instruments	35
Tax effects on realized (gains) losses on derivative instruments reclassified into earnings	6
Tax effects on unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	1
Tax effects on change in funded status of post-retirement benefit obligations	$ 0

Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Basis of Presentation [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation


1.	Basis of Presentation

The financial statements presented in this report represent the consolidation of Waste Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation; Waste Management’s wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries; and certain variable interest entities for which Waste Management or its subsidiaries are the primary beneficiary. Waste Management is a holding company and all operations are conducted by its subsidiaries. When the terms “the Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” are used in this document, those terms refer to Waste Management, Inc., its consolidated subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities. When we use the term “WMI,” we are referring only to Waste Management, Inc., the parent holding company.

We manage and evaluate our principal operations through five Groups. Our four geographic operating Groups, which include our Eastern, Midwest, Southern and Western Groups, provide collection, transfer, recycling and disposal services. Our fifth operating Group is the Wheelabrator Group, which provides waste-to-energy services. We also provide additional services that are not managed through our five Groups, which are presented in this report as “Other.” These five Groups are presented as our reportable segments, and additional information related to our segments can be found in Note 10.

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, these financial statements include all adjustments, which, unless otherwise disclosed, are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. The financial statements presented herein should be read in connection with the financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

In preparing our financial statements, we make numerous estimates and assumptions that affect the accounting for and recognition and disclosure of assets, liabilities, equity, revenues and expenses. We must make these estimates and assumptions because certain information that we use is dependent on future events, cannot be calculated with a high degree of precision from data available or simply cannot be readily calculated based on generally accepted methods. In some cases, these estimates are particularly difficult to determine and we must exercise significant judgment. In preparing our financial statements, the most difficult, subjective and complex estimates and the assumptions that present the greatest amount of uncertainty relate to our accounting for landfills, environmental remediation liabilities, asset impairments, reserves associated with our uninsured claims and reserves and recoveries associated with our insured claims. Actual results could differ materially from the estimates and assumptions that we use in the preparation of our financial statements.

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities — In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued revised authoritative guidance associated with the consolidation of variable interest entities. The revised guidance replaced the previous quantitative-based assessment for determining whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity, and is, therefore, required to consolidate the entity, with an approach that is now primarily qualitative. This qualitative approach focuses on identifying the enterprise that has (i) the power to direct the activities of the variable interest entity that can most significantly impact the entity’s performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses and the right to receive benefits from the variable interest entity that could potentially be significant to such entity. The revised guidance also requires that the enterprise continually reassess whether it is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity rather than conducting a reassessment only upon the occurrence of specific events.

As a result of our implementation of this guidance, effective January 1, 2010, we deconsolidated certain capping, closure, post-closure and environmental remediation trusts for which power over significant activities is shared. Our financial interests in these entities are discussed below. The deconsolidation of these trusts has not materially affected our financial position, results of operations or cash flows during the periods presented.

Following is a description of our financial interests in variable interest entities that we consider significant, including (i) those for which we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of the entities and, therefore, have continued to consolidate the entities into our financial statements; and (ii) those that represent a significant interest in an unconsolidated entity.

Consolidated Variable Interest Entities

Waste-to-Energy LLCs — In June 2000, two limited liability companies were established to purchase interests in existing leveraged lease financings at three waste-to-energy facilities that we lease, operate and maintain. We own a 0.5% interest in one of the LLCs (“LLC I”) and a 0.25% interest in the second LLC (“LLC II”). John Hancock Life Insurance Company owns 99.5% of LLC I, and 99.75% of LLC II is owned by LLC I and the CIT Group. In 2000, Hancock and CIT made an initial aggregate investment of $167 million in the LLCs, which was used to purchase the three waste-to-energy facilities and assume the seller’s indebtedness.

Income, losses and cash flows of the LLCs are allocated to the members based on their initial capital account balances until Hancock and CIT achieve targeted returns; thereafter, we will receive 80% of the earnings of each of the LLCs and Hancock and CIT will be allocated the remaining 20% proportionate to their respective equity interests. All capital allocations made through September 30, 2010 have been based on initial capital account balances as the target returns have not yet been achieved.

Our obligations associated with our interests in the LLCs are primarily related to the lease of the facilities. In addition to our minimum lease payment obligations, we are required to make cash payments to the LLCs for differences between fair market rents and our minimum lease payments. We may also be required under certain circumstances to make capital contributions to the LLCs based on differences between the fair market value of the facilities and defined termination values as provided for in the underlying lease agreements, although we believe the likelihood of the occurrence of these circumstances is remote.

We have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of the LLCs because (i) all of the equity owners of the LLCs are considered related parties for purposes of applying this accounting guidance; (ii) the equity owners share power over the significant activities of the LLCs; and (iii) we are the entity within the related party group whose activities are most closely associated with the LLCs.

As of September 30, 2010, our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet included $322 million of net property and equipment associated with the LLCs’ waste-to-energy facilities and $242 million in noncontrolling interests associated with Hancock’s and CIT’s interests in the LLCs. As of September 30, 2010, all debt obligations of the LLCs had been paid in full and, therefore, the LLCs have no liabilities. We recognized expense of $13 million and $38 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, and September 30, 2009, respectively, for Hancock’s and CIT’s noncontrolling interests in the LLCs’ earnings. The LLCs’ earnings relate to the rental income generated from leasing the facilities to our subsidiaries, reduced by depreciation expense. The LLCs’ rental income is eliminated in WMI’s consolidation.

Significant Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities

Trusts for Capping, Closure, Post-Closure or Environmental Remediation Obligations — We have significant financial interests in trust funds that were created to settle certain of our capping, closure, post-closure or environmental remediation obligations. We have determined that, under the current guidance, we are not the primary beneficiary of certain of these trust funds because power over the trusts’ significant activities is shared.

The deconsolidation of these variable interest entities as of January 1, 2010 decreased our restricted trust and escrow accounts by $109 million; increased investments in unconsolidated entities by $27 million; increased receivables, principally long-term, by $51 million; and decreased noncontrolling interests by $31 million. Beginning in 2010, our interests in these variable interest entities have been accounted for as investments in unconsolidated entities. Our investments and receivables related to the trusts had a fair value of $105 million as of January 1, 2010 and $113 million as of September 30, 2010. We continue to reflect our interests in the unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities held by these trusts as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. The deconsolidation of these variable interest entities has not materially affected our financial position or results of operations for the periods presented.

As the party with primary responsibility to fund the related capping, closure, post-closure or environmental remediation activities, we are exposed to risk of loss as a result of potential changes in the fair value of the trusts assets. The fair value of trust assets can fluctuate due to (i) changes in the market value of the investments held by the trusts; and (ii) credit risk associated with trust receivables. Although we are exposed to changes in the fair value of the trust assets, we currently expect the trust funds to continue to meet the statutory requirements for which they were established.

Federal low-income housing tax credits — In April 2010, we acquired a noncontrolling interest in a limited liability company established to invest in and manage low-income housing properties. Our consideration for this investment totaled $221 million, which was comprised of a $215 million note payable and an initial cash payment of $6 million. We determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of this entity as we do not have the power to direct the entity’s activities. At September 30, 2010, our investment balance was $208 million. Additional information related to this investment is discussed in Note 5.

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities [Abstract]

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities


2.	Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities

Liabilities for landfill and environmental remediation costs are presented in the table below (in millions):


	September 30, 2010						December 31, 2009
			Environmental						Environmental
	Landfill		Remediation		Total		Landfill		Remediation		Total

Current (in accrued liabilities)	$	120	$	41	$	161	$	125	$	41	$	166
Long-term		1,188		282		1,470		1,142		215		1,357

	$	1,308	$	323	$	1,631	$	1,267	$	256	$	1,523

The changes to landfill and environmental remediation liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2009 and the nine months ended September 30, 2010 are reflected in the table below (in millions):


				Environmental
	Landfill			Remediation

December 31, 2008	$	1,218		$	299
Obligations incurred and capitalized		39			—
Obligations settled		(80	)		(43	)
Interest accretion		80			6
Revisions in estimates and interest rate assumptions		5			(7	)
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments		5			1

December 31, 2009		1,267			256
Obligations incurred and capitalized		34			—
Obligations settled		(59	)		(26	)
Interest accretion		61			4
Revisions in estimates and interest rate assumptions(a)		—			90
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments		5			(1	)

September 30, 2010	$	1,308		$	323


(a)		The revisions in estimates associated with our environmental remediation liabilities were primarily related to (i) net charges totaling $50 million for estimates associated with remediation liabilities at four closed sites and (ii) the impact of changes in the risk-free discount rate used to measure the liabilities. As of December 31, 2009, we used a risk-free discount rate for these obligations of 3.75%. The applicable rate decreased to 3.0% effective June 30, 2010 and 2.5% effective September 30, 2010. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, these changes in the risk-free discount rate resulted in an increase of $21 million to our environmental remediation liabilities and a corresponding increase to “Operating” expenses.

At several of our landfills, we provide financial assurance by depositing cash into restricted trust funds or escrow accounts for purposes of settling capping, closure, post-closure and environmental remediation obligations. Generally, these trust funds are established to comply with statutory requirements and operating agreements and we are the sole beneficiary of the restricted balances. However, certain of the funds have been established for the benefit of both the Company and the host community in which we operate.

The fair value of trust funds and escrow accounts for which we are the sole beneficiary was $124 million at September 30, 2010. As discussed in Note 1, effective January 1, 2010, we deconsolidated the trusts for which power over significant activities of the trust is shared, which reduced our restricted trust and escrow accounts by $109 million as of January 1, 2010. Beginning in 2010, our interests in these variable interest entities have been accounted for as investments in unconsolidated entities and receivables. The fair value of our investment in these entities was $113 million as of September 30, 2010. These amounts are included in “Other receivables” and as long-term “Other assets” in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Debt

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Debt [Abstract]

Debt


3.	Debt

The following table summarizes the major components of debt at each balance sheet date (in millions) and provides the maturities and interest rate ranges of each major category as of September 30, 2010:


	September 30,		December 31,
	2010		2009

Revolving credit facility	$	—	$	—
Letter of credit facilities		—		—
Canadian credit facility (weighted average interest rate of 1.6% at September 30, 2010 and 1.3% at December 31, 2009)		208		255
Senior notes and debentures, maturing through 2039, interest rates ranging from 4.75% to 7.75% (weighted average interest rate of 6.5% at September 30, 2010 and 6.8% at December 31, 2009)		5,473		5,465
Tax-exempt bonds maturing through 2039, fixed and variable interest rates ranging from 0.3% to 7.4% (weighted average interest rate of 3.2% at September 30, 2010 and 3.5% at December 31, 2009)		2,696		2,749
Tax-exempt project bonds, principal payable in periodic installments, maturing through 2029, fixed and variable interest rates ranging from 0.3% to 5.4% (weighted average interest rate of 3.0% at September 30, 2010 and 3.1% at December 31, 2009)		156		156
Capital leases and other, maturing through 2050, interest rates up to 12%		426		248

	$	8,959	$	8,873
Current portion of long-term debt		161		749

	$	8,798	$	8,124

Debt Classification

As of September 30, 2010, we had $477 million of debt maturing within twelve months. We have classified $316 million of these borrowings as long-term as of September 30, 2010 based on our intent and ability to refinance these borrowings on a long-term basis.

Debt Borrowings and Repayments

The significant changes in our debt balances from December 31, 2009 to September 30, 2010 are related to the following:

Canadian credit facility — The decrease in the carrying value is primarily due to $53 million of net debt repayments during the nine months ended September 30, 2010. This decrease was partially offset by currency translation adjustments and the impact of interest accretion.

Senior notes — In June 2010, we issued $600 million of 4.75% senior notes due June 2020. The net proceeds from the debt issuance were $592 million. We used the proceeds together with cash on hand to repay $600 million of 7.375% senior notes that matured in August 2010.

Tax-exempt bonds — During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we repaid $52 million of our tax-exempt bonds with available cash.

Capital leases and Other — The significant increase in our capital leases and other debt obligations for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 is primarily related to our federal low-income housing investment discussed in Note 5, which increased our debt obligations by $215 million. This increase was offset by $44 million of repayments of various borrowings at their scheduled maturities.

Revolving Credit and Letter of Credit Facilities

As of September 30, 2010, we had an aggregate committed capacity of $2.5 billion for letters of credit under various credit facilities. Our primary source of letter of credit capacity is a three-year, $2.0 billion revolving credit facility that was executed in June 2010. Our remaining letter of credit capacity is provided under facilities with maturities that extend from June 2013 to June 2015. As of September 30, 2010, we had an aggregate of $1.7 billion of letters of credit outstanding under our revolving credit facility and letter of credit facilities. There have not been any borrowings outstanding under these credit facilities during 2010.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities


4.	Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The following table summarizes the fair values of derivative instruments recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (in millions):


		September 30,		December 31,
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments	Balance Sheet Location	2010		2009

Interest rate contracts	Current other assets	$	1	$	13
Electricity commodity contracts	Current other assets		—		—
Interest rate contracts	Long-term other assets		55		32

Total derivative assets		$	56	$	45

Interest rate contracts	Current accrued liabilities	$	20	$	—
Foreign exchange contracts	Current accrued liabilities		25		18
Interest rate contracts	Long-term accrued liabilities		39		—

Total derivative liabilities		$	84	$	18

Interest Rate Derivatives

Interest Rate Swaps

We use interest rate swaps to maintain a portion of our debt obligations at variable market interest rates. As of September 30, 2010, the outstanding principal of our fixed-rate senior notes was approximately $5.4 billion. The interest payments on $500 million, or 9.3%, of these senior notes have been swapped to variable interest rates to protect the debt against changes in fair value due to changes in benchmark interest rates, compared with $1.1 billion, or 20%, as of December 31, 2009. This significant decrease is primarily attributable to the repayment of $600 million of 7.375% senior notes at their scheduled maturities in August 2010, all of which were swapped to variable.

We have designated our interest rate swaps as fair value hedges of our fixed-rate senior notes. Fair value hedge accounting for interest rate swap contracts increased the carrying value of debt instruments by $100 million as of September 30, 2010 and $91 million as of December 31, 2009.

Gains or losses on the derivatives, as well as the offsetting losses or gains on the hedged items attributable to our interest rate swaps, are recognized in current earnings. We include gains and losses on our interest rate swaps as adjustments to interest expense, which is the same financial statement line item where offsetting gains and losses on the related hedged items are recorded. The following table summarizes the impact of changes in the fair value of our interest rate swaps and the underlying hedged items on our results of operations (in millions):


Three Months Ended			Gain (Loss)		Gain (Loss) on
September 30,	Statement of Operations Classification		on Swap		Fixed-Rate Debt

2010		Interest expense	$	10	$	(10	)
2009		Interest expense	$	11	$	(11	)


Nine Months Ended			Gain (Loss)			Gain (Loss) on
September 30,	Statement of Operations Classification		on Swap			Fixed-Rate Debt

2010		Interest expense	$	24		$	(24	)
2009		Interest expense	$	(29	)	$	29

We also recognize the impacts of (i) net periodic settlements of current interest on our active interest rate swaps and (ii) the amortization of previously terminated interest rate swap agreements as adjustments to interest expense. The following table summarizes the impact of periodic settlements of active swap agreements and the impact of terminated swap agreements on our results of operations (in millions):


	Three Months				Nine Months
	Ended				Ended
Reductions to Interest Expense Due to	September 30,				September 30,
Hedge Accounting for Interest Rate Swaps	2010		2009		2010		2009

Periodic settlements of active swap agreements(a)	$	6	$	12	$	24	$	35
Terminated swap agreements		4		4		15		15

	$	10	$	16	$	39	$	50


(a)		These amounts represent the net of our periodic variable-rate interest obligations and the swap counterparties’ fixed-rate interest obligations. Our variable-rate obligations are based on a spread from the three-month LIBOR.

Treasury Rate Locks

During the third quarter of 2009, we entered into Treasury rate locks with a total notional amount of $200 million to hedge the risk of changes in semi-annual interest payments for a portion of the senior notes that the Company planned to issue in June 2010. The Treasury rate locks were terminated in the second quarter of 2010 contemporaneously with the actual issuance of senior notes, and we paid cash of $7 million upon settlement. As of September 30, 2010, our “Accumulated other comprehensive income” includes $4 million of deferred losses, net of taxes, associated with these Treasury rate locks that will be reclassified to “Interest expense” over the life of the related senior notes maturing in June 2020. There was no significant ineffectiveness associated with these hedges during 2010.

Our “Accumulated other comprehensive income” also includes deferred losses, net of taxes, of $13 million as of September 30, 2010 and $16 million as of December 31, 2009 related to Treasury rate locks that had been executed in previous years in anticipation of senior note issuances. Our Treasury rate locks were designated as cash flow hedges and, accordingly, the deferred losses are being reclassified to earnings over the term of the hedged cash flows, which extend through 2032.

Forward-Starting Interest Rate Swaps

The Company currently expects to issue fixed-rate debt in March 2011, November 2012 and March 2014 and has executed forward-starting interest rate swaps for these anticipated debt issuances with notional amounts of $150 million, $200 million and $175 million, respectively. We entered into the forward-starting interest rate swaps during the fourth quarter of 2009 to hedge the risk of changes in the anticipated semi-annual interest payments due to fluctuations in the forward ten-year LIBOR swap rate. Each of the forward-starting swaps has an effective date of the anticipated date of debt issuance and a term of ten years.

We have designated our forward-starting interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges. As of September 30, 2010, the fair value of these interest rate derivatives is comprised of $20 million of current liabilities and $39 million of long-term liabilities. We recognized pre-tax and after-tax losses of $22 million and $13 million, respectively, to other comprehensive income for changes in the fair value of our forward-starting interest rate swaps during the three months ended September 30, 2010 and $68 million and $41 million, respectively, during the nine months ended September 30, 2010. There was no significant ineffectiveness associated with these hedges during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Credit-Risk-Related Contingent Features

Certain of our derivative instruments contain provisions related to the Company’s credit rating. If the Company’s credit rating were to fall to specified levels below investment grade, the counterparties have the ability to terminate the derivative agreements, resulting in immediate settlement of all affected transactions. As of September 30, 2010, we had not experienced any credit events that would trigger these provisions. The net liabilities of our derivative instruments with credit-risk-related features were immaterial as of September 30, 2010.

Foreign Exchange Derivatives

We use foreign currency exchange rate derivatives to hedge our exposure to changes in exchange rates for anticipated intercompany cash transactions between Waste Management Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary we acquired in 1998 (“WM Holdings”), and its Canadian subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2010, we have foreign currency forward contracts outstanding for all of the anticipated cash flows associated with a debt arrangement between these wholly-owned subsidiaries. The hedged cash flows include C$370 million of principal, which is scheduled for repayment on December 31, 2010, and C$22 million of interest payments scheduled for December 31, 2010. We have designated our foreign currency derivatives as cash flow hedges.

Gains or losses on the derivatives and the offsetting losses or gains on the hedged items attributable to foreign currency exchange risk are recognized in current earnings. We include gains and losses on our foreign currency forward contracts as adjustments to “Other income and expense,” a component of “Other, net,” which is the same financial statement line item where offsetting gains and losses on the related hedged items are recorded. The following table summarizes the pre-tax impacts of our foreign currency cash flow derivatives on our results of operations and comprehensive income (in millions):


	Amount of Gain or						Amount of Gain or
	(Loss) Recognized						(Loss) Reclassified
	in OCI on						from AOCI into
Three Months Ended	Derivatives			Statement of Operations			Income
September 30,	(Effective Portion)			Classification			(Effective Portion)

2010	$	(12	)		Other income (expense	)	$	(12	)
2009	$	(28	)		Other income (expense	)	$	(28	)


	Amount of Gain or						Amount of Gain or
	(Loss) Recognized						(Loss) Reclassified
	in OCI on						from AOCI into
Nine Months Ended	Derivatives			Statement of Operations			Income
September 30,	(Effective Portion)			Classification			(Effective Portion)

2010	$	(7	)		Other income (expense	)	$	(7	)
2009	$	(40	)		Other income (expense	)	$	(40	)

Amounts reported in other comprehensive income and accumulated other comprehensive income are reported net of tax. Adjustments to other comprehensive income for changes in the fair value of our foreign currency cash flow hedges resulted in the recognition of after-tax losses of $7 million and $4 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. After-tax losses reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income were $7 million and $4 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. There was no significant ineffectiveness associated with these hedges during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

We recognized an after-tax loss to other comprehensive income for changes in the fair value of our foreign currency cash flow hedges of $18 million during the three months ended September 30, 2009 and $25 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2009. After-tax losses reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income were $17 million and $25 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. There was no significant ineffectiveness associated with these hedges during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Electricity Commodity Derivatives

During 2010, we entered into “receive fixed, pay variable” electricity swaps to mitigate the variability in our revenues and cash flows caused by fluctuations in the market prices for electricity. These swaps are expected to hedge 672,360 megawatt hours, or approximately 26% of our Wheelabrator Group’s 2010 merchant electricity sales. The electricity swaps in place as of September 30, 2010 have maturities extending through December 2010. All financial statement impacts associated with these derivatives were immaterial as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Income Taxes


5.	Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 was 37.3% and 39.8%, respectively, compared with 31.2% and 35.2% for the comparable prior-year periods. We evaluate our effective tax rate at each interim period and adjust it accordingly as facts and circumstances warrant. The differences between federal income taxes computed at the federal statutory rate and reported income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2010 were primarily due to the unfavorable impact of (i) state and local income taxes and (ii) adjustments to our accruals due to the filing of our 2009 income tax returns. These adjustments are offset in part by the favorable impact of federal low-income housing tax credits, other tax credits and audit settlements. In addition to the above, the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 also includes an increase of $37 million to our provision for state deferred income taxes to reflect the impact of changes in the estimated tax rate at which existing temporary differences will be realized, which increased our effective tax rate for the nine-month period by 3.2 percentage points. Because the state deferred tax charges relate to existing temporary differences, they are not expected to impact our effective tax rate in future periods, absent prospective changes in income apportionment or state tax rates. The federal low-income housing tax credits decreased our effective tax rate for the three-month period by 1.0 percentage point and for the nine-month period by 1.1 percentage points.

The most significant items affecting the reconciliation of income taxes computed at the federal statutory rate and reported income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 were (i) reductions to our provision for income taxes resulting from the finalization of our 2008 tax returns, tax audit settlements and a benefit related to the utilization of state net operating loss carryforwards and (ii) increases to our tax provision for the impacts of state and local income taxes and an adjustment to our net accumulated state deferred tax liabilities.

Federal low-income housing tax credits — In April 2010, we acquired a noncontrolling interest in a limited liability company established to invest in and manage low-income housing properties. Our consideration for this investment totaled $221 million, which was comprised of a $215 million note payable and an initial cash payment of $6 million. The entity’s low-income housing investments qualify for federal tax credits that are expected to be realized through 2020 in accordance with Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code.

We account for our investment in this entity using the equity method of accounting and recognize a charge to “Equity in net earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities,” which is a component of “Other, net” within our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations, for reductions in the value of our investment. We recognized $4 million and $12 million of expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. We also recognized $3 million and $4 million of interest expense related to this investment during the current periods. As a result of this investment, our tax provision was reduced by $7 million (including $4 million of tax credits) for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and by $18 million (including $12 million of tax credits) for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Cash taxes — During the fourth quarter of 2009, we determined that a capital loss generated from the liquidation of a foreign subsidiary could be utilized to offset capital gains from 2006 and 2007 and recognized a reduction to our “Provision for income taxes.” During the third quarter of 2010, we received a federal tax refund of $65 million related to this capital loss.

Legislation updates — The Small Business Jobs Act, signed into law in September 2010, includes a provision extending bonus depreciation for assets placed in service in 2010. The acceleration of deductions on current year capital expenditures will have no impact on our effective tax rate but is expected to reduce our 2010 cash taxes by approximately $60 million. The current year cash tax benefit will result in increased cash taxes in future periods when the deduction for these capital expenditures would have otherwise been realized.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law in March 2010, includes a provision that eliminates the tax deductibility of retiree health care costs to the extent that retiree prescription drug benefits are reimbursed under Medicare Part D coverage. Although this provision of the Act does not take effect until 2013, we were required to recognize the full accounting impact of the change in law on our deferred tax assets during the first quarter of 2010, the period in which the law was enacted. The re-measurement of our deferred tax assets did not affect our financial position or results of operations as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Comprehensive Income

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Comprehensive Income [Abstract]

Comprehensive Income


6.	Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income was as follows (in millions):


	Three Months						Nine Months
	Ended						Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009

Consolidated net income	$	258		$	292		$	708		$	729

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:
Unrealized losses resulting from changes in fair value of derivative instruments, net of taxes		(21	)		(20	)		(54	)		(27	)
Realized losses on derivative instruments reclassified into earnings, net of taxes		10			19			10			28
Unrealized gains on marketable securities, net of taxes		1			5			1			8
Foreign currency translation adjustments		30			58			20			86
Change in funded status of post-retirement benefit obligations, net of taxes		—			—			(1	)		—

Other comprehensive income (loss)		20			62			(24	)		95

Comprehensive income		278			354			684			824
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(14	)		(18	)		(36	)		(55	)

Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	264		$	336		$	648		$	769

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income, which is included as a component of Waste Management, Inc. stockholders’ equity, were as follows (in millions):


	September 30,			December 31,
	2010			2009

Accumulated unrealized loss on derivative instruments, net of taxes	$	(52	)	$	(8	)
Accumulated unrealized gain on marketable securities, net of taxes		3			2
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments		232			212
Funded status of post-retirement benefit obligations, net of taxes		1			2

	$	184		$	208

- Definition

This label may include the following: 1) the amount of income tax expense or benefit allocated to each component of other comprehensive income, including reclassification adjustments, 2) the reclassification adjustments for each classification of other comprehensive income and 3) the ending accumulated balances for each component of comprehensive income. Components of comprehensive income include: (1) foreign currency translation adjustments; (2) gains and losses on foreign currency transactions that are designated as, and are effective as, economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity; (3) gains and losses on intercompany foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature, when the entities to the transaction are consolidated, combined, or accounted for by the equity method in the reporting enterprise's financial statements; (4) change in the market value of a futures contract that qualifies as a hedge of an asset reported at fair value; (5) unrealized holding gains and losses on available-for-sale securities and that resulting from transfers of debt securities from the held-to-maturity category to the available-for-sale category; (6) a net loss recognized as an additional pension liability not yet recognized as net periodic pension cost; and (7) the net gain or loss and net prior service cost or credit for pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans.

+ References+ Details

Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies


8.	Commitments and Contingencies

Financial instruments — We have obtained letters of credit, performance bonds and insurance policies and have established trust funds and issued financial guarantees to support tax-exempt bonds, contracts, performance of landfill capping, closure and post-closure requirements, environmental remediation, and other obligations. Letters of credit generally are supported by our revolving credit facility and other credit facilities established for that purpose. We obtain surety bonds and insurance policies from an entity in which we have a noncontrolling financial interest. We also obtain insurance from a wholly-owned insurance company, the sole business of which is to issue policies for us. In those instances where our use of financial assurance from entities we own or have financial interests in is not allowed, we have available alternative financial assurance mechanisms.

Management does not expect that any claims against or draws on these instruments would have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements. We have not experienced any unmanageable difficulty in obtaining the required financial assurance instruments for our current operations. In an ongoing effort to mitigate risks of future cost increases and reductions in available capacity, we continue to evaluate various options to access cost-effective sources of financial assurance.

Insurance — We carry insurance coverage for protection of our assets and operations from certain risks, including automobile liability, general liability, real and personal property, workers’ compensation, directors’ and officers’ liability, pollution legal liability and other coverages we believe are customary in the industry. Our exposure to loss for insurance claims is generally limited to the per incident deductible under the related insurance policy. Our exposure, however, could increase if our insurers are unable to meet their commitments on a timely basis.

We have retained a significant portion of the risks related to our automobile, general liability and workers’ compensation insurance programs. For our self-insured retentions, the exposure for unpaid claims and associated expenses, including incurred but not reported losses, is based on an actuarial valuation and internal estimates. The accruals for these liabilities could be revised if future occurrences or loss development significantly differ from our assumptions used. We do not expect the impact of any known casualty, property, environmental or other contingency to have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Guarantees — In the ordinary course of our business, WMI and WM Holdings enter into guarantee agreements associated with their subsidiaries’ operations. Additionally, WMI and WM Holdings have each guaranteed all of the senior debt of the other entity. No additional liabilities have been recorded for these intercompany guarantees because all of the underlying obligations are reflected in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

We also have guaranteed the obligations of, and provided indemnification to, third parties in the ordinary course of business. Guarantee agreements outstanding as of September 30, 2010 include (i) guarantees of unconsolidated entities’ financial obligations maturing through 2020 for maximum future payments of $12 million; and (ii) agreements guaranteeing the market value of homeowners’ properties adjacent to or near certain of our landfills. Our indemnification obligations generally arise in divestitures and provide that we will be responsible for liabilities associated with our operations for events that occurred prior to the sale of the operations. Additionally, under certain of our acquisition agreements, we have provided for additional consideration to be paid to the sellers if established financial targets are achieved post-closing and we have recognized liabilities for these contingent obligations based on an estimate of the fair value of these contingencies at the time of acquisition. Contingent obligations related to indemnifications arising from our divestitures and contingent consideration provided for by our acquisitions are not expected to be material to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Environmental matters — A significant portion of our operating costs and capital expenditures could be characterized as costs of environmental protection, as we are subject to an array of laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. Under current laws and regulations, we may have liabilities for environmental damage caused by our operations, or for damage caused by conditions that existed before we acquired a site. In addition to remediation activity required by state or local authorities, such liabilities include potentially responsible party, or PRP, investigations. The costs associated with these liabilities can include settlements, certain legal and consultant fees, as well as incremental internal and external costs directly associated with site investigation and clean-up.

Estimating our degree of responsibility for remediation is inherently difficult. We recognize and accrue for an estimated remediation liability when we determine that such liability is both probable and reasonably estimable. Determining the method and ultimate cost of remediation requires that a number of assumptions be made. There can sometimes be a range of reasonable estimates of the costs associated with the investigation of the extent of environmental impact and identification of likely site-remediation alternatives. In these cases, we use the amount within the range that constitutes our best estimate. If no amount within a range appears to be a better estimate than any other, we use the amount that is the low end of such range. If we used the high ends of such ranges, our aggregate potential liability would be approximately $150 million higher than the $323 million recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30, 2010. Our ongoing review of our remediation liabilities could result in revisions to our accruals that could cause upward or downward adjustments to income from operations. These adjustments could be material in any given period.

As of September 30, 2010, we had been notified by the government that we are a PRP in connection with 75 locations listed on the EPA’s National Priorities List, or NPL. Of the 75 sites at which claims have been made against us, 17 are sites we own. Each of the NPL sites we own was initially developed by others as a landfill disposal facility. At each of these facilities, we are working in conjunction with the government to characterize or remediate identified site problems, and we have either agreed with other legally liable parties on an arrangement for sharing the costs of remediation or are working toward a cost sharing agreement. We generally expect to receive any amounts due from other participating parties at or near the time that we make the remedial expenditures. The other 58 NPL sites that we do not own are at various procedural stages under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, known as CERCLA or Superfund.

The majority of these proceedings involve allegations that certain of our subsidiaries, or their predecessors, transported hazardous substances to the sites, often prior to our acquisition of these subsidiaries. CERCLA generally provides for liability for those parties owning, operating, transporting to or disposing at the sites. Proceedings arising under Superfund typically involve numerous waste generators and other waste transportation and disposal companies and seek to allocate or recover costs associated with site investigation and remediation, which could be substantial and could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements. At some of the sites at which we have been identified as a PRP, our liability is well defined as a consequence of a governmental decision and an agreement among liable parties as to the share each will pay for implementing that remedy. At other sites, where no remedy has been selected or the liable parties have been unable to agree on an appropriate allocation, our future costs are uncertain.

Litigation — In April 2002, two former participants in the ERISA plans of WM Holdings, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in a case entitled William S. Harris, et al. v. James E. Koenig, et al. The lawsuit named as defendants WM Holdings; the members of WM Holdings’ Board of Directors prior to July 1998; the administrative and investment committees of WM Holdings’ ERISA plans and their individual members; WMI’s retirement savings plan; the investment committees of WMI’s plan and its individual members; and State Street Bank & Trust, the trustee and investment manager of the ERISA plans. The lawsuit attempts to increase the recovery of a class of ERISA plan participants based on allegations related to both the events alleged in, and the settlements relating to, the securities class action against WM Holdings that was settled in 1998 and the securities class action against WMI that was settled in 2001. The defendants filed motions to dismiss the complaints on the pleadings, and the Court granted in part and denied in part the defendants’ motions in the first quarter of 2009. However, in December 2009, the Court granted the plaintiffs’ motion for leave to file a fourth amended complaint to overcome the dismissal of certain claims and the motion for leave to file a substitute fourth amended complaint to add two new claims. Each of Mr. Pope, Mr. Rothmeier and Ms. San Juan Cafferty, members of our Board of Directors, was a member of the WM Holdings’ Board of Directors and therefore was a named defendant in these actions. Additionally, Mr. Simpson, our Chief Financial Officer, is a named defendant in these actions by virtue of his membership on the WMI ERISA plan Investment Committee at that time. The defendants again moved to dismiss the fourth amended complaint, and during the second quarter of 2010, the Court dismissed certain claims against individual defendants, including the claims against Messrs. Pope and Rothmeier and Ms. San Juan Cafferty. All of the remaining defendants intend to continue to defend themselves vigorously.

Two separate wage and hour lawsuits were commenced in October 2006 and March 2007, respectively, that are pending against certain of our subsidiaries in California, each seeking class certification. The actions were coordinated to proceed in San Diego County Superior Court. Both lawsuits make the same general allegations that the defendants failed to comply with certain California wage and hour laws, including allegedly failing to provide meal and rest periods and failing to properly pay hourly and overtime wages. Additionally, in July 2008, we were named as a defendant in a purported class action in the Circuit Court of Bullock County, Alabama, which was subsequently removed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. This suit pertains to our fuel and environmental charge and generally alleges that such charges were not properly disclosed, were unfair, and were contrary to contract. We filed a motion to dismiss that was partially granted during the third quarter of 2010, resulting in dismissal of the plaintiffs’ RICO and national class action claims. We deny the claims in all of these actions and intend to continue to oppose class certification and will vigorously defend these matters. Given the inherent uncertainties of litigation, the ultimate outcome of these cases cannot be predicted at this time, nor can possible damages, if any, be reasonably estimated.

From time to time, we also are named as defendants in personal injury and property damage lawsuits, including purported class actions, on the basis of having owned, operated or transported waste to a disposal facility that is alleged to have contaminated the environment or, in certain cases, on the basis of having conducted environmental remediation activities at sites. Some of the lawsuits may seek to have us pay the costs of monitoring of allegedly affected sites and health care examinations of allegedly affected persons for a substantial period of time even where no actual damage is proven. While we believe we have meritorious defenses to these lawsuits, the ultimate resolution is often substantially uncertain due to the difficulty of determining the cause, extent and impact of alleged contamination (which may have occurred over a long period of time), the potential for successive groups of complainants to emerge, the diversity of the individual plaintiffs’ circumstances, and the potential contribution or indemnification obligations of co-defendants or other third parties, among other factors.

As a large company with operations across the United States and Canada, we are subject to various proceedings, lawsuits, disputes and claims arising in the ordinary course of our business. Many of these actions raise complex factual and legal issues and are subject to uncertainties. Actions filed against us include commercial, customer, and employment-related claims, including, as noted above, purported class action lawsuits related to our customer service agreements and purported class actions involving federal and state wage and hour and other laws. The plaintiffs in some actions seek unspecified damages or injunctive relief, or both. These actions are in various procedural stages, and some are covered in part by insurance. We currently do not believe that any such actions will ultimately have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial statements.

WMI’s charter and bylaws require indemnification of its officers and directors if statutory standards of conduct have been met and allow the advancement of expenses to these individuals upon receipt of an undertaking by the individuals to repay all expenses if it is ultimately determined that they did not meet the required standards of conduct. Additionally, WMI has entered into separate indemnification agreements with each of the members of its Board of Directors as well as its President and Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer. The Company may incur substantial expenses in connection with the fulfillment of its advancement of costs and indemnification obligations in connection with current actions involving former officers of the Company or its subsidiaries or other actions or proceedings that may be brought against its former or current officers, directors and employees.

In April 2010, we settled our previously disclosed lawsuit relating to a revenue management system. We received a one-time cash payment, and all parties dismissed their claims with prejudice. Additional information related to this settlement is discussed in Note 11.

Item 103 of the SEC’s Regulation S-K requires disclosure of certain environmental matters when a governmental authority is a party to the proceedings, or such proceedings are known to be contemplated, unless we reasonably believe that the matter will result in no monetary sanctions, or in monetary sanctions, exclusive of interest and costs, of less than $100,000. The following matters pending as of September 30, 2010 are disclosed in accordance with that requirement:

On April 4, 2006, the EPA issued a Notice of Violation (“NOV”) to Waste Management of Hawaii, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of WMI, and to the City and County of Honolulu for alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act, based on alleged failure to submit certain reports and design plans required by the EPA, and the failure to begin and timely complete the installation of a gas collection and control system (“GCCS”) for the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill on Oahu. The EPA has also indicated that it will seek penalties and injunctive relief as part of the NOV enforcement for elevated landfill temperatures that were recorded after installation of the GCCS. The parties have been in confidential settlement negotiations. Pursuant to an indemnity agreement, any penalty assessed will be paid by the Company, and not by the City and County of Honolulu.

On April 8, July 15, and September 8, 2010, the EPA issued Notices of Violation to Chemical Waste Management, Inc.’s Kettleman Hills facility for alleged violations of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act. The EPA has indicated it will seek civil penalties for the violations alleged, which relate to handling and disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls.

The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has commenced investigations into allegations of violations of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, solid waste regulations and permits at Wheelabrator Group facilities in Saugus and North Andover, Massachusetts. The Attorney General’s Office is also considering intervening in two private lawsuits alleging potential claims under the Massachusetts False Claims Act. No formal enforcement action has been brought against the Company, although we potentially could be subject to sanctions, including requirements to pay monetary penalties. We are cooperating with the Attorney General’s office in the investigations.

Multi-Employer, Defined Benefit Pension Plans — Over 20% of our workforce is covered by collective bargaining agreements, which are with various union locals across the United States. As a result of some of these agreements, certain of our subsidiaries are participating employers in a number of trustee-managed multi-employer, defined benefit pension plans for the affected employees. One of the multi-employer pension plans in which we participate is the Central States Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Plan (“Central States Pension Plan”), which has reported that it adopted a rehabilitation plan as a result of its actuarial certification for the plan year beginning January 1, 2008. The Central States Pension Plan is in “critical status,” as defined by the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

In connection with our ongoing re-negotiation of various collective bargaining agreements, we may discuss and negotiate for the complete or partial withdrawal from one or more of these pension plans. In 2010, we recognized $26 million of charges to “Operating” expenses for the agreed-upon withdrawals of five bargaining units from the Central States Pension Plan in connection with our negotiations of those units’ agreements. We do not believe that our withdrawals from multi-employer plans, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or liquidity. However, depending on the number of employees withdrawn in any future period and the financial condition of the multi-employer plans at the time of withdrawal, such withdrawals could result in material changes to our results of operations in the period of the withdrawal.

Tax Matters — We are currently in the examination phase of IRS audits for the tax years 2009 and 2010 and expect these audits to be completed within the next three and 15 months, respectively. We participate in the IRS’s Compliance Assurance Program, which means we work with the IRS throughout the year in order to resolve any material issues prior to the filing of our year-end tax return. We are also currently undergoing audits by various state and local jurisdictions that date back to 1999. In the third quarter of 2010, we settled audits in Canada through the 2004 tax year and are not currently under audit for any subsequent tax years. To provide for certain potential tax exposures, we maintain a liability for unrecognized tax benefits, the balance of which management believes is adequate. Results of audit assessments by taxing authorities are not currently expected to have a material adverse impact on our results of operations or cash flows.

Restructuring

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Restructuring [Abstract]

Restructuring


9.	Restructuring

In January 2009, we took steps to streamline our organization by (i) consolidating many of our Market Areas; (ii) integrating the management of our recycling operations with the remainder of our solid waste business; and (iii) realigning our corporate organization with this new structure in order to provide support functions more efficiently.

This reorganization eliminated over 1,500 employee positions throughout the Company. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, we recognized $3 million and $46 million, respectively, of pre-tax restructuring charges associated with this reorganization, of which $2 million and $40 million, respectively, were related to employee severance and benefit costs. During the remainder of 2009, we incurred an additional $4 million of pre-tax restructuring charges associated with this reorganization, of which $1 million was related to employee severance and benefit costs. The remaining charges were primarily related to operating lease obligations for property that will no longer be utilized. The following table summarizes the charges recognized for this restructuring by each of our current reportable segments and our Corporate and Other organization for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 (in millions):


	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2009		September 30, 2009

Eastern	$	—	$	10
Midwest		1		10
Southern		1		10
Western		—		6
Wheelabrator		—		—
Corporate and Other		1		10

Total	$	3	$	46

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recognized $1 million of income related to the reversal of pre-tax restructuring charges. Through September 30, 2010, we have paid approximately $38 million of the employee severance and benefit costs incurred as a result of this restructuring. The length of time we are obligated to make severance payments varies, with the longest obligation continuing through the fourth quarter of 2010.

Segment and Related Information

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Segment and Related Information


10.	Segment and Related Information

We currently manage and evaluate our operations primarily through our Eastern, Midwest, Southern, Western and Wheelabrator Groups. These five Groups are presented below as our reportable segments. Our four geographic operating Groups provide collection, transfer, disposal (in both solid waste and hazardous waste landfills) and recycling services. Our Wheelabrator Group provides waste-to-energy services and manages waste-to-energy facilities and independent power production plants. We serve commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico and Canada. The operations not managed through our five operating Groups are presented herein as “Other.”

Summarized financial information concerning our reportable segments for the three and nine months ended September 30 is shown in the following tables (in millions):


	Gross		Intercompany			Net
	Operating		Operating			Operating		Income from
	Revenues		Revenues			Revenues		Operations

Three Months Ended:
September 30, 2010
Eastern	$	755	$	(132	)	$	623	$	138
Midwest		792		(119	)		673		149
Southern		903		(102	)		801		218
Western		809		(113	)		696		146
Wheelabrator		237		(32	)		205		67
Other		248		(11	)		237		(38	)

		3,744		(509	)		3,235		680
Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(136	)

Total	$	3,744	$	(509	)	$	3,235	$	544

September 30, 2009
Eastern	$	763	$	(139	)	$	624	$	138
Midwest		749		(112	)		637		126
Southern		836		(108	)		728		193
Western		801		(106	)		695		141
Wheelabrator		214		(32	)		182		74
Other		163		(6	)		157		(32	)

		3,526		(503	)		3,023		640
Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(115	)

Total	$	3,526	$	(503	)	$	3,023	$	525

Nine Months Ended:
September 30, 2010
Eastern	$	2,214	$	(385	)	$	1,829	$	390
Midwest		2,266		(336	)		1,930		372
Southern		2,602		(303	)		2,299		624
Western		2,372		(328	)		2,044		416
Wheelabrator		660		(92	)		568		150
Other		688		(30	)		658		(93	)

		10,802		(1,474	)		9,328		1,859
Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(317	)

Total	$	10,802	$	(1,474	)	$	9,328	$	1,542

September 30, 2009
Eastern	$	2,211	$	(404	)	$	1,807	$	349
Midwest		2,121		(319	)		1,802		327
Southern		2,509		(326	)		2,183		581
Western		2,343		(310	)		2,033		415
Wheelabrator		627		(90	)		537		167
Other		441		(18	)		423		(91	)

		10,252		(1,467	)		8,785		1,748
Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(317	)

Total	$	10,252	$	(1,467	)	$	8,785	$	1,431

Fluctuations in our operating results may be caused by many factors, including period-to-period changes in the relative contribution of revenue by each line of business and operating segment and by general economic conditions. In addition, our revenues and income from operations typically reflect seasonal patterns. Our operating revenues tend to be somewhat higher in the summer months, primarily due to the traditional seasonal increase in the volume of construction and demolition waste. The volumes of industrial and residential waste in certain regions where we operate also tend to increase during the summer months. Our second and third quarter revenues and results of operations typically reflect these seasonal trends.

Additionally, certain destructive weather conditions that tend to occur during the second half of the year, such as hurricanes typically experienced by our Southern Group, can actually increase our revenues in the areas affected. However, for several reasons, including significant mobilization costs, such revenue often generates earnings at comparatively lower margins. Certain weather conditions, including severe winter storms, may result in the temporary suspension of our operations, which can significantly affect the operating results of the affected regions. The operating results of our first quarter also often reflect higher repair and maintenance expenses because we rely on the slower winter months, when waste flows are generally lower, to perform scheduled maintenance at our waste-to-energy facilities.

From time to time, the operating results of our reportable segments are significantly affected by unusual or infrequent transactions or events. During 2010, our Midwest Group recognized expense charges of $26 million as a result of employees of five bargaining units in Michigan and Ohio agreeing to our proposal to withdraw them from an under-funded multi-employer pension plan. During the second quarter of 2009, employees of a bargaining unit in New Jersey agreed to a similar proposal and our Eastern Group recognized expense of $9 million. Refer to Note 8 for additional information related to our participation in multi-employer pension plans. Further, as disclosed in Note 9, the income from operations of each of our geographic Groups for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 was affected by our January 2009 reorganization.

Segment assets — The total assets of our Wheelabrator segment increased $309 million, or 14%, from December 31, 2009 to September 30, 2010, primarily as a result of our continued focus on the expansion of our waste-to-energy business. In the first quarter of 2010, we paid $142 million to acquire a 40% equity investment in Shanghai Environment Group (“SEG”), a subsidiary of Shanghai Chengtou Holding Co., Ltd. As a joint venture partner in SEG, we will participate in the operation and management of waste-to-energy and other waste services in the Chinese market. SEG will also focus on building new waste-to-energy facilities in China. In April 2010, we paid $150 million for the acquisition of a waste-to-energy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia. These investments did not have a significant impact on our operating revenues or income from operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

(Income) Expense from Divestitures, Asset Impairments and Unusual Items

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

(Income) Expense from Divestitures, Asset Impairments and Unusual Items [Abstract]

(Income) Expense from Divestitures, Asset Impairments and Unusual Items


11.	(Income) Expense from Divestitures, Asset Impairments and Unusual Items

Through December 31, 2008, we capitalized $70 million of accumulated costs associated with the development of a new waste and recycling revenue management system. A significant portion of these costs was specifically associated with the purchase of a license for waste and recycling revenue management software and the efforts required to develop and configure that software for our use. After a failed pilot implementation of the software in one of our smallest Market Areas, the development efforts associated with the revenue management system were suspended in 2007. During 2009, we determined to enhance and improve our existing revenue management system and not pursue alternatives associated with the development and implementation of the licensed software. Accordingly, in 2009, we recognized a non-cash charge of $51 million, $49 million of which was recognized during the first quarter of 2009 and $2 million of which was recognized during the fourth quarter of 2009, for the abandonment of the licensed software.

We filed a lawsuit in March 2008 related to the revenue management software implementation that was suspended in 2007 and abandoned in 2009. In April 2010, we settled the lawsuit and received a one-time cash payment. The settlement, included in “(Income) expense from divestitures, asset impairments and unusual items,” resulted in an increase in income from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 of $77 million.

Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements


12.	Fair Value Measurements

Assets and Liabilities Accounted for at Fair Value

As of September 30, 2010, our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis include the following (in millions):


			Fair Value Measurements Using
			Quoted		Significant
			Prices in		Other		Significant
			Active		Observable		Unobservable
			Markets		Inputs		Inputs
	Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)

Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	461	$	461	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale securities		162		162		—		—
Interest in available-for-sale securities of unconsolidated entities		113		113		—		—
Interest rate derivatives		56		—		56		—

Total assets	$	792	$	736	$	56	$	—

Liabilities:
Interest rate derivatives	$	59	$	—	$	59	$	—
Foreign currency derivatives		25		—		25		—
Electricity commodity derivatives		—		—		—		—

Total liabilities	$	84	$	—	$	84	$	—

Fair Value of Debt

At September 30, 2010, the carrying value of our debt was approximately $9.0 billion compared with $8.9 billion at December 31, 2009. The carrying value of our debt includes adjustments for both the unamortized fair value adjustments related to terminated hedge arrangements and fair value adjustments of debt instruments that are currently hedged.

The estimated fair value of our debt was approximately $9.8 billion at September 30, 2010 and approximately $9.3 billion at December 31, 2009. The estimated fair value of our senior notes is based on quoted market prices. The carrying value of remarketable debt approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of the interest rates. The fair value of our other debt is estimated using discounted cash flow analysis, based on rates we would currently pay for similar types of instruments. The increase in the fair value of our debt when comparing September 30, 2010 with December 31, 2009 is primarily related to a decrease in market interest rates for corporate debt securities, which caused an increase in the fair value of our publicly-traded senior notes.

Although we have determined the estimated fair value amounts using available market information and commonly accepted valuation methodologies, considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, our estimates are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that we, or holders of the instruments, could realize in a current market exchange. The use of different assumptions and/or estimation methodologies could have a material effect on the estimated fair values. The fair value estimates are based on information available as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. These amounts have not been revalued since those dates, and current estimates of fair value could differ significantly from the amounts presented.

- Definition

This item represents the complete disclosure regarding the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments, assets, and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the Company is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risk is are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References+ Details

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements [Abstract]

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements


13.	Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements

WM Holdings has fully and unconditionally guaranteed all of WMI’s senior indebtedness. WMI has fully and unconditionally guaranteed all of WM Holdings’ senior indebtedness. None of WMI’s other subsidiaries have guaranteed any of WMI’s or WM Holdings’ debt. As a result of these guarantee arrangements, we are required to present the following condensed consolidating financial information (in millions):

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
September 30, 2010
(Unaudited)


			WM		Non-Guarantor
	WMI		Holdings		Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated

ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	457	$	—	$	93	$	—		$	550
Other current assets		2		1		2,016		—			2,019

		459		1		2,109		—			2,569
Property and equipment, net		—		—		11,636		—			11,636
Investments in and advances to affiliates		10,654		13,545		2,723		(26,922	)		—
Other assets		106		12		7,016		—			7,134

Total assets	$	11,219	$	13,558	$	23,484	$	(26,922	)	$	21,339


LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	—	$	2	$	159	$	—		$	161
Accounts payable and other current liabilities		102		6		2,042		—			2,150

		102		8		2,201		—			2,311
Long-term debt, less current portion		4,970		596		3,232		—			8,798
Other liabilities		39		—		3,752		—			3,791

Total liabilities		5,111		604		9,185		—			14,900
Equity:
Stockholders’ equity		6,108		12,954		13,968		(26,922	)		6,108
Noncontrolling interests		—		—		331		—			331

		6,108		12,954		14,299		(26,922	)		6,439

Total liabilities and equity	$	11,219	$	13,558	$	23,484	$	(26,922	)	$	21,339

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS — (Continued)
December 31, 2009


			WM		Non-Guarantor
	WMI		Holdings		Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated

ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,093	$	—	$	47	$	—		$	1,140
Other current assets		24		1		1,845		—			1,870

		1,117		1		1,892		—			3,010
Property and equipment, net		—		—		11,541		—			11,541
Investments in and advances to affiliates		10,174		12,770		2,303		(25,247	)		—
Other assets		62		17		6,524		—			6,603

Total assets	$	11,353	$	12,788	$	22,260	$	(25,247	)	$	21,154


LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	580	$	35	$	134	$	—		$	749
Accounts payable and other current liabilities		90		17		2,045		—			2,152

		670		52		2,179		—			2,901
Long-term debt, less current portion		4,398		601		3,125		—			8,124
Other liabilities		—		—		3,538		—			3,538

Total liabilities		5,068		653		8,842		—			14,563
Equity:
Stockholders’ equity		6,285		12,135		13,112		(25,247	)		6,285
Noncontrolling interests		—		—		306		—			306

		6,285		12,135		13,418		(25,247	)		6,591

Total liabilities and equity	$	11,353	$	12,788	$	22,260	$	(25,247	)	$	21,154

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended September 30, 2010

(Unaudited)


				WM			Non-Guarantor
	WMI			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated

Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	3,235		$	—		$	3,235
Costs and expenses		—			—			2,691			—			2,691

Income from operations		—			—			544			—			544

Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)		(88	)		(9	)		(28	)		—			(125	)
Equity in subsidiaries, net of taxes		298			303			—			(601	)		—
Other, net		—			—			(8	)		—			(8	)

		210			294			(36	)		(601	)		(133	)

Income before income taxes		210			294			508			(601	)		411
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(34	)		(4	)		191			—			153

Consolidated net income		244			298			317			(601	)		258
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			14			—			14

Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	244		$	298		$	303		$	(601	)	$	244

Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
(Unaudited)


				WM			Non-Guarantor
	WMI			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated

Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	3,023		$	—		$	3,023
Costs and expenses		—			—			2,498			—			2,498

Income from operations		—			—			525			—			525

Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)		(65	)		(10	)		(26	)		—			(101	)
Equity in subsidiaries, net of taxes		317			323			—			(640	)		—
Other, net		—			—			1			—			1

		252			313			(25	)		(640	)		(100	)

Income before income taxes		252			313			500			(640	)		425
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(25	)		(4	)		162			—			133

Consolidated net income		277			317			338			(640	)		292
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			15			—			15

Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	277		$	317		$	323		$	(640	)	$	277

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

(Unaudited)


				WM			Non-Guarantor
	WMI			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated

Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	9,328		$	—		$	9,328
Costs and expenses		—			—			7,786			—			7,786

Income from operations		—			—			1,542			—			1,542

Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)		(241	)		(28	)		(82	)		—			(351	)
Equity in subsidiaries, net of taxes		819			836			—			(1,655	)		—
Other, net		—			—			(14	)		—			(14	)

		578			808			(96	)		(1,655	)		(365	)

Income before income taxes		578			808			1,446			(1,655	)		1,177
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(94	)		(11	)		574			—			469

Consolidated net income		672			819			872			(1,655	)		708
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			36			—			36

Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	672		$	819		$	836		$	(1,655	)	$	672

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
(Unaudited)


				WM			Non-Guarantor
	WMI			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated

Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	8,785		$	—		$	8,785
Costs and expenses		—			—			7,354			—			7,354

Income from operations		—			—			1,431			—			1,431

Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)		(198	)		(31	)		(77	)		—			(306	)
Equity in subsidiaries, net of taxes		800			819			—			(1,619	)		—
Other, net		—			—			1			—			1

		602			788			(76	)		(1,619	)		(305	)

Income before income taxes		602			788			1,355			(1,619	)		1,126
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(77	)		(12	)		486			—			397

Consolidated net income		679			800			869			(1,619	)		729
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			50			—			50

Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	679		$	800		$	819		$	(1,619	)	$	679

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

(Unaudited)


				WM			Non-Guarantor
	WMI			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated

Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$	672		$	819		$	872		$	(1,655	)	$	708
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		(819	)		(836	)		—			1,655			—
Other adjustments		12			(13	)		946			—			945

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(135	)		(30	)		1,818			—			1,653

Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired		—			—			(343	)		—			(343	)
Capital expenditures		—			—			(737	)		—			(737	)
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets		—			—			36			—			36
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net		(2	)		—			(129	)		—			(131	)

Net cash used in investing activities		(2	)		—			(1,173	)		—			(1,175	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings		592			—			183			—			775
Debt repayments		(617	)		(35	)		(280	)		—			(932	)
Common stock repurchases		(443	)		—			—			—			(443	)
Cash dividends		(454	)		—			—			—			(454	)
Exercise of common stock options		28			—			—			—			28
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other		(10	)		—			(33	)		—			(43	)
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net		405			65			(470	)		—			—

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(499	)		30			(600	)		—			(1,069	)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—			—			1			—			1

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(636	)		—			46			—			(590	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		1,093			—			47			—			1,140

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	457		$	—		$	93		$	—		$	550

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS — (Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

(Unaudited)


				WM			Non-Guarantor
	WMI			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated

Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$	679		$	800		$	869		$	(1,619	)	$	729
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		(800	)		(819	)		—			1,619			—
Other adjustments		(20	)		(13	)		946			—			913

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(141	)		(32	)		1,815			—			1,642

Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired		—			—			(127	)		—			(127	)
Capital expenditures		—			—			(823	)		—			(823	)
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets		—			—			20			—			20
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net		—			—			100			—			100

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		—			—			(830	)		—			(830	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings		793			—			233			—			1,026
Debt repayments		(810	)		—			(332	)		—			(1,142	)
Common stock repurchases		(65	)		—			—			—			(65	)
Cash dividends		(428	)		—			—			—			(428	)
Exercise of common stock options		10			—			—			—			10
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other		2			—			(86	)		—			(84	)
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net		698			32			(730	)		—			—

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		200			32			(915	)		—			(683	)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—			—			3			—			3

Increase in cash and cash equivalents		59			—			73			—			132
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		450			—			30			—			480

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	509		$	—		$	103		$	—		$	612

- Definition

Text block that encapsulates the detailed table comprising the condensed financial statements (balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows), normally using the registrant (parent) as the sole domain member. If condensed consolidating financial statements are being presented, other domain members (in addition to parent) such as guarantor subsidiaries, non-guarantor subsidiaries, and the consolidation eliminations, will be included in order that the respective monetary amounts for each of the domains will aggregate to the respective amounts on the consolidated financial statements. The line items are the various captions used to compile the condensed financial statements. Using extensions, most, if not all, of the elements representing condensed financial statement captions will be the same as those used for the consolidated financial statements captions.

+ References+ Details

New Accounting Pronouncement Pending Adoption

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

New Accounting Pronouncement Pending Adoption [Abstract]

New Accounting Pronouncement Pending Adoption


14.	New Accounting Pronouncement Pending Adoption

Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements — In October 2009, the FASB amended authoritative guidance associated with multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements. This amended guidance addresses the determination of when individual deliverables within an arrangement may be treated as separate units of accounting and modifies the manner in which consideration is allocated across the separately identifiable deliverables. The amendments to authoritative guidance associated with multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements are effective for the Company on January 1, 2011, although the FASB does permit early adoption of the guidance provided that it is retroactively applied to the beginning of the year of adoption. The new accounting standard may be applied either retrospectively for all periods presented or prospectively to arrangements entered into or materially modified after the date of adoption. We are in the process of assessing the provisions of this new guidance and currently do not expect that the adoption will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. However, our adoption of this guidance may significantly impact our accounting and reporting for future revenue arrangements to the extent they are material.

Basis of Presentation (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation (Policies)	Sep. 30, 2010
Basis of Presentation (Policies) [Abstract]
Consolidation Variable Interest Entities	The financial statements presented in this report represent the consolidation of Waste Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation; Waste Management’s wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries; and certain variable interest entities for which Waste Management or its subsidiaries are the primary beneficiary. Waste Management is a holding company and all operations are conducted by its subsidiaries. When the terms “the Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” are used in this document, those terms refer to Waste Management, Inc., its consolidated subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities. When we use the term “WMI,” we are referring only to Waste Management, Inc., the parent holding company. We manage and evaluate our principal operations through five Groups. Our four geographic operating Groups, which include our Eastern, Midwest, Southern and Western Groups, provide collection, transfer, recycling and disposal services. Our fifth operating Group is the Wheelabrator Group, which provides waste-to-energy services. We also provide additional services that are not managed through our five Groups, which are presented in this report as “Other.” These five Groups are presented as our reportable segments, and additional information related to our segments can be found in Note 10. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, these financial statements include all adjustments, which, unless otherwise disclosed, are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. The financial statements presented herein should be read in connection with the financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. In preparing our financial statements, we make numerous estimates and assumptions that affect the accounting for and recognition and disclosure of assets, liabilities, equity, revenues and expenses. We must make these estimates and assumptions because certain information that we use is dependent on future events, cannot be calculated with a high degree of precision from data available or simply cannot be readily calculated based on generally accepted methods. In some cases, these estimates are particularly difficult to determine and we must exercise significant judgment. In preparing our financial statements, the most difficult, subjective and complex estimates and the assumptions that present the greatest amount of uncertainty relate to our accounting for landfills, environmental remediation liabilities, asset impairments, reserves associated with our uninsured claims and reserves and recoveries associated with our insured claims. Actual results could differ materially from the estimates and assumptions that we use in the preparation of our financial statements.

- Definition

Describes an entity's accounting policy regarding (1) the principles it follows in consolidating or combining the separate financial statements, including the principles followed in determining the inclusion or exclusion of subsidiaries or other entities in the consolidated or combined financial statements and (2) its treatment of interests (for example common stock, a partnership interest or other means of exerting influence) in other entities, for example consolidation or use of the equity or cost methods of accounting. An entity also may describe its accounting treatment for intercompany accounts and transactions, noncontrolling interest, and the income statement treatment in consolidation for issuances of stock by a subsidiary.

+ References+ Details

New Accounting Standards Pending Adoption (Policies)	9 Months Ended
New Accounting Standards Pending Adoption (Policies)	Sep. 30, 2010
New Accounting Standards Pending Adoption (Policies) [Abstract]
Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements	Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements — In October 2009, the FASB amended authoritative guidance associated with multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements. This amended guidance addresses the determination of when individual deliverables within an arrangement may be treated as separate units of accounting and modifies the manner in which consideration is allocated across the separately identifiable deliverables. The amendments to authoritative guidance associated with multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements are effective for the Company on January 1, 2011, although the FASB does permit early adoption of the guidance provided that it is retroactively applied to the beginning of the year of adoption. The new accounting standard may be applied either retrospectively for all periods presented or prospectively to arrangements entered into or materially modified after the date of adoption. We are in the process of assessing the provisions of this new guidance and currently do not expect that the adoption will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. However, our adoption of this guidance may significantly impact our accounting and reporting for future revenue arrangements to the extent they are material.

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities (Tables) [Abstract]

Liabilities for landfill and environmental remediation costs


	September 30, 2010						December 31, 2009
			Environmental						Environmental
	Landfill		Remediation		Total		Landfill		Remediation		Total

Current (in accrued liabilities)	$	120	$	41	$	161	$	125	$	41	$	166
Long-term		1,188		282		1,470		1,142		215		1,357

	$	1,308	$	323	$	1,631	$	1,267	$	256	$	1,523

Changes to landfill and environmental remediation liabilities


				Environmental
	Landfill			Remediation

December 31, 2008	$	1,218		$	299
Obligations incurred and capitalized		39			—
Obligations settled		(80	)		(43	)
Interest accretion		80			6
Revisions in estimates and interest rate assumptions		5			(7	)
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments		5			1

December 31, 2009		1,267			256
Obligations incurred and capitalized		34			—
Obligations settled		(59	)		(26	)
Interest accretion		61			4
Revisions in estimates and interest rate assumptions(a)		—			90
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments		5			(1	)

September 30, 2010	$	1,308		$	323

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Tables) [Abstract]

Fair values of derivative instruments recorded in Balance Sheet


		September 30,		December 31,
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments	Balance Sheet Location	2010		2009

Interest rate contracts	Current other assets	$	1	$	13
Electricity commodity contracts	Current other assets		—		—
Interest rate contracts	Long-term other assets		55		32

Total derivative assets		$	56	$	45

Interest rate contracts	Current accrued liabilities	$	20	$	—
Foreign exchange contracts	Current accrued liabilities		25		18
Interest rate contracts	Long-term accrued liabilities		39		—

Total derivative liabilities		$	84	$	18

Impact of changes in the fair value of interest rate swaps and the underlying hedged items on results of operations


Three Months Ended			Gain (Loss)		Gain (Loss) on
September 30,	Statement of Operations Classification		on Swap		Fixed-Rate Debt

2010		Interest expense	$	10	$	(10	)
2009		Interest expense	$	11	$	(11	)


Nine Months Ended			Gain (Loss)			Gain (Loss) on
September 30,	Statement of Operations Classification		on Swap			Fixed-Rate Debt

2010		Interest expense	$	24		$	(24	)
2009		Interest expense	$	(29	)	$	29

Impact of periodic settlements of active swap agreements and impact of terminated swap agreements


	Three Months				Nine Months
	Ended				Ended
Reductions to Interest Expense Due to	September 30,				September 30,
Hedge Accounting for Interest Rate Swaps	2010		2009		2010		2009

Periodic settlements of active swap agreements(a)	$	6	$	12	$	24	$	35
Terminated swap agreements		4		4		15		15

	$	10	$	16	$	39	$	50

Impacts of foreign currency cash flow derivatives on results of operations and comprehensive income, pre-tax


	Amount of Gain or						Amount of Gain or
	(Loss) Recognized						(Loss) Reclassified
	in OCI on						from AOCI into
Three Months Ended	Derivatives			Statement of Operations			Income
September 30,	(Effective Portion)			Classification			(Effective Portion)

2010	$	(12	)		Other income (expense	)	$	(12	)
2009	$	(28	)		Other income (expense	)	$	(28	)


	Amount of Gain or						Amount of Gain or
	(Loss) Recognized						(Loss) Reclassified
	in OCI on						from AOCI into
Nine Months Ended	Derivatives			Statement of Operations			Income
September 30,	(Effective Portion)			Classification			(Effective Portion)

2010	$	(7	)		Other income (expense	)	$	(7	)
2009	$	(40	)		Other income (expense	)	$	(40	)

Comprehensive Income (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Comprehensive Income (Tables) [Abstract]

Comprehensive Income


	Three Months						Nine Months
	Ended						Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009

Consolidated net income	$	258		$	292		$	708		$	729

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:
Unrealized losses resulting from changes in fair value of derivative instruments, net of taxes		(21	)		(20	)		(54	)		(27	)
Realized losses on derivative instruments reclassified into earnings, net of taxes		10			19			10			28
Unrealized gains on marketable securities, net of taxes		1			5			1			8
Foreign currency translation adjustments		30			58			20			86
Change in funded status of post-retirement benefit obligations, net of taxes		—			—			(1	)		—

Other comprehensive income (loss)		20			62			(24	)		95

Comprehensive income		278			354			684			824
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(14	)		(18	)		(36	)		(55	)

Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	264		$	336		$	648		$	769

Components of accumulated other comprehensive income, included in stockholders' equity of the company


	September 30,			December 31,
	2010			2009

Accumulated unrealized loss on derivative instruments, net of taxes	$	(52	)	$	(8	)
Accumulated unrealized gain on marketable securities, net of taxes		3			2
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments		232			212
Funded status of post-retirement benefit obligations, net of taxes		1			2

	$	184		$	208

Segment and Related Information (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Reportable segments


	Gross		Intercompany			Net
	Operating		Operating			Operating		Income from
	Revenues		Revenues			Revenues		Operations

Three Months Ended:
September 30, 2010
Eastern	$	755	$	(132	)	$	623	$	138
Midwest		792		(119	)		673		149
Southern		903		(102	)		801		218
Western		809		(113	)		696		146
Wheelabrator		237		(32	)		205		67
Other		248		(11	)		237		(38	)

		3,744		(509	)		3,235		680
Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(136	)

Total	$	3,744	$	(509	)	$	3,235	$	544

September 30, 2009
Eastern	$	763	$	(139	)	$	624	$	138
Midwest		749		(112	)		637		126
Southern		836		(108	)		728		193
Western		801		(106	)		695		141
Wheelabrator		214		(32	)		182		74
Other		163		(6	)		157		(32	)

		3,526		(503	)		3,023		640
Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(115	)

Total	$	3,526	$	(503	)	$	3,023	$	525

Nine Months Ended:
September 30, 2010
Eastern	$	2,214	$	(385	)	$	1,829	$	390
Midwest		2,266		(336	)		1,930		372
Southern		2,602		(303	)		2,299		624
Western		2,372		(328	)		2,044		416
Wheelabrator		660		(92	)		568		150
Other		688		(30	)		658		(93	)

		10,802		(1,474	)		9,328		1,859
Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(317	)

Total	$	10,802	$	(1,474	)	$	9,328	$	1,542

September 30, 2009
Eastern	$	2,211	$	(404	)	$	1,807	$	349
Midwest		2,121		(319	)		1,802		327
Southern		2,509		(326	)		2,183		581
Western		2,343		(310	)		2,033		415
Wheelabrator		627		(90	)		537		167
Other		441		(18	)		423		(91	)

		10,252		(1,467	)		8,785		1,748
Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(317	)

Total	$	10,252	$	(1,467	)	$	8,785	$	1,431

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Fair Value Measurements (Tables) (Abstract)

Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis


			Fair Value Measurements Using
			Quoted		Significant
			Prices in		Other		Significant
			Active		Observable		Unobservable
			Markets		Inputs		Inputs
	Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)

Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	461	$	461	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale securities		162		162		—		—
Interest in available-for-sale securities of unconsolidated entities		113		113		—		—
Interest rate derivatives		56		—		56		—

Total assets	$	792	$	736	$	56	$	—

Liabilities:
Interest rate derivatives	$	59	$	—	$	59	$	—
Foreign currency derivatives		25		—		25		—
Electricity commodity derivatives		—		—		—		—

Total liabilities	$	84	$	—	$	84	$	—

- Definition

This element represents the disclosure related to the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities which includes [financial] instruments measured at fair value that are classified in stockholders' equity. Such assets and liabilities may be measured on a recurring or nonrecurring basis. The disclosures which may be required or desired include: (1) for assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis, disclosure may include: (a) the fair value measurements at the reporting date; (b) the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements in their entirety fall, segregating fair value measurements using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1), significant other observable inputs (Level 2), and significant unobservable inputs (Level 3); (c) for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances, separately presenting changes during the period attributable to the following: (i) total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), segregating those gains or losses included in earnings (or changes in net assets), and a description of where those gains or losses included in earnings (or changes in net assets) are reported in the statement of income (or activities); (ii) purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements (net); (iii) transfers in and transfers out of Level 3 (for example, transfers due to changes in the observability of significant inputs); (d) the amount of the total gains or losses for the period in subparagraph (c) (i) above included in earnings (or changes in net assets) that are attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to those assets and liabilities still held at the reporting date and a description of where those unrealized gains or losses are reported in the statement of income (or activities); (e) the valuation technique(s) used to measure fair value and a discussion of changes in valuation techniques, if any, during the period and (2) for assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis (for example, impaired assets) disclosure may include, in addition to (a) above: (a) the reasons for the fair value measurements recorded; (b) the same as (b) above; (c) for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), a description of the inputs and the information used to develop the inputs; and (d) the valuation technique(s) used to measure fair value and a discussion of changes, if any, in the valuation technique(s) used to measure similar assets and/or liabilities in prior periods.

+ References+ Details

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Tables) [Abstract]

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
September 30, 2010
(Unaudited)


			WM		Non-Guarantor
	WMI		Holdings		Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated

ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	457	$	—	$	93	$	—		$	550
Other current assets		2		1		2,016		—			2,019

		459		1		2,109		—			2,569
Property and equipment, net		—		—		11,636		—			11,636
Investments in and advances to affiliates		10,654		13,545		2,723		(26,922	)		—
Other assets		106		12		7,016		—			7,134

Total assets	$	11,219	$	13,558	$	23,484	$	(26,922	)	$	21,339


LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	—	$	2	$	159	$	—		$	161
Accounts payable and other current liabilities		102		6		2,042		—			2,150

		102		8		2,201		—			2,311
Long-term debt, less current portion		4,970		596		3,232		—			8,798
Other liabilities		39		—		3,752		—			3,791

Total liabilities		5,111		604		9,185		—			14,900
Equity:
Stockholders’ equity		6,108		12,954		13,968		(26,922	)		6,108
Noncontrolling interests		—		—		331		—			331

		6,108		12,954		14,299		(26,922	)		6,439

Total liabilities and equity	$	11,219	$	13,558	$	23,484	$	(26,922	)	$	21,339

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS — (Continued)
December 31, 2009


			WM		Non-Guarantor
	WMI		Holdings		Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated

ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,093	$	—	$	47	$	—		$	1,140
Other current assets		24		1		1,845		—			1,870

		1,117		1		1,892		—			3,010
Property and equipment, net		—		—		11,541		—			11,541
Investments in and advances to affiliates		10,174		12,770		2,303		(25,247	)		—
Other assets		62		17		6,524		—			6,603

Total assets	$	11,353	$	12,788	$	22,260	$	(25,247	)	$	21,154


LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	580	$	35	$	134	$	—		$	749
Accounts payable and other current liabilities		90		17		2,045		—			2,152

		670		52		2,179		—			2,901
Long-term debt, less current portion		4,398		601		3,125		—			8,124
Other liabilities		—		—		3,538		—			3,538

Total liabilities		5,068		653		8,842		—			14,563
Equity:
Stockholders’ equity		6,285		12,135		13,112		(25,247	)		6,285
Noncontrolling interests		—		—		306		—			306

		6,285		12,135		13,418		(25,247	)		6,591

Total liabilities and equity	$	11,353	$	12,788	$	22,260	$	(25,247	)	$	21,154

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended September 30, 2010

(Unaudited)


				WM			Non-Guarantor
	WMI			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated

Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	3,235		$	—		$	3,235
Costs and expenses		—			—			2,691			—			2,691

Income from operations		—			—			544			—			544

Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)		(88	)		(9	)		(28	)		—			(125	)
Equity in subsidiaries, net of taxes		298			303			—			(601	)		—
Other, net		—			—			(8	)		—			(8	)

		210			294			(36	)		(601	)		(133	)

Income before income taxes		210			294			508			(601	)		411
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(34	)		(4	)		191			—			153

Consolidated net income		244			298			317			(601	)		258
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			14			—			14

Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	244		$	298		$	303		$	(601	)	$	244

Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
(Unaudited)


				WM			Non-Guarantor
	WMI			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated

Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	3,023		$	—		$	3,023
Costs and expenses		—			—			2,498			—			2,498

Income from operations		—			—			525			—			525

Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)		(65	)		(10	)		(26	)		—			(101	)
Equity in subsidiaries, net of taxes		317			323			—			(640	)		—
Other, net		—			—			1			—			1

		252			313			(25	)		(640	)		(100	)

Income before income taxes		252			313			500			(640	)		425
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(25	)		(4	)		162			—			133

Consolidated net income		277			317			338			(640	)		292
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			15			—			15

Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	277		$	317		$	323		$	(640	)	$	277

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

(Unaudited)


				WM			Non-Guarantor
	WMI			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated

Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	9,328		$	—		$	9,328
Costs and expenses		—			—			7,786			—			7,786

Income from operations		—			—			1,542			—			1,542

Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)		(241	)		(28	)		(82	)		—			(351	)
Equity in subsidiaries, net of taxes		819			836			—			(1,655	)		—
Other, net		—			—			(14	)		—			(14	)

		578			808			(96	)		(1,655	)		(365	)

Income before income taxes		578			808			1,446			(1,655	)		1,177
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(94	)		(11	)		574			—			469

Consolidated net income		672			819			872			(1,655	)		708
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			36			—			36

Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	672		$	819		$	836		$	(1,655	)	$	672

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
(Unaudited)


				WM			Non-Guarantor
	WMI			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated

Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	8,785		$	—		$	8,785
Costs and expenses		—			—			7,354			—			7,354

Income from operations		—			—			1,431			—			1,431

Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)		(198	)		(31	)		(77	)		—			(306	)
Equity in subsidiaries, net of taxes		800			819			—			(1,619	)		—
Other, net		—			—			1			—			1

		602			788			(76	)		(1,619	)		(305	)

Income before income taxes		602			788			1,355			(1,619	)		1,126
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(77	)		(12	)		486			—			397

Consolidated net income		679			800			869			(1,619	)		729
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			50			—			50

Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	679		$	800		$	819		$	(1,619	)	$	679

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

(Unaudited)


				WM			Non-Guarantor
	WMI			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated

Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$	672		$	819		$	872		$	(1,655	)	$	708
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		(819	)		(836	)		—			1,655			—
Other adjustments		12			(13	)		946			—			945

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(135	)		(30	)		1,818			—			1,653

Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired		—			—			(343	)		—			(343	)
Capital expenditures		—			—			(737	)		—			(737	)
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets		—			—			36			—			36
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net		(2	)		—			(129	)		—			(131	)

Net cash used in investing activities		(2	)		—			(1,173	)		—			(1,175	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings		592			—			183			—			775
Debt repayments		(617	)		(35	)		(280	)		—			(932	)
Common stock repurchases		(443	)		—			—			—			(443	)
Cash dividends		(454	)		—			—			—			(454	)
Exercise of common stock options		28			—			—			—			28
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other		(10	)		—			(33	)		—			(43	)
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net		405			65			(470	)		—			—

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(499	)		30			(600	)		—			(1,069	)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—			—			1			—			1

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(636	)		—			46			—			(590	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		1,093			—			47			—			1,140

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	457		$	—		$	93		$	—		$	550

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS — (Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

(Unaudited)


				WM			Non-Guarantor
	WMI			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated

Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$	679		$	800		$	869		$	(1,619	)	$	729
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		(800	)		(819	)		—			1,619			—
Other adjustments		(20	)		(13	)		946			—			913

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(141	)		(32	)		1,815			—			1,642

Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired		—			—			(127	)		—			(127	)
Capital expenditures		—			—			(823	)		—			(823	)
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets		—			—			20			—			20
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net		—			—			100			—			100

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		—			—			(830	)		—			(830	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings		793			—			233			—			1,026
Debt repayments		(810	)		—			(332	)		—			(1,142	)
Common stock repurchases		(65	)		—			—			—			(65	)
Cash dividends		(428	)		—			—			—			(428	)
Exercise of common stock options		10			—			—			—			10
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other		2			—			(86	)		—			(84	)
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net		698			32			(730	)		—			—

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		200			32			(915	)		—			(683	)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—			—			3			—			3

Increase in cash and cash equivalents		59			—			73			—			132
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		450			—			30			—			480

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	509		$	—		$	103		$	—		$	612

Basis of Presentation (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2000
Basis of Presentation (Textuals) [Abstract]
Total initial investment by other companies						$ 167
Property and equipment, net	322		322
Expense recognized for other companies' noncontrolling interests in LLCs earnings	13	13	38	38
Reduction in restricted trust and escrow account					109
Financial Statement Impact of Deconsolidation of Variable Interest Entity, Increase in Investments of Unconsolidated Entities					27
Financial Statement Impact of Deconsolidation of Variable Interest Entity, Increase in receivables					51
Reduction in noncontrolling interest					31
Fair value of investment in unconsolidated entities	113		113		105
Equity method investment, Initial cost			221
Equity method investment, Non-cash component of initial cost			215
Investments balance	208		208
Low Income Housing Properties [Member]
Basis of Presentation (Textuals) [Abstract]
Payments to acquire other investments			6
Limited Liability Company 1 [Member]
Basis of Presentation (Textuals) [Abstract]
Percentage of ownership in LLCs			0.50%
Percentage of interest of other company one in variable interest entity			0.995
Limited Liability Company Two [Member]
Basis of Presentation (Textuals) [Abstract]
Percentage of ownership in LLCs			0.25%
Percentage of interest of other company two in variable interest entity			99.75%
Company Two [Member] \| Company One [Member]
Basis of Presentation (Textuals) [Abstract]
Reporting entity percentage of interest in earnings of variable interest entity after achieving targeted returns			80.00%
Other companies percentage of interest in earnings of variable interest entity after achieving targeted returns			20.00%
Noncontrolling interest	$ 242		$ 242

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Dec. 31, 2009

Jun. 30, 2010

Liabilities for landfill and environmental remediation costs

Current Landfill Liabilities

$ 120

$ 125

Long-term Landfill Liabilities

1,188

1,142

Total Landfill Liabilities

1,308

1,267

Current Environmental Remediation Liabilities

Long-term Environmental Remediation Liabilities

282

215

Total Environmental Remediation Liabilities

323

256

Current (in accrued liabilities)

161

166

Long-term

1,470

1,357

Total

1,631

1,523

Changes to landfill and environmental remediation liabilities

Beginning Balance, Landfill

1,267

1,218

Beginning Balance, Environmental Remediation

256

299

Obligations incurred and capitalized, Landfill

Obligations incurred and capitalized, Environmental Remediation

Asset Retirement Obligation, Liabilities Settled

(59)

(80)

Obligations settled, Environmental Remediation

(26)

(43)

Interest accretion, Landfill

Interest accretion, Environmental Remediation

Revisions in estimates and interest rate assumptions, Landfill

^[1]

Revisions in estimates and interest rate assumptions, Environmental Remediation

^[1]

(7)

Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments, Landfill

Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments, Environmental Remediation

(1)

Ending Balance, Landfill

1,308

1,267

Ending Balance, Environmental Remediation

323

256

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities (Textuals) [Abstract]

Accurals for environmental liabilities

Risk- free discount rate of the obligations

2.50%

3.75%

3.00%

Accrual for environmental loss contigencies material changes in accrual from change in discount rate

Fair value of trust funds and escrow accounts

124

Reduction in restricted trust and escrow account

109

Fair value of investment in unconsolidated entities

$ 113

$ 105

[1]

The revisions in estimates associated with our environmental remediation liabilities were primarily related to (i) net charges totaling $50 million for estimates associated with remediation liabilities at four closed sites and (ii) the impact of changes in the risk-free discount rate used to measure the liabilities. As of December 31, 2009, we used a risk-free discount rate for these obligations of 3.75%. The applicable rate decreased to 3.0% effective June 30, 2010 and 2.5% effective September 30, 2010. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, these changes in the risk-free discount rate resulted in an increase of $21 million to our environmental remediation liabilities and corresponding increases to "Operating" expenses.

Debt (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended					9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Debt (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010 4.75% senior notes [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 7.375% senior notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Letter of Credit Facility Expiring June 2013 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Capital leases and other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Senior notes and debentures [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Senior notes and debentures [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Tax exempt project bonds Member	Dec. 31, 2009 Tax exempt project bonds Member	Sep. 30, 2010 Tax exempt bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Tax exempt bonds [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Canadian credit facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Canadian credit facility [Member]
Components Of Debt
Revolving credit facility	$ 0	$ 0
Letter of credit facilities	0	0
Canadian credit facility	208,000,000	255,000,000
Senior notes and debentures							5,473,000,000	5,465,000,000
Tax- exempt bonds	2,696,000,000	2,749,000,000
Tax- exempt project bonds	156,000,000	156,000,000
Capital leases and other	426,000,000	248,000,000
Components of Debt, total	8,959,000,000	8,873,000,000
Current portion of long-term debt	161,000,000	749,000,000
Long-term debt, less current portion	8,798,000,000	8,124,000,000
Debt (Textuals) [Abstract]
Weighted average interest rate							6.50%	6.80%	3.00%	3.10%	3.20%	3.50%	1.60%	1.30%
Interest rate upper range						0.12	0.0775		0.054		0.074
Interest rate lower range							0.0475		0.003		0.003
Debt maturing within twelve months, total	477,000,000
Debt maturing within twelve months, long term	316,000,000
Net Repayment of Canadian credit facility debt	53,000,000
Debt instrument face value	600,000,000
Net proceeds from debt issued	592,000,000
Repayment on maturity of senior notes	600,000,000
Interest rate of senior notes	7.375%		4.75%	7.375%
Repayment of tax-exempt bonds	52,000,000
Equity method investment, Non-cash component of initial cost	215,000,000
Repayment of borrowings	44,000,000
Revolving credit and credit facilities, aggregate capacity	2,500,000,000
Revolving credit facility, total capacity					2,000,000,000
Letter of credit outstanding, revolving credit and letter of credit facilities	$ 1,700,000,000

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details)

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2009

USD ($)

Jun. 30, 2010

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2010

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2009

USD ($)

Dec. 31, 2010

Mar. 31, 2014

USD ($)

Nov. 30, 2012

USD ($)

Mar. 31, 2011

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2010

CAD

Dec. 31, 2009

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2010

Other income (expense) [Member]

Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2009

Other income (expense) [Member]

Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2010

Other income (expense) [Member]

Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2009

Other income (expense) [Member]

Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2010

Swap [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2010

Swap [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2010

Swap [Member]

Interest expense [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2009

Swap [Member]

Interest expense [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2010

Swap [Member]

Interest expense [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2009

Swap [Member]

Interest expense [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2010

Current other assets [Member]

Interest Rate Contract [Member]

USD ($)

Dec. 31, 2009

Current other assets [Member]

Interest Rate Contract [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2010

Long-term other assets [Member]

Interest Rate Contract [Member]

USD ($)

Dec. 31, 2009

Long-term other assets [Member]

Interest Rate Contract [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2010

Current accrued liabilities [Member]

Interest Rate Contract [Member]

USD ($)

Dec. 31, 2009

Current accrued liabilities [Member]

Interest Rate Contract [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2010

Current accrued liabilities [Member]

Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]

USD ($)

Dec. 31, 2009

Current accrued liabilities [Member]

Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2010

Long-term accrued liabilities [Member]

Interest Rate Contract [Member]

USD ($)

Dec. 31, 2009

Long-term accrued liabilities [Member]

Interest Rate Contract [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2010

Fixed-Rate Debt [Member]

Interest expense [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2009

Fixed-Rate Debt [Member]

Interest expense [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2010

Fixed-Rate Debt [Member]

Interest expense [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2009

Fixed-Rate Debt [Member]

Interest expense [Member]

USD ($)

Sep. 30, 2010

7.375% senior notes [Member]

USD ($)

Jun. 30, 2010

7.375% senior notes [Member]

Fair values of derivative instruments recorded in Balance Sheet

Derivatives Assets Designated as Hedging Instruments

$ 56,000,000

$ 45,000,000

$ 1,000,000

$ 13,000,000

$ 55,000,000

$ 32,000,000

Derivatives Liabilities Designated as Hedging Instruments

84,000,000

18,000,000

20,000,000

25,000,000

18,000,000

39,000,000

Impact of changes in the fair value of interest rate swaps and the underlying hedged items on results of operations

Impact of changes in the fair value of interest rate swaps and the underlying hedged items

10,000,000

11,000,000

24,000,000

(29,000,000)

(10,000,000)

(11,000,000)

(24,000,000)

29,000,000

Impact of periodic settlements of active swap agreements and the impact of terminated swap agreements

Periodic settlements of active swap agreements

6,000,000

^[1]

12,000,000

^[1]

24,000,000

^[1]

35,000,000

^[1]

Terminated swap agreements

4,000,000

15,000,000

Total

10,000,000

16,000,000

39,000,000

50,000,000

Impacts of foreign currency cash flow derivatives on results of operations and comprehensive income, pre-tax

Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)

(12,000,000)

(28,000,000)

(7,000,000)

(40,000,000)

Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)

(12,000,000)

(28,000,000)

(7,000,000)

(40,000,000)

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Textuals) [Abstract]

Fixed-rate senior notes outstanding

5,400,000,000

Interest payment on senior notes

500,000,000

1,100,000,000

Percentage portion of senior notes outstanding

0.093

0.2

Repayment of 7.375% senior notes

600,000,000

Interest rate of senior notes

7.375%

Increase in carrying value of debt instruments

100,000,000

91,000,000

Notional amount of cash flow hedge instruments, treasury rate locks

200,000,000

Cash paid to settle cash flow hedge instruments treasury rate locks

7,000,000

Accumulated loss from treasury rate lock settled in current period

4,000,000

Deferred losses related to Treasury rate locks included in accumulated other comprehensive income

13,000,000

16,000,000

Term of the hedged cash flows

Extend through 2032

Notional amounts of fixed-rate debt to be issued

175,000,000

200,000,000

150,000,000

Tenor of forward-starting swaps

Portion of current liabilites included in forward-starting interest rate swaps (interest rate derivatives)

20,000,000

Portion of long-term liabilities included in forward-starting swaps (interest rate derivatives)

39,000,000

Pre tax losses recognized in other comprehensive income due to changes in fair value of interest rate derivatives

22,000,000

68,000,000

After Tax Losses Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income Due To Changes In Fair Value Of Interest Rate Derivatives

13,000,000

41,000,000

Amount of principal payments for foreign currency forward contracts included in hedged cash flows

370,000,000

Amount of interest payments for foreign currency forward contracts included in hedged cash flows.

22,000,000

(Loss) gain recognized due to Adjustments to other comprehensive income for changes in the fair value of foreign currency cash flow hedges, after-tax

(7,000,000)

(18,000,000)

(4,000,000)

(25,000,000)

Adjustments for the reclassification of gains or (losses) from accumulated other comprehensive income into income, after tax

$ (7,000,000)

$ (17,000,000)

$ (4,000,000)

$ (25,000,000)

Number of megawatt hours hedged by electricity swap

672,360

Percentage electricity swap to hedge

0.26

[1]	These amounts represent the net of our periodic variable-rate interest obligations and the swap counterparties' fixed-rate interest obligations. Our variable-rate obligations are based on a spread from the three-month LIBOR.

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Income Taxes (Textuals) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate		37.30%	31.20%	39.80%	35.20%
Deferred tax assets/liabilities, revision in estimate				$ 37
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Other Adjustments				3.20%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Credits		1.00%		1.10%
Equity method investment, Initial cost				221
Equity method investment, Non-cash component of initial cost				215
Payments to acquire other investments, low-income housing				6
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments and Other-than-temporary impairments of Equity method investments, combined		4		12
Interest expense, debt incurred to acquire equity method investment		3		4
Total income tax benefit, low-income housing equity method investment		7		18
Tax credits, low-income housing equity method investment		4		12
Federal tax refund		$ 65		$ 65
Other information pertaining to Income taxes	Approximate 60 million

Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Dec. 31, 2009
Comprehensive income
Consolidated net income	$ 258	$ 292	$ 708	$ 729
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:
Unrealized gains (losses) resulting from changes in fair value of derivative instruments, net of taxes	(21)	(20)	(54)	(27)
Realized (gains) losses on derivative instruments reclassified into earnings, net of taxes	10	19	10	28
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities, net of taxes	1	5	1	8
Foreign currency translation adjustments	30	58	20	86
Change in funded status of post-retirement benefit obligations, net of taxes	0	0	(1)	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	20	62	(24)	95
Comprehensive income	278	354	684	824
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(14)	(18)	36	(55)
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	264	336	648	769
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income, included in stockholders' equity of the company
Accumulated unrealized loss on derivative instruments, net of taxes	(52)		(52)		(8)
Accumulated unrealized gain on marketable securities, net of taxes	3		3		2
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments	232		232		212
Funded status of post-retirement benefit obligations, net of taxes	1		1		2
Total accumulated other comprehensive income	$ 184		$ 184		$ 208

Earnings Per Share (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Common share data used for computing the basic and diluted earnings per share
Number of common shares outstanding at end of period	475.7	490.6	475.7	490.6
Effect of using weighted average common shares outstanding	1.6	1.6	6.0	1.5
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding	477.3	492.2	481.7	492.1
Dilutive effect of equity-based compensation awards and other contingently issuable shares	3.7	2.4	3.2	2.0
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding	481.0	494.6	484.9	494.1
Potentially issuable shares	14.7	13.7	14.7	13.7
Number of anti-dilutive potentially issuable shares excluded from diluted common shares outstanding	0.2	3.1	0.2	3.3

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Commitments and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Future payments regarding guarantees of unconsolidated entities financial obligations	$ 12,000,000
Aggregate potential remediation liability	323,000,000		256,000,000	299,000,000
Environmental remediation reasonably possible additional losses, high estimate	150,000,000
Number of sites listed on the EPA's NPL for which we have been notified we are a PRP	75
Number of owned sites listed on the EPA's NPL for which we have been notified we are a PRP	17
Number of non-owned sites listed on the EPA's NPL for which we have been notified we are a PRP	58
Number of former participants in the ERISA plans of Waste Management Holdings, Inc. who filed lawsuit	2
Number of separate wage and hour lawsuits pending against certain of our subsidiaries in California, each seeking class certification	2
Disclosure required under Item 103 of the SEC's Regulation S-K	100,000
Approximate percentage of workforce covered by collective bargaining agreements	20.00%
Charge to "Operating" expenses for the agreed-upon withdrawals of bargaining units from mutli-employer pension plans	$ 26,000,000	$ 9,000,000
Number of bargaining units withdrawn from multi-employer pension plans	5
Number of months expected for IRS audit(s) to be completed	3 and 15
Number of Private Lawsuits alleging potential claims under the Act	2

Restructuring (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		21 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010
Segmental restructuring charges associated with reorganization, pre tax
Restructuring Charge, Corporate and Other			$ 1		$ 10
Restructuring charges, total	0	4	3	(1)	46
Restructuring (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of employee positions eliminated					1,500
Restructuring charges associated with reorganization, pre tax	0	4	3	(1)	46
Restructuring charges associated with reorganization, pre tax (related to employee severance and benefit costs)		1	2		40
Income related to reversal of pre tax restructuring charges				1
Restructuring severance and benefit reserve settled with cash						38
Restructuring Charges Wheelabrator [Member]
Segmental restructuring charges associated with reorganization, pre tax
Restructuring Charge, Reportable Segment			0		0
Restructuring Charges Eastern [Member]
Segmental restructuring charges associated with reorganization, pre tax
Restructuring Charge, Reportable Segment			0		10
Restructuring Charges Midwest [Member]
Segmental restructuring charges associated with reorganization, pre tax
Restructuring Charge, Reportable Segment			1		10
Restructuring Charges Southern [Member]
Segmental restructuring charges associated with reorganization, pre tax
Restructuring Charge, Reportable Segment			1		10
Restructuring Charges Western [Member]
Segmental restructuring charges associated with reorganization, pre tax
Restructuring Charge, Reportable Segment			$ 0		$ 6

- Definition

The charge against earnings in the period for known and estimated costs of termination benefits provided to current employees that are involuntarily terminated under a benefit arrangement associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, excluding costs or losses pertaining to an entity newly acquired in a business combination or a discontinued operation as defined by generally accepted accounting principles and costs associated with one-time termination benefits.

+ References+ Details

Segment and Related Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010 Shanghai Environment Group [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Midwest [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 Midwest [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Midwest [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 Midwest [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Eastern [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 Eastern [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Eastern [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 Eastern [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Operating Group Total [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 Operating Group Total [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Operating Group Total [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 Operating Group Total [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Corporate and Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 Corporate and Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Corporate and Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 Corporate and Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Wheelabrator [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 Wheelabrator [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Wheelabrator [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 Wheelabrator [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Western [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 Western [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Western [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 Western [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Southern [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 Southern [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Southern [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 Southern [Member]
Reportable segments
Gross Operating Revenues	$ 3,744	$ 3,526	$ 10,802	$ 10,252				$ 792	$ 749	$ 2,266	$ 2,121	$ 755	$ 763	$ 2,214	$ 2,211	$ 3,744	$ 3,526	$ 10,802	$ 10,252	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 248	$ 163	$ 688	$ 441	$ 237	$ 214	$ 660	$ 627	$ 809	$ 801	$ 2,372	$ 2,343	$ 903	$ 836	$ 2,602	$ 2,509
Intercompany Operating Revenues	(509)	(503)	(1,474)	(1,467)				(119)	(112)	(336)	(319)	(132)	(139)	(385)	(404)	(509)	(503)	(1,474)	(1,467)	0	0	0	0	(11)	(6)	(30)	(18)	(32)	(32)	(92)	(90)	(113)	(106)	(328)	(310)	(102)	(108)	(303)	(326)
Net Operating Revenues	3,235	3,023	9,328	8,785				673	637	1,930	1,802	623	624	1,829	1,807	3,235	3,023	9,328	8,785	0	0	0	0	237	157	658	423	205	182	568	537	696	695	2,044	2,033	801	728	2,299	2,183
Income from Operations	544	525	1,542	1,431				149	126	372	327	138	138	390	349	680	640	1,859	1,748	(136)	(115)	(317)	(317)	(38)	(32)	(93)	(91)	67	74	150	167	146	141	416	415	218	193	624	581
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Payments to acquire other Investments							142
Segment and Related Information (Textuals) [Abstract]
Charge to "Operating" expenses for the agreed-upon withdrawals of bargaining units from mutli-employer pension plans			26	9
Material Change in Total assets of Wheelabrator segment			309
Material Change in Total assets of Wheelabrator segment percentage			14.00%
Equity Method Investment in Shanghai environment group						40.00%
Payment for acquisition of waste-to-energy facility					$ 150

(Income) Expense from Divestitures, Asset Impairments and Unusual Items (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2008
(Income) Expense from Divestitures, Asset Impairments and Unusual Items (Textuals) [Abstract]
Capitalized Computer Software		$ 70
Increase (Decrease) in Income from operations due to settlement related to software implementation	$ 77

Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$ 461,000,000
Available-for-sale securities	162,000,000
Interest in available-for-sale securities of unconsolidated entities	113,000,000	105,000,000
Interest rate derivatives	56,000,000
Total assets	792,000,000
Liabilities:
Interest rate derivatives	59,000,000
Electricity commodity derivatives	0
Total liabilities	84,000,000
Fair Value Measurements (Textuals) [Abstract]
Carrying value of debt	9,000,000,000	8,900,000,000
Estimated fair value of debt	9,800,000,000	9,300,000,000
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)
Liabilities:
Interest rate derivatives	0
Electricity commodity derivatives	0
Total liabilities	0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Liabilities:
Interest rate derivatives	59,000,000
Electricity commodity derivatives	0
Total liabilities	84,000,000
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Liabilities:
Interest rate derivatives	0
Electricity commodity derivatives	0
Total liabilities	0
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Liabilities:
Foreign currency derivatives	25,000,000
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)
Liabilities:
Foreign currency derivatives	0
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Liabilities:
Foreign currency derivatives	25,000,000
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Liabilities:
Foreign currency derivatives	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)
Assets:
Cash equivalents	461,000,000
Available-for-sale securities	162,000,000
Interest in available-for-sale securities of unconsolidated entities	113,000,000
Interest rate derivatives	0
Total assets	736,000,000
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Assets:
Cash equivalents	0
Available-for-sale securities	0
Interest in available-for-sale securities of unconsolidated entities	0
Interest rate derivatives	56,000,000
Total assets	56,000,000
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Cash equivalents	0
Available-for-sale securities	0
Interest in available-for-sale securities of unconsolidated entities	0
Interest rate derivatives	0
Total assets	$ 0

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Dec. 31, 2009
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 550	$ 612	$ 550	$ 612
Other current assets	2,019		2,019		1,870
Total current assets	2,569		2,569		3,010
Property and equipment, net	11,636		11,636		11,541
Investments in and advances to affiliates	0		0		0
Other assets	7,134		7,134		6,603
Total assets	21,339		21,339		21,154
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	161		161		749
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	2,150		2,150		2,152
Total current liabilities	2,311		2,311		2,901
Long-term debt, less current portion	8,798		8,798		8,124
Other liabilities	3,791		3,791		3,538
Total liabilities	14,900		14,900		14,563
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	6,108		6,108		6,285
Noncontrolling interests	331		331		306
Total equity	6,439		6,439		6,591
Total liabilities and equity	21,339		21,339		21,154
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Operating revenues	3,235	3,023	9,328	8,785
Costs and expenses	2,691	2,498	7,786	7,354
Income from operations	544	525	1,542	1,431
Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)	(125)	(101)	(351)	(306)
Equity in subsidiaries, net of taxes	0	0	0	0
Other, net	(8)	1	(14)	1
Interest and Other Income Expense Total	(133)	(100)	(365)	(305)
Income before income taxes	411	425	1,177	1,126
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	153	133	469	397
Consolidated net income	258	292	708	729
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	14	15	36	50
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	244	277	672	679
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	258	292	708	729
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes			0	0
Other adjustments			945	913
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			1,653	1,642
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(343)	(127)
Capital expenditures			(737)	(823)
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets			36	20
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net			(131)	100
Net cash used in investing activities			(1,175)	(830)
Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings			775	1,026
Debt repayments			(932)	(1,142)
Common stock repurchases			(443)	(65)
Cash dividends			(454)	(428)
Exercise of common stock options			28	10
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other			(43)	(84)
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net			0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(1,069)	(683)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			1	3
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(590)	132
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			1,140	480
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	550	612	550	612
WMI [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	457	509	457	509
Other current assets	2		2		24
Total current assets	459		459		1,117
Property and equipment, net	0		0		0
Investments in and advances to affiliates	10,654		10,654		10,174
Other assets	106		106		62
Total assets	11,219		11,219		11,353
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	0		0		580
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	102		102		90
Total current liabilities	102		102		670
Long-term debt, less current portion	4,970		4,970		4,398
Other liabilities	39		39		0
Total liabilities	5,111		5,111		5,068
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	6,108		6,108		6,285
Noncontrolling interests	0		0		0
Total equity	6,108		6,108		6,285
Total liabilities and equity	11,219		11,219		11,353
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Costs and expenses	0	0	0	0
Income from operations	0	0	0	0
Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)	(88)	(65)	(241)	(198)
Equity in subsidiaries, net of taxes	298	317	819	800
Other, net	0	0	0	0
Interest and Other Income Expense Total	210	252	578	602
Income before income taxes	210	252	578	602
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(34)	(25)	(94)	(77)
Consolidated net income	244	277	672	679
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	244	277	672	679
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	244	277	672	679
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes			(819)	(800)
Other adjustments			12	(20)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			(135)	(141)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			0	0
Capital expenditures			0	0
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets			0	0
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net			(2)	0
Net cash used in investing activities			(2)	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings			592	793
Debt repayments			(617)	(810)
Common stock repurchases			(443)	(65)
Cash dividends			(454)	(428)
Exercise of common stock options			28	10
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other			(10)	2
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net			405	698
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(499)	200
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			0	0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(636)	59
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			1,093	450
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	457	509	457	509
WM Holdings [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Other current assets	1		1		1
Total current assets	1		1		1
Property and equipment, net	0		0		0
Investments in and advances to affiliates	13,545		13,545		12,770
Other assets	12		12		17
Total assets	13,558		13,558		12,788
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	2		2		35
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	6		6		17
Total current liabilities	8		8		52
Long-term debt, less current portion	596		596		601
Other liabilities	0		0		0
Total liabilities	604		604		653
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	12,954		12,954		12,135
Noncontrolling interests	0		0		0
Total equity	12,954		12,954		12,135
Total liabilities and equity	13,558		13,558		12,788
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Costs and expenses	0	0	0	0
Income from operations	0	0	0	0
Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)	(9)	(10)	(28)	(31)
Equity in subsidiaries, net of taxes	303	323	836	819
Other, net	0	0	0	0
Interest and Other Income Expense Total	294	313	808	788
Income before income taxes	294	313	808	788
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(4)	(4)	(11)	(12)
Consolidated net income	298	317	819	800
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	298	317	819	800
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	298	317	819	800
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes			(836)	(819)
Other adjustments			(13)	(13)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			(30)	(32)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			0	0
Capital expenditures			0	0
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets			0	0
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net			0	0
Net cash used in investing activities			0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings			0	0
Debt repayments			(35)	0
Common stock repurchases			0	0
Cash dividends			0	0
Exercise of common stock options			0	0
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other			0	0
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net			65	32
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			30	32
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			0	0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	0	0	0
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	93	103	93	103
Other current assets	2,016		2,016		1,845
Total current assets	2,109		2,109		1,892
Property and equipment, net	11,636		11,636		11,541
Investments in and advances to affiliates	2,723		2,723		2,303
Other assets	7,016		7,016		6,524
Total assets	23,484		23,484		22,260
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	159		159		134
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	2,042		2,042		2,045
Total current liabilities	2,201		2,201		2,179
Long-term debt, less current portion	3,232		3,232		3,125
Other liabilities	3,752		3,752		3,538
Total liabilities	9,185		9,185		8,842
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	13,968		13,968		13,112
Noncontrolling interests	331		331		306
Total equity	14,299		14,299		13,418
Total liabilities and equity	23,484		23,484		22,260
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Operating revenues	3,235	3,023	9,328	8,785
Costs and expenses	2,691	2,498	7,786	7,354
Income from operations	544	525	1,542	1,431
Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)	(28)	(26)	(82)	(77)
Equity in subsidiaries, net of taxes	0	0	0	0
Other, net	(8)	1	(14)	1
Interest and Other Income Expense Total	(36)	(25)	(96)	(76)
Income before income taxes	508	500	1,446	1,355
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	191	162	574	486
Consolidated net income	317	338	872	869
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	14	15	36	50
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	303	323	836	819
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	317	338	872	869
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes			0	0
Other adjustments			946	946
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			1,818	1,815
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(343)	(127)
Capital expenditures			(737)	(823)
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets			36	20
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net			(129)	100
Net cash used in investing activities			(1,173)	(830)
Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings			183	233
Debt repayments			(280)	(332)
Common stock repurchases			0	0
Cash dividends			0	0
Exercise of common stock options			0	0
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other			(33)	(86)
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net			(470)	(730)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(600)	(915)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			1	3
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			46	73
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			47	30
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	93	103	93	103
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Other current assets	0		0		0
Total current assets	0		0		0
Property and equipment, net	0		0		0
Investments in and advances to affiliates	(26,922)		(26,922)		(25,247)
Other assets	0		0		0
Total assets	(26,922)		(26,922)		(25,247)
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	0		0		0
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	0		0		0
Total current liabilities	0		0		0
Long-term debt, less current portion	0		0		0
Other liabilities	0		0		0
Total liabilities	0		0		0
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	(26,922)		(26,922)		(25,247)
Noncontrolling interests	0		0		0
Total equity	(26,922)		(26,922)		(25,247)
Total liabilities and equity	(26,922)		(26,922)		(25,247)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Costs and expenses	0	0	0	0
Income from operations	0	0	0	0
Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)	0	0	0	0
Equity in subsidiaries, net of taxes	(601)	(640)	(1,655)	(1,619)
Other, net	0	0	0	0
Interest and Other Income Expense Total	(601)	(640)	(1,655)	(1,619)
Income before income taxes	(601)	(640)	(1,655)	(1,619)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	0	0	0	0
Consolidated net income	(601)	(640)	(1,655)	(1,619)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	(601)	(640)	(1,655)	(1,619)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	(601)	(640)	(1,655)	(1,619)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes			1,655	1,619
Other adjustments			0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			0	0
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			0	0
Capital expenditures			0	0
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets			0	0
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net			0	0
Net cash used in investing activities			0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings			0	0
Debt repayments			0	0
Common stock repurchases			0	0
Cash dividends			0	0
Exercise of common stock options			0	0
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other			0	0
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net			0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			0	0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0