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Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - shares	Jun. 30, 2012	Jul. 20, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	WASTE MANAGEMENT INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000823768
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		463,557,830

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 237	$ 258
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $34 and $29, respectively	1,694	1,631
Other receivables	137	144
Parts and supplies	147	153
Deferred income taxes	73	78
Other assets	166	115
Total current assets	2,454	2,379
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $15,735 and $15,308, respectively	12,360	12,242
Goodwill	6,237	6,215
Other intangible assets, net	416	457
Investments in unconsolidated entities	656	637
Other assets	568	639
Total assets	22,691	22,569
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	720	838
Accrued liabilities	1,145	1,129
Deferred revenues	469	470
Current portion of long-term debt	853	631
Total current liabilities	3,187	3,068
Long-term debt, less current portion	8,973	9,125
Deferred income taxes	1,879	1,884
Landfill and environmental remediation liabilities	1,437	1,404
Other liabilities	728	698
Total liabilities	16,204	16,179
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	4,540	4,561
Retained earnings	6,771	6,721
Accumulated other comprehensive income	163	172
Treasury stock at cost, 167,283,574 and 169,749,709 shares, respectively	(5,312)	(5,390)
Total Waste Management, Inc. stockholders' equity	6,168	6,070
Noncontrolling interests	319	320
Total equity	6,487	6,390
Total liabilities and equity	$ 22,691	$ 22,569

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 34	$ 29
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	$ 15,735	$ 15,308
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	167,283,574	169,749,709

- Definition

The cumulative amount of depreciation, depletion and amortization (related to property, plant and equipment, but not including land) that has been recognized in the income statement.

+ References + Details

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Operating revenues	$ 3,459	$ 3,347	$ 6,754	$ 6,450
Costs and expenses:
Operating	2,260	2,140	4,426	4,135
Selling, general and administrative	374	382	781	764
Depreciation and amortization	323	319	640	618
Restructuring	3		7
(Income) expense from divestitures, asset impairments and unusual items	33		33
Total costs and expenses	2,993	2,841	5,887	5,517
Income from operations	466	506	867	933
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(121)	(119)	(243)	(240)
Interest income	1	2	2	5
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities	(11)	(9)	(18)	(13)
Other, net	(1)	1	(2)	2
Total other income (expense)	(132)	(125)	(261)	(246)
Income before income taxes	334	381	606	687
Provision for income taxes	115	131	204	241
Consolidated net income	219	250	402	446
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	11	13	23	23
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$ 208	$ 237	$ 379	$ 423
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.45	$ 0.50	$ 0.82	$ 0.89
Diluted earnings per common share	0.45	0.50	0.82	0.89
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.355	$ 0.34	$ 0.71	$ 0.68

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Consolidated net income	$ 219	$ 250	$ 402	$ 446
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments:
Unrealized losses, resulting from changes in fair value, net of tax benefit of $(10), $(5), $(8) and $(8), respectively	(16)	(8)	(12)	(13)
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax (expense) benefit of $(2), $1, $0 and $6, respectively	(4)	1		9
Total Unrealized losses on derivative instruments	(20)	(7)	(12)	(4)
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax expense (benefit) of $0, $0, $1 and $(1), respectively	(1)	1	1	(1)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(22)	8	2	36
Change in funded status of post-retirement benefit obligation, net of tax benefit of $0, $0, $0 and $(1), respectively				(2)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	(43)	2	(9)	29
Comprehensive income	176	252	393	475
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	11	13	23	23
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$ 165	$ 239	$ 370	$ 452

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Tax effects on unrealized gains (losses) resulting from changes in fair value	$ (10)	$ (5)	$ (8)	$ (8)
Tax effects on realized (gains) losses on derivative instruments reclassified into earnings	(2)	1	0	6
Tax effects on unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	0	0	1	(1)
Tax effects on change in funded status of post-retirement benefit obligations	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ (1)

- Definition

Tax effect of the income statement impact of the reclassification adjustment of accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges realized in net income. Also includes reclassification adjustments of an entity's share of an equity investee's deferred hedging gain (loss) realized in net income.

+ References + Details

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 402	$ 446
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	640	618
Deferred income tax provision	8	39
Interest accretion on landfill liabilities	41	41
Interest accretion on and discount rate adjustments to environmental remediation liabilities and recovery assets	1	3
Provision for bad debts	26	15
Equity-based compensation expense	15	27
Excess tax benefits associated with equity-based transactions	(9)	(7)
Net gain from disposal of assets	(7)	(8)
Effect of (income) expense from divestitures, asset impairments and unusual items	33
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities, net of dividends	18	13
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:
Receivables	(72)	(115)
Other current assets	(26)	(18)
Other assets	92	31
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	5	25
Deferred revenues and other liabilities	(23)	(32)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,144	1,078
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(154)	(157)
Capital expenditures	(730)	(596)
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets	20	13
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts	17	7
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(40)	(91)
Other	(16)
Net cash used in investing activities	(903)	(824)
Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings	312	404
Debt repayments	(271)	(314)
Common stock repurchases		(168)
Cash dividends	(329)	(323)
Exercise of common stock options	31	35
Excess tax benefits associated with equity-based transactions	9	7
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests	(23)	(22)
Other	9	(44)
Net cash used in financing activities	(262)	(425)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		3
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(21)	(168)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	258	539
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 237	$ 371

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (Unaudited) - 6 months ended Jun. 30, 2012 - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 6,390	$ 6	$ 4,561	$ 6,721	$ 172	$ (5,390)	$ 320
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011		630,282				(169,750)
Consolidated net income	402			379			23
Other comprehensive income, net of taxes	(9)				(9)
Cash dividends declared	(329)			(329)
Equity-based compensation transactions, including dividend equivalents, net of taxes	56		(22)			$ 78
Equity-based compensation transactions, including dividend equivalents, net of taxes, shares						2,463
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests	(23)						(23)
Other			1				(1)
Other, shares						3
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2012	$ 6,487	$ 6	$ 4,540	$ 6,771	$ 163	$ (5,312)	$ 319
Ending balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2012		630,282				(167,284)

Basis of Presentation

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

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 as described in Note 13. 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 “WM,” we are referring only to Waste Management, Inc., the parent holding company.

We currently manage and evaluate our principal operations through five Groups. Our four geographic operating Groups, which are comprised of our Eastern, Midwest, Southern and Western Groups, provide collection, transfer, disposal (in both solid waste and hazardous waste landfills) and recycling services. Our fifth Group is the Wheelabrator Group, which provides waste-to-energy services and manages waste-to-energy facilities and independent power production plants. We also provide additional services that are not managed through our five Groups, including the operations of Oakleaf Global Holdings acquired on July 28, 2011 (“Oakleaf”), which are presented in this report as “Other.” Additional information related to our segments and to our acquisition of Oakleaf can be found in Note 8 and in Note 9, respectively.

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of June 30, 2012 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 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, 2011.

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, deferred income taxes and reserves associated with our insured and self-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

Fair Value Measurement — In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) amended authoritative guidance associated with fair value measurements. This amended guidance defines certain requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The amendments to authoritative guidance associated with fair value measurements were effective for the Company on January 1, 2012 and have been applied prospectively. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Comprehensive Income — In June 2011, the FASB issued amended authoritative guidance associated with comprehensive income, which requires companies to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This update eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in equity. In December 2011, the FASB deferred the effective date of the specific requirement to present items that are reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income to net income alongside their respective components of net income and other comprehensive income. The amendments to authoritative guidance associated with comprehensive income were effective for the Company on January 1, 2012 and have been applied retrospectively. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

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):


	June 30, 2012						December 31, 2011
	Landfill		Environmental Remediation		Total		Landfill		Environmental Remediation		Total
Current (in accrued liabilities)	$	119	$	37	$	156	$	123	$	38	$	161
Long-term		1,210		227		1,437		1,169		235		1,404

	$	1,329	$	264	$	1,593	$	1,292	$	273	$	1,565

The changes to landfill and environmental remediation liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012 are reflected in the table below (in millions):


	Landfill			Environmental Remediation
December 31, 2010	$	1,266		$	284
Obligations incurred and capitalized		49			—
Obligations settled		(80	)		(37	)
Interest accretion		84			6
Revisions in cost estimates and interest rate assumptions		(30	)		23
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments		3			(3	)

December 31, 2011		1,292			273
Obligations incurred and capitalized		28			—
Obligations settled		(31	)		(14	)
Interest accretion		41			2
Revisions in cost estimates and interest rate assumptions		1			3
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments		(2	)		—

June 30, 2012	$	1,329		$	264

At several of our landfills, we provide financial assurance by depositing cash into restricted trust funds or escrow accounts for purposes of settling final capping, closure, post-closure and environmental remediation obligations. Generally, these trust funds are established to comply with statutory requirements and operating agreements. See Note 13 for additional information related to these trusts.

Debt

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

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 June 30, 2012:


	June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Revolving credit facility (weighted average interest rate of 1.4% at June 30, 2012 and 1.5% at December 31, 2011)	$	300	$	150
Letter of credit facilities		—		—
Canadian credit facility (weighted average effective interest rate of 2.0% at June 30, 2012 and 1.8% at December 31, 2011)		112		137
Senior notes and debentures, maturing through 2039, interest rates ranging from 2.60% to 7.75% (weighted average interest rate of 6.0% at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011)		6,220		6,228
Tax-exempt bonds maturing through 2041, fixed and variable interest rates ranging from 0.2% to 7.4% (weighted average interest rate of 2.9% at June 30, 2012 and 3.1% at December 31, 2011)		2,722		2,771
Tax-exempt project bonds, maturing through 2029, fixed and variable interest rates ranging from 0.2% to 3.4% (weighted average interest rate of 1.4% at June 30, 2012 and 1.3% at December 31, 2011 )		86		86
Capital leases and other, maturing through 2055, interest rates up to 12%		386		384

		9,826		9,756
Current portion of long-term debt		853		631

	$	8,973	$	9,125

Debt Classification

As of June 30, 2012, we had $1,004 million of debt maturing within the next twelve months, including $300 million of borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility, U.S. $112 million of advances outstanding under our Canadian credit facility, $400 million of 6.375% senior notes that mature in November 2012 and $143 million of tax-exempt bonds. We have classified $151 million of these borrowings as long-term as of June 30, 2012 based on our intent and ability to refinance these borrowings on a long-term basis. We also had $550 million of tax-exempt borrowings subject to repricing within the next twelve months, which were classified as long-term based on our intent and ability to fund any failed remarketings with available capacity under our revolving credit facility.

Revolving Credit and Letter of Credit Facilities

As of June 30, 2012, we had an aggregate committed capacity of $2.5 billion for letters of credit under various credit facilities. Our $2.0 billion revolving credit facility expires in May 2016 and is our primary source of letter of credit capacity. Our remaining letter of credit capacity is provided under facilities with terms that extend from June 2013 to June 2015. As of June 30, 2012, we had an aggregate of $1.5 billion of letters of credit outstanding under various credit facilities. Approximately $1.0 billion of these letters of credit have been issued under our revolving credit facility.

Debt Borrowings and Repayments

The significant changes in our debt balances from December 31, 2011 to June 30, 2012 are related to the following:

Revolving credit facility — During the six months ended June 30, 2012, we incurred net borrowings of $150 million under our revolving credit facility for general corporate purposes.

Canadian credit facility — We repaid $27 million of net advances under our Canadian credit facility during the six months ended June 30, 2012.

Tax-exempt bonds — During the six months ended June 30, 2012, we repaid $66 million of our tax-exempt bonds with available cash upon their scheduled maturities. In addition, we issued $43 million of new tax-exempt bonds, of which $25 million was used to repay tax-exempt bonds that matured in May 2012. The remaining $18 million of tax-exempt bond proceeds was held in a trust account as of June 30, 2012 and was used to repay tax-exempt debt maturing in July 2012.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for information about short-term and long-term debt arrangements, which includes amounts of borrowings under each line of credit, note payable, commercial paper issue, bonds indenture, debenture issue, own-share lending arrangements and any other contractual agreement to repay funds, and about the underlying arrangements, rationale for a classification as long-term, including repayment terms, interest rates, collateral provided, restrictions on use of assets and activities, whether or not in compliance with debt covenants, and other matters important to users of the financial statements, such as the effects of refinancing and noncompliance with debt covenants.

+ References + Details

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

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):


Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments	Balance Sheet Location	June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Electricity commodity contracts	Current other assets	$	3	$	5
Interest rate contracts	Long-term other assets		—		73

Total derivative assets		$	3	$	78

Interest rate contracts	Current accrued liabilities	$	55	$	42
Electricity commodity contracts	Current accrued liabilities		1		—
Interest rate contracts	Long-term accrued liabilities		44		32
Foreign exchange contracts	Long-term accrued liabilities		1		2

Total derivative liabilities		$	101	$	76

We have not offset fair value amounts recognized for our derivative instruments. For information related to the inputs used to measure our derivative assets and liabilities at fair value, refer to Note 12.

Interest Rate Derivatives

Interest Rate Swaps

We have used interest rate swaps to maintain a portion of our debt obligations at variable market interest rates. As of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we had approximately $6.1 billion in fixed-rate senior notes outstanding. As of December 31, 2011, the interest payments on $1 billion, or 16%, of these senior notes were swapped to variable interest rates to protect the debt against changes in fair value due to changes in benchmark interest rates. In April 2012, we elected to terminate our interest rate swaps and, upon termination, we received $76 million in cash for their fair value plus accrued interest receivable. The terminated interest rate swaps were associated with senior notes that are scheduled to mature from November 2012 to March 2018. The associated fair value adjustments to long-term debt will be amortized as a reduction to interest expense over the remaining terms of the underlying debt using the effective interest method. The cash proceeds received from our termination of the swaps have been classified as a change in “Other assets” within “Net cash provided by operating activities” in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

We 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 our debt instruments by $93 million as of June 30, 2012 and $102 million as of December 31, 2011. 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 fair value adjustments from interest rate swaps and the underlying hedged items on our results of operations (in millions):


Three Months Ended June 30,	Statement of Operations Classification	Gain (Loss) on Swap			Gain (Loss) on Fixed-Rate Debt
2012	Interest expense	$	2		$	(2	)
2011	Interest expense	$	18		$	(18	)

Six Months Ended June 30,	Statement of Operations Classification	Gain (Loss) on Swap			Gain (Loss) on Fixed-Rate Debt
2012	Interest expense	$	(1	)	$	1
2011	Interest expense	$	12		$	(12	)

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 Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
Decrease to Interest Expense Due to Hedge Accounting for Interest Rate Swaps	2012		2011		2012		2011
Periodic settlements of active swap agreements(a)	$	2	$	6	$	7	$	11
Terminated swap agreements(b)		7		3		9		6

	$	9	$	9	$	16	$	17

(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.

(b)	The amortization to interest expense of terminated swap agreements has increased due to our election to terminate our interest rate swap portfolio with a notional amount of $1 billion in April 2012.

Forward-Starting Interest Rate Swaps

In 2009, we entered into forward-starting interest rate swaps with a total notional value of $525 million to hedge the risk of changes in semi-annual interest payments due to fluctuations in the forward ten-year LIBOR swap rate for anticipated fixed-rate debt issuances in 2011, 2012 and 2014. We designated these forward-starting interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges.

During the first quarter of 2011, $150 million of these forward-starting interest rate swaps were terminated contemporaneously with the actual issuance of senior notes in February 2011, and we paid cash of $9 million to settle the liability related to these swap agreements. The ineffectiveness recognized upon termination of the hedges was immaterial and the related deferred loss continues to be recognized as a component of “Accumulated other comprehensive income.” The deferred loss is being amortized as an increase to interest expense over the ten-year life of the senior notes issued in February 2011 using the effective interest method. The incremental interest expense associated with these forward-starting interest rate swaps was immaterial during the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 and is expected to be immaterial over the next twelve months.

The forward-starting interest rate swaps outstanding as of June 30, 2012 relate to anticipated debt issuances in November 2012 and March 2014. As of June 30, 2012, the fair value of these active interest rate derivatives was comprised of $55 million of current liabilities and $44 million of long-term liabilities compared with $42 million of current liabilities and $32 million of long-term liabilities as of December 31, 2011.

We recognized pre-tax and after-tax losses of $30 million and $18 million, respectively, to other comprehensive income for changes in the fair value of our forward-starting interest rate swaps during the three months ended June 30, 2012 and $25 million and $15 million, respectively, during the six months ended June 30, 2012. We recognized pre-tax and after-tax losses of $11 million and $7 million, respectively, to other comprehensive income for changes in the fair value of our forward-starting interest rate swaps during the three months ended June 30, 2011 and $7 million and $5 million, respectively, during the six months ended June 30, 2011. There was no significant ineffectiveness associated with these hedges during the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 or 2011.

Treasury Rate Locks

In prior years, we used Treasury rate locks to secure underlying interest rates in anticipation of senior note issuances. These cash flow hedging agreements resulted in deferred losses, net of taxes, of $10 million at June 30, 2012 and $12 million at December 31, 2011, which are included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income.” These deferred losses are reclassified as an increase to interest expense over the life of the related senior note issuances, which extend through 2032. Pre-tax and after-tax amounts of $2 million and $1 million, respectively, for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, and pre-tax and after-tax amounts of $4 million and $2 million, respectively, for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, were reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income and into interest expense. As of June 30, 2012, $4 million (on a pre-tax basis) is scheduled to be reclassified as an increase to interest expense over the next twelve months.

Credit-Risk-Related Contingent Features

Our interest rate derivative instruments have in the past and may in the future contain provisions related to the Company’s credit rating. These provisions generally provide that 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 settlement of all affected transactions. As of June 30, 2012, we did not have any interest rate derivatives outstanding that contained these credit-risk related provisions.

Foreign Currency Derivatives

We use foreign currency exchange rate derivatives to hedge our exposure to fluctuations in exchange rates for anticipated intercompany cash transactions between Waste Management Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary (“WM Holdings”), and its Canadian subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2012, we had 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 as of June 30, 2012 include C$370 million of principal, which is scheduled for payment on October 31, 2013, and scheduled interest payments of C$11 million on November 30, 2012 and C$10 million on October 31, 2013. We designated the forward contracts as cash flow hedges.

Gains or losses on the underlying hedged items attributable to foreign currency exchange risk are recognized in current earnings. The gains or losses on our foreign currency forward contracts that are reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income are recognized as adjustments to other income and expense, which is the same financial statement line item where offsetting gains or 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 comprehensive income and results of operations (in millions):


Three Months Ended June 30,	Derivative Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion)			Statement of Operations Classification	Derivative Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)
2012	$	6		Other income (expense)	$	6
2011	$	(3	)	Other income (expense)	$	(2	)


Six Months Ended June 30,	Derivative Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion)			Statement of Operations Classification	Derivative Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)
2012	$	1		Other income (expense)	$	(3	)
2011	$	(14	)	Other income (expense)	$	(12	)

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 gains of $4 million and less than $1 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively, and after-tax losses of $2 million and $8 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. After-tax adjustments for the reclassification of gains (losses) from accumulated other comprehensive income into income were $4 million and $(2) million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively. After-tax adjustments for the reclassification of losses from accumulated other comprehensive income into income were $1 million and $7 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. Ineffectiveness has been included in other income and expense during each of the reported periods. There was no significant ineffectiveness associated with these hedges during the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 or 2011.

Electricity Commodity Derivatives

We use short-term “receive fixed, pay variable” electricity commodity swaps to reduce the variability in our revenues and cash flows caused by fluctuations in the market prices for electricity. We hedged 1.55 million megawatt hours, or approximately 50%, of our Wheelabrator Group’s full year 2011 merchant electricity sales, and the swaps executed through June 30, 2012 are expected to hedge about 628,800 megawatt hours, or 19%, of the Wheelabrator Group’s full year 2012 merchant electricity sales. For the three- month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, we hedged 16% and 49%, respectively, of our merchant electricity sales. For the six-month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, we hedged 24% and 51%, respectively, of our merchant electricity sales.

We recognized pre-tax and after-tax losses of $2 million in other comprehensive income for changes in the fair value of our electricity commodity derivatives during the three months ended June 30, 2012 and pre-tax and after-tax gains of $4 million and $3 million, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2012. We recognized pre-tax and after-tax adjustments of $2 million and $1 million, respectively, for the reclassification of gains from accumulated other comprehensive income into income as a component of “Operating revenues” during the three months ended June 30, 2012 and $7 million and $4 million, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2012. All financial statement impacts associated with these derivatives were immaterial for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011. There was no significant ineffectiveness associated with these cash flow hedges during the three and six months periods ended June 30, 2012 or 2011.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the entity's entire derivative instruments and hedging activities. Describes an entity's risk management strategies, derivatives in hedging activities and non-hedging derivative instruments, the assets, obligations, liabilities, revenues and expenses arising therefrom, and the amounts of and methodologies and assumptions used in determining the amounts of such items.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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+ Details

Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Income Taxes

5. Income Taxes

Our effective income tax rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 was 34.3% and 33.6%, respectively, compared with 34.5% and 35.1% for the comparable prior year periods. We evaluate our effective income tax rate at each interim period and adjust it accordingly as facts and circumstances warrant. The difference between federal income taxes computed at the federal statutory rate and reported income taxes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 was primarily due to the favorable impact of federal and state tax credits and audit settlements, offset in part by the unfavorable impact of state and local income taxes and a Canadian provincial tax rate increase. The differences between federal income taxes computed at the federal statutory rate and reported income taxes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 were primarily due to the favorable impact of federal tax credits offset by the unfavorable impact of state and local income taxes.

Investment in Refined Coal Facility — In January 2011, we acquired a noncontrolling interest in a limited liability company, which was established to invest in and manage a refined coal facility in North Dakota. The facility’s refinement processes qualify for federal tax credits that are expected to be realized through 2019 in accordance with Section 45 of the Internal Revenue Code. Our initial consideration for this investment consisted of a cash payment of $48 million.

We account for our investment in this entity using the equity method of accounting, recognizing our share of the entity’s results and other reductions in “Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities,” within our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, we recognized $1 million and $2 million of net losses resulting from our share of the entity’s operating losses and $2 million during both the three and six months ended June 30, 2011. Our tax provision for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 was reduced by $5 million and $8 million, respectively, primarily as a result of tax credits realized from this investment and by $4 million and $7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. See Note 13 for additional information related to this investment.

Investment in 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. 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. We recognize our share of the entity’s results and reductions in the value of our investment in “Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities,” within our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. The value of our investment decreases as the tax credits are generated and utilized. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, we recognized $6 million and $12 million of losses relating to our equity investment in this entity, $2 million and $3 million of interest expense, and a reduction in our tax provision of $9 million (including $6 million of tax credits) and $16 million (including $10 million of tax credits), respectively. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, we recognized $6 million and $12 million of losses relating to our equity investment in this entity, $2 million and $4 million of interest expense, and a reduction in our tax provision of $11 million (including $7 million of tax credits) and $18 million (including $11 million of tax credits), respectively. See Note 13 for additional information related to this investment.

Recent Legislation — The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act, signed into law on December 17, 2010, included an extension of the bonus depreciation allowance through the end of 2012 and increased the amount of qualifying capital expenditures that can be depreciated immediately from 50% to 100%. The 100% depreciation deduction applied to qualifying property placed in service from September 8, 2010 through December 31, 2011. The depreciation deduction for qualifying property placed in service in 2012 has been reduced to 50%. The acceleration of deductions on capital expenditures resulting from the bonus depreciation provisions has no impact on our effective tax rates, but reduces our cash taxes in the periods in which the deductions are taken.

Subject to the finalization of our 2011 income tax return, we estimate that the acceleration of depreciation deductions related to qualifying property additions in 2011 decreased our full year 2011 cash taxes by approximately $190 million and, based on our current forecast of 2012 capital expenditures, we estimate a reduction in our full year 2012 cash taxes of approximately $90 million related to qualifying property additions in 2012. However, taking accelerated deductions results in increased cash taxes in subsequent periods when the accelerated deductions for these capital expenditures would have otherwise been taken.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h))
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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
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+ Details

Earnings Per Share

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

6. Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share were computed using the following common share data (shares in millions):


	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2012		2011		2012			2011
Number of common shares outstanding at end of period		463.0		472.3		463.0			472.3
Effect of using weighted average common shares outstanding		0.4		1.9		(0.1	)		2.6

Weighted average basic common shares outstanding		463.4		474.2		462.9			474.9
Dilutive effect of equity-based compensation awards and other contingently issuable shares		0.6		1.8		0.8			2.1

Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding		464.0		476.0		463.7			477.0

Potentially issuable shares		17.1		17.3		17.1			17.3
Number of anti-dilutive potentially issuable shares excluded from diluted common shares outstanding		8.3		6.1		8.2			6.1

Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

7. 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 final 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 to 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 claims programs. “General liability” refers to the self-insured portion of specific third party claims made against us that may be covered under our commercial General Liability Insurance Policy. 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, WM and WM Holdings enter into guarantee agreements associated with their subsidiaries’ operations. Additionally, WM 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 and certain performance requirements of, and provided indemnification to, third parties in the ordinary course of business for both consolidated and unconsolidated entities. Guarantee agreements outstanding as of June 30, 2012 include (i) guarantees of unconsolidated entities’ financial obligations maturing through 2020 for maximum future payments of $20 million; and (ii) agreements guaranteeing certain market value losses for approximately 850 homeowners’ properties adjacent to or near 20 of our landfills. Our indemnification obligations generally arise from 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 likely site remediation alternatives identified in the investigation of the extent of environmental impact. 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 $264 million recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of June 30, 2012. Our ultimate responsibility may differ materially from current estimates. It is possible that technological, regulatory or enforcement developments, the results of environmental studies, the inability to identify other PRPs, the inability of other PRPs to contribute to the settlements of such liabilities, or other factors could require us to record additional liabilities. Our ongoing review of our remediation liabilities, in light of relevant internal and external facts and circumstances, 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 June 30, 2012, we had been notified that we are a PRP in connection with 80 locations listed on the EPA’s Superfund National Priorities List, or NPL. Of the 80 sites at which claims have been made against us, 16 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 64 NPL sites, which 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 involving NPL sites that we do not own are based on 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 costs 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.

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 are disclosed in accordance with that requirement. We do not currently believe that the eventual outcome of any such matters, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

On April 4, 2006, the EPA issued a Notice of Violation (“NOV”) to Waste Management of Hawaii, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of WM, 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 November 16, 2011, the Regional Water Quality Control Board for the San Francisco Bay Region (the “Water Board”) issued an Administrative Civil Liability (“ACL”) Complaint to Guadalupe Rubbish Disposal Company, Inc. (“GRDC”), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of WM. The ACL Complaint seeks penalties for alleged violations of California’s water pollution statutes and GRDC’s stormwater permit relating to handling of landfill gas condensate from an on-site landfill gas-to-energy facility owned and operated by a third party. GRDC and the Water Board have agreed to a settlement under which GRDC would pay a penalty of $167,285 upon final approval by the Water Board. The third party operator has agreed to fully reimburse GRDC for the penalty amount.

On December 22, 2011, the Harris County Attorney in Houston, Texas filed suit against McGinnes Industrial Maintenance Corporation (“MIMC”), WM and Waste Management of Texas, Inc., et al, seeking civil penalties and attorneys’ fees for alleged violations of the Texas Water Code and the Texas Health and Safety Code. The County’s Original Petition pending in the District Court of Harris County, Texas alleges the mismanagement of certain waste pits that were operated from 1965 to 1966 by MIMC. In 1998, a predecessor of WM acquired the stock of the parent entity of MIMC.

On April 20, 2012, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“PADEP”) transmitted a proposed Consent Order and Agreement to Waste Management of Pennsylvania, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of WM, for alleged violations of Pennsylvania solid waste regulations, including certain operations failures, at the Northwest Sanitary Landfill. PADEP has indicated that it is seeking penalties and corrective action.

Additionally, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii has commenced an investigation into allegations of violations of the federal Clean Water Act involving discharge of stormwater at the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill, located on Oahu, in connection with three major storm events in December 2010 and January 2011. No formal enforcement action has been brought against the Company. While we could potentially be subject to sanctions, including requirements to pay monetary penalties, in connection with a future proceeding that may arise from the investigation, a range of loss cannot currently be estimated because no proceeding has yet commenced and significant factual and legal issues remain. We are cooperating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Litigation — In April 2002, certain 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 attempts to increase the recovery of a class of ERISA plan participants on behalf of the plan 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, the litigation against WM in Texas that was settled in 2002, as well as the decision to offer WM common stock as an investment option within the plan beginning in 1990, despite alleged knowledge by at least two members of the investment committee of financial misstatement by WM during the relevant time period.

During the second quarter of 2010, the Court dismissed certain claims against individual defendants, including all claims against each of the current members of our Board of Directors. Previously, plaintiffs dismissed all claims related to the settlement of the securities class action against WM that was settled in 2002, and the court certified a limited class of participants who may bring claims on behalf of the plan, but not individually. During the third quarter of 2011, the Court ruled in favor of WM and two former employees dismissing all claims brought by the plaintiffs related to the decision to offer WM stock as an investment option within the plan. The Court still has under consideration additional motions that, if granted, would resolve the few remaining claims against WM and its Committees. However, we currently estimate any impact on the Company’s results of operations as a result of any liability to the plaintiffs incurred as a result of this matter will be less than $1 million, and we do not believe the outcome of this matter could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

In October 2011 and January 2012, we were named as a defendant in a purported class action in the Circuit Court of Sarasota County, Florida and the Circuit Court of Lawrence County Alabama, respectively. These cases primarily pertain to our fuel and environmental charges, generally alleging that such charges were not properly disclosed, were unfair and were contrary to the customer service contracts. The law firm that filed these lawsuits had filed, in 2008, a purported class action against subsidiaries of WM in Bullock County, Alabama, making similar allegations. The prior Alabama suit was removed to federal court, where the federal court ultimately dismissed the plaintiffs’ national class action claims. The plaintiffs then elected to dismiss the case without prejudice. We will vigorously defend against these pending lawsuits. Given the inherent uncertainties of litigation, including the early stage of these cases, the unknown size of any potential class, and legal and factual issues in dispute, the outcome of these cases cannot be predicted and a range of loss cannot currently be estimated.

From time to time, we are also 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. Additionally, we often enter into contractual arrangements with landowners imposing obligations on us to meet certain regulatory or contractual conditions upon site closure or upon termination of the agreements. Compliance with these arrangements is inherently subject to subjective determinations and may result in disputes, including litigation.

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 purported class action lawsuits related to our sales and marketing practices and 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 the eventual outcome of any such actions could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

WM’s charter and bylaws provide that WM shall indemnify against all liabilities and expenses, and upon request shall advance expenses to, any person who is subject to a pending or threatened proceeding because such person is a director or officer of the Company. Such indemnification is required to the maximum extent permitted under Delaware law. Accordingly, the director or officer must reimburse the Company for any fees advanced if it is later determined that the director or officer was not entitled to have such fees advanced under Delaware law. Additionally, WM has entered into separate indemnification agreements with each of the members of its Board of Directors, and the employment agreements between WM and its Chief Executive Officer, principal financial officer and other executive and senior vice presidents contain a direct contractual obligation of the Company to provide indemnification to the executive. 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.

Multiemployer Defined Benefit Pension Plans — About 20% of our workforce is covered by collective bargaining agreements with various union locals across the United States and Canada. As a result of some of these agreements, certain of our subsidiaries are participating employers in a number of trustee-managed multiemployer, defined benefit pension plans for the affected employees. In connection with our ongoing renegotiation of various collective bargaining agreements, we may discuss and negotiate for the complete or partial withdrawal from one or more of these pension plans. A complete or partial withdrawal from a multiemployer pension plan may also occur if employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement vote to decertify a union from continuing to represent them.

One of the most significant multiemployer pension plans in which we have participated is the Central States Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Plan (“Central States Pension Plan”). The Central States Pension Plan is in “critical status” as defined by the Pension Protection Act of 2006. Since 2008, certain of our affiliates have bargained to remove covered employees from the Central States Pension Plan, resulting in a series of withdrawals. In October 2011, employees at the last of our affiliates with active participants in the Central States Pension Plan voted to decertify the union that represented them, withdrawing themselves from the Central States Pension Plan.

We are still negotiating and litigating final resolutions of our withdrawal liability for previous withdrawals, including our recent final withdrawal mentioned above, but we do not believe any additional liability above the charges we have already recognized for such previous withdrawals could be material to the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. We also do not believe that any future withdrawals, individually or in the aggregate, from the multiemployer plans to which we contribute, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or liquidity. However, such withdrawals could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations for a particular reporting period, depending on the number of employees withdrawn in any future period and the financial condition of the multiemployer plan(s) at the time of such withdrawal(s).

Tax Matters — We are currently in the examination phase of IRS audits for the tax years 2011 and 2012 and expect these audits to be completed within the next six and 18 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 2000. We have finalized audits in Canada through the 2005 tax year and are not currently under audit for any subsequent tax years in Canada. On July 28, 2011, we acquired Oakleaf, which is subject to IRS examinations for years dating back to 2008 and state income tax examinations for years dating back to 2002. Pursuant to the terms of our acquisition of Oakleaf, we are entitled to indemnification for Oakleaf’s pre-acquisition tax liabilities. We maintain a liability for uncertain tax positions, 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.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies.

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+ Details

Segment and Related Information

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Segment and Related Information

8. 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 fifth Group is the Wheelabrator Group, which provides waste-to-energy services and manages waste-to-energy facilities and independent power production plants. We serve residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. In addition, the Oakleaf operations we acquired on July 28, 2011 represent a separate operating segment; however, they do not meet the criteria to be presented as a separate reportable segment. The operations not managed through our five operating Groups, including the Oakleaf operations, are presented herein as “Other.” See Note 9 for additional information related to our acquisition of Oakleaf.

Summarized financial information concerning our reportable segments for the three and six months ended June 30 is shown in the following table (in millions):


	Gross Operating Revenues		Intercompany Operating Revenues			Net Operating Revenues		Income from Operations
Three Months Ended:
June 30, 2012
Eastern	$	780	$	(148	)	$	632	$	143
Midwest		822		(136	)		686		176
Southern		865		(131	)		734		194
Western		836		(126	)		710		145
Wheelabrator		206		(32	)		174		15
Other		543		(20	)		523		(54	)

		4,052		(593	)		3,459		619
Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(153	)

Total	$	4,052	$	(593	)	$	3,459	$	466

June 30, 2011
Eastern	$	800	$	(136	)	$	664	$	141
Midwest		828		(126	)		702		156
Southern		862		(105	)		757		193
Western		825		(114	)		711		142
Wheelabrator		226		(30	)		196		42
Other		330		(13	)		317		(21	)

		3,871		(524	)		3,347		653
Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(147	)

Total	$	3,871	$	(524	)	$	3,347	$	506

Six Months Ended:
June 30, 2012
Eastern	$	1,516	$	(276	)	$	1,240	$	274
Midwest		1,579		(247	)		1,332		329
Southern		1,713		(246	)		1,467		387
Western		1,632		(238	)		1,394		276
Wheelabrator		413		(62	)		351		19
Other		1,012		(42	)		970		(72	)

		7,865		(1,111	)		6,754		1,213
Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(346	)

Total	$	7,865	$	(1,111	)	$	6,754	$	867

June 30, 2011
Eastern	$	1,504	$	(248	)	$	1,256	$	261
Midwest		1,556		(232	)		1,324		285
Southern		1,700		(203	)		1,497		385
Western		1,615		(222	)		1,393		282
Wheelabrator		436		(61	)		375		55
Other		623		(18	)		605		(35	)

		7,434		(984	)		6,450		1,233
Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(300	)

Total	$	7,434	$	(984	)	$	6,450	$	933

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 normally tend to be somewhat higher in the summer months, primarily due to the traditional seasonal increase in the volume of construction and demolition waste. Historically, the volumes of industrial and residential waste in certain regions in which we operate have tended 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 that most often impact our Southern Group, can actually increase our revenues in the areas affected. While weather-related and other “one-time” occurrences can boost revenues through additional work, as a result of significant start-up costs and other factors, such revenue sometimes 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.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for reporting segments including data and tables. Reportable segments include those that meet any of the following quantitative thresholds a) it's reported revenue, including sales to external customers and intersegment sales or transfers is 10 percent or more of the combined revenue, internal and external, of all operating segments b) the absolute amount of its reported profit or loss is 10 percent or more of the greater, in absolute amount of 1) the combined reported profit of all operating segments that did not report a loss or 2) the combined reported loss of all operating segments that did report a loss c) its assets are 10 percent or more of the combined assets of all operating segments.

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+ Details

Acquisitions

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Acquisitions [Abstract]

Acquisitions

9. Acquisitions

Oakleaf — On July 28, 2011, we paid $432 million, net of cash received of $4 million and inclusive of certain adjustments, to acquire Oakleaf. Oakleaf provides outsourced waste and recycling services principally through a nationwide network of third-party haulers. The operations we acquired generated approximately $580 million in revenues in 2010. We acquired Oakleaf to advance our growth and transformation strategies and increase our national accounts customer base while enhancing our ability to provide comprehensive environmental solutions. For the year ended December 31, 2011, we incurred $1 million of acquisition-related costs, which were classified as “Selling, general and administrative” expenses. For the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2012, Oakleaf recognized revenues of $147 million and $295 million, respectively, and net losses of $4 million for each period. These amounts are included in our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The following table shows adjustments since December 31, 2011 to the preliminary allocation of the purchase price of Oakleaf to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair value (in millions):


	December 31, 2011			Adjustments			June 30, 2012
Accounts and other receivables	$	70		$	1		$	71
Other current assets		28			—			28
Property and equipment		72			(2	)		70
Goodwill		327			1			328
Other intangible assets		87			—			87
Accounts payable		(82	)		—			(82	)
Accrued liabilities		(48	)		—			(48	)
Deferred income taxes, net		(10	)		1			(9	)
Other liabilities		(12	)		(1	)		(13	)

Total purchase price	$	432		$	—		$	432

The purchase price allocation, which is still preliminary and may change, will be finalized in the third quarter of 2012. The following table presents the preliminary allocation of the purchase price to other intangible assets (amounts in millions, except for amortization periods):


	Amount		Weighted Average Amortization Periods (In Years)
Customer relationships	$	74	10.0
Vendor relationships		4	10.0
Trademarks		9	15.0

	$	87	10.5

Goodwill of $328 million was calculated as the excess of the consideration paid over the net assets recognized and represents the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. Goodwill is a result of expected synergies from combining the Company’s operations with Oakleaf’s national accounts customer base and vendor network. The vendor-hauler network expands our partnership with third-party service providers. In many cases we can provide vendor-haulers with opportunities to maintain and increase their business by utilizing our extensive post-collection network. We believe this will generate significant benefits for the Company and for the vendor-haulers. Based on our preliminary valuation, goodwill has been assigned to our four geographic Groups as they are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. Goodwill related to this acquisition is not deductible for income tax purposes.

The following pro forma consolidated results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 have been prepared as if the acquisition of Oakleaf occurred at January 1, 2011 (in millions, except per share amounts):


	Three Months Ended June 30, 2011			Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
Operating revenues		$	3,488		$	6,721
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc. .			235			417
Basic earnings per common share			0.49			0.88
Diluted earnings per common share			0.49			0.87

Other — During the first half of 2012, we paid $94 million for interests in oil and gas producing properties through two transactions. The purchase price was allocated primarily to “Property and equipment.” Additionally, during the six months ended June 30, 2012 we acquired 16 other businesses related to our collection and recycling operations.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for a business combination (or series of individually immaterial business combinations) completed during the period, including background, timing, and recognized assets and liabilities. The disclosure may include leverage buyout transactions (as applicable).

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph F4
-Subparagraph e
-Appendix F

Reference 18: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 51, 52
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 19: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 67-73
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Restructuring

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Restructuring [Abstract]

Restructuring

10. Restructuring

Beginning in July 2011, we took steps to streamline our organization as part of our cost savings programs. This reorganization eliminated over 700 employee positions throughout the Company, including approximately 300 open positions. Additionally, subsequent to our acquisition of Oakleaf, we incurred charges in connection with restructuring that organization. During the year ended December 31, 2011, we recognized a total of $19 million of pre-tax restructuring charges, of which $18 million were related to employee severance and benefit costs associated with these restructuring efforts. The remaining charges were primarily related to operating lease obligations for property that will no longer be utilized.

During the first half of 2012, we recognized additional employee severance and benefit restructuring charges of $7 million, including $3 million associated with the reorganization of Oakleaf and additional amounts associated with certain other actions taken by the Company primarily in our Southern Group.

Through June 30, 2012, we have paid approximately $17 million of the employee severance and benefit costs incurred as a result of these restructuring efforts.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for restructuring and related activities. Description of restructuring activities such as exit and disposal activities, include facts and circumstances leading to the plan, the expected plan completion date, the major types of costs associated with the plan activities, total expected costs, the accrual balance at the end of the period, and the periods over which the remaining accrual will be settled.

+ References + Details

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

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

(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

During the second quarter of 2012, we recognized impairment charges of $34 million, relating primarily to two facilities in our medical waste services business as a result of projected operating losses at each of these facilities. We wrote down the carrying values of the facilities’ operating permits and property, plant and equipment to their estimated fair values. Our medical waste services business is included in our “Other” operations in Note 8.

In addition, the negative effect on our revenues of the continued deterioration of electricity commodity prices, coupled with our continued increased exposure to market prices as a result of the expiration of several long-term, fixed-rate electricity commodity contracts at our waste-to-energy and independent power facilities, and the expiration of several long-term disposal contracts at above-market rates indicated that the fair value of our Wheelabrator Group could potentially be less than its carrying amount. As a result, in the second quarter of 2012, we performed an interim impairment analysis of our Wheelabrator Group’s goodwill balance, which was $788 million as of June 30, 2012.

We performed an interim quantitative assessment using both an income and a market approach, which indicated that the estimated fair value of our Wheelabrator Group exceeded its carrying value; however, the amount by which the fair value exceeded the carrying value declined significantly from the most recent annual impairment test performed at October 1, 2011. At that time, our Wheelabrator Group’s estimated fair value exceeded its carrying value by approximately 30%, as compared with slightly greater than 10% as of the interim impairment test performed this quarter. If market prices for electricity worsen or do not recover as we have projected, if our disposal rates continue to decline, or if our costs and capital expenditures exceed our forecasts, the estimated fair value of our Wheelabrator Group could decrease further and potentially result in an impairment charge in a future period.

Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

12. Fair Value Measurements

Assets and Liabilities Accounted for at Fair Value

Our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis include the following (in millions):


			Fair Value Measurements at June 30, 2012 Using
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	112	$	112	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale securities		162		137		—		25
Electricity commodity derivatives		3		—		3		—

Total assets	$	277	$	249	$	3	$	25

Liabilities:
Interest rate derivatives	$	99	$	—	$	99	$	—
Foreign currency derivatives		1		—		1		—
Electricity commodity derivatives		1		—		1		—

Total liabilities	$	101	$	—	$	101	$	—


			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2011 Using
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	120	$	120	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale securities		179		154		—		25
Interest rate derivatives		73		—		73		—
Electricity commodity derivatives		5		—		5		—

Total assets	$	377	$	274	$	78	$	25

Liabilities:
Interest rate derivatives	$	74	$	—	$	74	$	—
Foreign currency derivatives		2		—		2		—

Total liabilities	$	76	$	—	$	76	$	—

Fair Value of Available-for-sale Securities — The available-for-sale securities measured using Level 1 inputs are primarily included in long-term “Other assets” in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of available-for-sale securities measured using Level 3 inputs consists of redeemable preferred stock that was acquired in November 2011 and is included in “Investments in unconsolidated entities” in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The redeemable preferred stock is recorded at fair value based on other third-party investors’ recent or pending transactions in these securities, which are considered to be the best evidence of fair value currently available. When this evidence is not available, we use other valuation techniques as appropriate and available. These valuation methodologies may include transactions in similar instruments, discounted cash flow techniques, third-party appraisals or industry multiples and public comparables.

Fair Value of Debt

At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the carrying value of our debt was approximately $9.8 billion. The carrying value of our debt includes adjustments associated with fair value hedge accounting related to our interest rate swaps as discussed in Note 4.

The estimated fair value of our debt was approximately $11.1 billion at June 30, 2012 and approximately $10.8 billion at December 31, 2011. The estimated fair value of our senior notes is based on quoted market prices. The carrying value of remarketable debt and borrowings under our revolving credit facilities 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 current market rates for similar types of instruments.

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 Level 2 inputs of the fair value hierarchy available as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. These amounts have not been revalued since those dates, and current estimates of fair value could differ significantly from the amounts presented.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial 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 entity 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 risks 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

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 30
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14172-108612

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14064-108612

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
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-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 15B
-Subparagraph a, b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Paragraph 44A, 44B
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 159
-Paragraph 17-22, 27, 28
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 15C, 15D
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 157
-Paragraph 32, 33, 34
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 3, 10, 14, 15
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Variable Interest Entities

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]

Variable Interest Entities

13. Variable Interest Entities

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 entity and, therefore, have consolidated 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 (“Hancock”) owns 99.5% of LLC I and 99.75% of LLC II is owned by LLC I and the CIT Group (“CIT”). In 2000, Hancock and CIT made an initial investment of $167 million in the LLCs, which was used to purchase the three waste-to-energy facilities and assume the seller’s indebtedness. Under the LLC agreements, the LLCs shall be dissolved upon the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) a written decision of all members of the LLCs; (ii) December 31, 2063; (iii) a court’s dissolution of the LLCs; or (iv) the LLCs ceasing to own any interest in the waste-to-energy facilities.

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 June 30, 2012 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. These payments are subject to adjustment based on factors that include the fair market value of rents for the facilities and lease payments made through the re-measurement dates. In addition, 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 and consolidate these entities in our Consolidated Financial Statements 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 June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets included $302 million and $308 million, respectively, of net property and equipment associated with the LLCs’ waste-to-energy facilities and $248 million and $246 million, respectively, in noncontrolling interests associated with Hancock’s and CIT’s interests in the LLCs. As of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, all debt obligations of the LLCs had been paid in full and, therefore, the LLCs had no liabilities. We recognized reductions in earnings of $12 million and $25 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, 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 WM’s consolidation.

Significant Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities

Investment in Waste-to-Energy and Recycling LLC — In the first quarter of 2012, we established a limited liability company (the “LLC”) along with our joint venture partner, a commercial entity in the waste management industry, to develop, construct, operate and maintain a waste-to-energy and recycling facility in England. We own a 50% interest in this joint venture. The total cost of constructing this facility is expected to be £200 million, or $314 million based on the exchange rate as of June 30, 2012. The LLC will be funded primarily through loans from the joint venture partners and loans under the LLC’s credit facility agreements with third-party financial institutions. The funds loaned under the credit facility agreements will be used for the development and construction of the facility. We are committed to provide up to £57 million, or $90 million based on the exchange rate as of June 30, 2012, of funding to the LLC. Our actual commitment may be more or less depending on the actual cost of the facility. Through June 30, 2012, we had funded approximately £7 million, or $11 million, through loans and less than $1 million through equity contributions. These amounts are included in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as long-term “Other assets” and “Investments in unconsolidated entities,” respectively. We also have guaranteed the performance of certain management services for the project for which our maximum exposure under the guarantee is not material.

In addition, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company will be responsible for constructing the waste-to-energy facility for the LLC under a fixed-price construction contract. Once the facility is constructed, a majority-owned subsidiary of the Company will be responsible for operating and maintaining the facility for the LLC under a substantially fixed-price operating and maintenance contract. Under the operating and maintenance contract, we have guaranteed our ability to operate this facility at certain performance levels that we believe are within our control to achieve. We also will be jointly responsible, along with our LLC joint venture partner, for the performance of sales and marketing services for the LLC through a 50%-owned and unconsolidated entity. The fixed-price components of the above-mentioned contracts were established based on estimates of expected construction, operation and maintenance costs. However, we are subject to variation in our expected profits or potential losses if the actual costs differ from the costs established in the contracts. Our maximum exposure to loss under these contracts cannot be quantified.

We determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of the LLC as all decision-making responsibility is shared jointly with our joint venture partner. As such, we do not have the power to individually direct the entity’s activities. Accordingly, we account for this investment under the equity method of accounting and do not consolidate this entity.

Investment in Refined Coal Facility — In January 2011, we acquired a noncontrolling interest in a limited liability company, which was established to invest in and manage a refined coal facility. Along with the other equity investor, we support the operations of the entity in exchange for a pro-rata share of the tax credits it generates. Our initial consideration for this investment consisted of a cash payment of $48 million. As of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, our investment balance was $30 million and $35 million, respectively, representing our current maximum pre-tax exposure to loss. Under the terms and conditions of the transaction, we do not believe that we have any material exposure to loss. Future contributions will commence once certain levels of tax credits have been generated and will continue through the expiration of the tax credits under Section 45 of the Internal Revenue Code, which occurs at the end of 2019. We are only obligated to make future contributions to the extent tax credits are generated. We determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of this entity as we do not have the power to individually direct the entity’s activities. Accordingly, we account for this investment under the equity method of accounting and do not consolidate the entity. Additional information related to this investment is discussed in Note 5.

Investment in 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. We support the operations of the entity in exchange for a pro-rata share of the tax credits it generates. Our target return on the investment is guaranteed and, therefore, we do not believe that we have any material exposure to loss. 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. As of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, our investment balance was $166 million and $178 million, respectively, and our debt balance was $164 million and $176 million, respectively. We determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of this entity as we do not have the power to individually direct the entity’s activities. Accordingly, we account for this investment under the equity method of accounting and do not consolidate the entity. Additional information related to this investment is discussed in Note 5.

Trusts for Final Capping, Closure, Post-Closure or Environmental Remediation Obligations — We have significant financial interests in trust funds that were created to settle certain of our final capping, closure, post-closure or environmental remediation obligations. Generally, we are the sole beneficiary of these 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. We have determined that these trust funds are variable interest entities; however, we are not the primary beneficiary of these entities because either (i) we do not have the power to direct the significant activities of the trusts or (ii) power over the trusts’ significant activities is shared.

We account for the trusts for which we are the sole beneficiary as long-term “Other assets” in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. These trusts had a fair value of $120 million at June 30, 2012 and $123 million at December 31, 2011. Our interests in the trusts that have been established for the benefit of both the Company and the host community in which we operate are accounted for as investments in unconsolidated entities and receivables. These amounts are recorded in “Other receivables,” “Investments in unconsolidated entities” and long-term “Other assets” in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, as appropriate. Our investments and receivables related to these trusts had an aggregate carrying value of $109 million as of June 30, 2012 and $107 million as of December 31, 2011. We reflect our interests in the unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities held by these trusts as a component of “Accumulated other comprehensive income.”

As the party with primary responsibility to fund the related final 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 assets of the trust. 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.

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the significant judgments and assumptions made in determining whether a variable interest (as defined) held by the entity requires the variable interest entity (VIE) (as defined) to be consolidated and (or) disclose information about its involvement with the VIE, individually or in aggregate (as applicable); the nature of restrictions, if any, on the consolidated VIE's assets and on the settlement of its liabilities reported by an entity in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets and liabilities; the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with involvement in the VIE; how involvement with the VIE affects the entity's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows; the lack of recourse if creditors (or beneficial interest holders) of the consolidated VIE have no recourse to the general credit of the primary beneficiary (if applicable); the terms of arrangements, giving consideration to both explicit arrangements and implicit variable interests, if any, that could require the entity to provide financial support to the VIE, including events or circumstances that could expose the entity to a loss; the methodology used by the entity for determining whether or not it is the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entity; the significant factors considered and judgments made in determining that the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance are shared (as defined); the carrying amounts and classification of assets and liabilities of the VIE included in the statement of financial position; the entity's maximum exposure to loss, if any, as a result of its involvement with the VIE, including how the maximum exposure is determined and significant sources of the entity's exposure to the VIE; a comparison of the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities and the entity's maximum exposure to loss; information about any liquidity arrangements, guarantees, and (or) other commitments by third parties that may affect the fair value or risk of the entity's variable interest in the VIE; whether or not the entity has provided financial support or other support (explicitly or implicitly) to the VIE that it was not previously contractually required to provide or whether the entity intends to provide that support, including the type and amount of the support and the primary reasons for providing the support; and supplemental information the entity determines necessary to provide.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7880789&loc=d3e5747-111685

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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Variable Interest Entity
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6528138

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 140
-Paragraph 35
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 46R
-Paragraph 2, 14, 15, 16, 23, 24, 25, 26
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 167
-Paragraph 24
-Appendix D

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS140-4/FIN46(R)-8
-Paragraph C4
-Subparagraph d
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 167
-Paragraph 22B
-Appendix D

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 167
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Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 167
-Paragraph 22E
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Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements [Abstract]

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements

14. Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements

WM Holdings has fully and unconditionally guaranteed all of WM’s senior indebtedness. WM has fully and unconditionally guaranteed all of WM Holdings’ senior indebtedness. None of WM’s other subsidiaries have guaranteed any of WM’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

June 30, 2012

(Unaudited)


	WM		WM Holdings		Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	112	$	—	$	125	$	—		$	237
Other current assets		—		—		2,217		—			2,217

		112		—		2,342		—			2,454
Property and equipment, net				—		12,360		—			12,360
Investments in and advances to affiliates		12,338		16,156		3,201		(31,695	)		—
Other assets		44		12		7,821		—			7,877

Total assets	$	12,494	$	16,168	$	25,724	$	(31,695	)	$	22,691


LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	552	$	—	$	301	$	—		$	853
Accounts payable and other current liabilities		150		13		2,171		—			2,334

		702		13		2,472		—			3,187
Long-term debt, less current portion		5,580		449		2,944		—			8,973
Other liabilities		44		—		4,000		—			4,044

Total liabilities		6,326		462		9,416		—			16,204
Equity:
Stockholders’ equity		6,168		15,706		15,989		(31,695	)		6,168
Noncontrolling interests		—		—		319		—			319

		6,168		15,706		16,308		(31,695	)		6,487

Total liabilities and equity	$	12,494	$	16,168	$	25,724	$	(31,695	)	$	22,691

December 31, 2011


	WM		WM Holdings		Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	119	$	—	$	139	$	—		$	258
Other current assets		6		—		2,115		—			2,121

		125		—		2,254		—			2,379
Property and equipment, net		—		—		12,242		—			12,242
Investments in and advances to affiliates		12,006		14,905		3,033		(29,944	)		—
Other assets		120		12		7,816		—			7,948

Total assets	$	12,251	$	14,917	$	25,345	$	(29,944	)	$	22,569


LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	298	$	—	$	333	$	—		$	631
Accounts payable and other current liabilities		124		13		2,300		—			2,437

		422		13		2,633		—			3,068
Long-term debt, less current portion		5,727		449		2,949		—			9,125
Other liabilities		32		—		3,954		—			3,986

Total liabilities		6,181		462		9,536		—			16,179
Equity:
Stockholders’ equity		6,070		14,455		15,489		(29,944	)		6,070
Noncontrolling interests		—		—		320		—			320

		6,070		14,455		15,809		(29,944	)		6,390

Total liabilities and equity	$	12,251	$	14,917	$	25,345	$	(29,944	)	$	22,569

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended June 30, 2012

(Unaudited)


	WM			WM Holdings			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	3,459		$	—		$	3,459
Costs and expenses		—			—			2,993			—			2,993

Income from operations		—			—			466			—			466

Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)		(88	)		(8	)		(24	)		—			(120	)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		262			267			—			(529	)		—
Other, net		—			—			(12	)		—			(12	)

		174			259			(36	)		(529	)		(132	)

Income before income taxes		174			259			430			(529	)		334
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(34	)		(3	)		152			—			115

Consolidated net income		208			262			278			(529	)		219
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			11			—			11

Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	208		$	262		$	267		$	(529	)	$	208

Three Months Ended June 30, 2011

(Unaudited)


	WM			WM Holdings			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	3,347		$	—		$	3,347
Costs and expenses		—			—			2,841			—			2,841

Income from operations		—			—			506			—			506

Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)		(86	)		(8	)		(23	)		—			(117	)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		290			295			—			(585	)		—
Other, net		—			—			(8	)		—			(8	)

		204			287			(31	)		(585	)		(125	)

Income before income taxes		204			287			475			(585	)		381
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(33	)		(3	)		167			—			131

Consolidated net income		237			290			308			(585	)		250
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			13			—			13

Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	237		$	290		$	295		$	(585	)	$	237

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Six Months Ended June 30, 2012

(Unaudited)


	WM			WM Holdings			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	6,754		$	—		$	6,754
Costs and expenses		—			—			5,887			—			5,887

Income from operations		—			—			867			—			867

Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)		(176	)		(16	)		(49	)		—			(241	)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		486			496			—			(982	)		—
Other, net		—			—			(20	)		—			(20	)

		310			480			(69	)		(982	)		(261	)

Income before income taxes		310			480			798			(982	)		606
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(69	)		(6	)		279			—			204

Consolidated net income		379			486			519			(982	)		402
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			23			—			23

Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	379		$	486		$	496		$	(982	)	$	379

Six Months Ended June 30, 2011

(Unaudited)


	WM			WM Holdings			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	6,450		$	—		$	6,450
Costs and expenses		—			—			5,517			—			5,517

Income from operations		—			—			933			—			933

Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)		(171	)		(17	)		(47	)		—			(235	)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		527			537			—			(1,064	)		—
Other, net		—			—			(11	)		—			(11	)

		356			520			(58	)		(1,064	)		(246	)

Income before income taxes		356			520			875			(1,064	)		687
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(67	)		(7	)		315			—			241

Consolidated net income		423			527			560			(1,064	)		446
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			23			—			23

Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	423		$	527		$	537		$	(1,064	)	$	423

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)


	WM		WM Holdings		Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
Three Months Ended June 30, 2012
Comprehensive income	$	190	$	262	$	253	$	(529	)	$	176
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—		—		11		—			11

Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	190	$	262	$	242	$	(529	)	$	165

Three Months Ended June 30, 2011
Comprehensive income	$	231	$	290	$	316	$	(585	)	$	252
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—		—		13		—			13

Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	231	$	290	$	303	$	(585	)	$	239


	WM		WM Holdings		Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
Comprehensive income	$	366	$	486	$	523	$	(982	)	$	393
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—		—		23		—			23

Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	366	$	486	$	500	$	(982	)	$	370

Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
Comprehensive income	$	421	$	527	$	591	$	(1,064	)	$	475
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—		—		23		—			23

Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	421	$	527	$	568	$	(1,064	)	$	452

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Six Months Ended June 30, 2012

(Unaudited)


	WM			WM Holdings			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$	379		$	486		$	519		$	(982	)	$	402
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		(486	)		(496	)		—			982			—
Other adjustments		91			—			651			—			742

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(16	)		(10	)		1,170			—			1,144

Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired		—			—			(154	)		—			(154	)
Capital expenditures		—			—			(730	)		—			(730	)
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		—			—			(39	)		—			(39	)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		—			—			(903	)		—			(903	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings		150			—			162			—			312
Debt repayments		(35	)		—			(236	)		—			(271	)
Cash dividends		(329	)		—			—			—			(329	)
Common stock repurchases		—			—			—			—			—
Exercise of common stock options		31			—			—			—			31
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other		9			—			(14	)		—			(5	)
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net		183			10			(193	)		—			—

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		9			10			(281	)		—			(262	)

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

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(7	)		—			(14	)		—			(21	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		119			—			139			—			258

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	112		$	—		$	125		$	—		$	237

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)

Six Months Ended June 30, 2011

(Unaudited)


	WM			WM Holdings			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$	423		$	527		$	560		$	(1,064	)	$	446
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		(527	)		(537	)		—			1,064			—
Other adjustments		2			(3	)		633			—			632

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(102	)		(13	)		1,193			—			1,078

Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired		—			—			(157	)		—			(157	)
Capital expenditures		—			—			(596	)		—			(596	)
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets		—			—			13			—			13
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net		(5	)		—			(79	)		—			(84	)

Net cash used in investing activities		(5	)		—			(819	)		—			(824	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings		396			—			8			—			404
Debt repayments		—			(147	)		(167	)		—			(314	)
Cash dividends		(323	)		—			—			—			(323	)
Common stock repurchases		(168	)		—			—			—			(168	)
Exercise of common stock options		35			—			—			—			35
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other		(10	)		—			(49	)		—			(59	)
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net		37			160			(197	)		—			—

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(33	)		13			(405	)		—			(425	)

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

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(140	)		—			(28	)		—			(168	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		465			—			74			—			539

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	325		$	—		$	46		$	—		$	371

Subsequent Event

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Subsequent Event [Abstract]

Subsequent Event

15. Subsequent Event

In July 2012, we announced a reorganization of operations, designed to flatten the management structure and reduce our cost structure. Principal organizational changes anticipated include removal of the management layer consisting of our four geographic Groups; consolidation and reduction of the number of Areas managing the core collection, disposal and recycling business from 22 to 17; and reduction of corporate support staff in an effort to better align their support with the needs of the operating units. This restructuring has been designed around the primary goals of streamlining delivery of corporate support, while not disrupting our front line operations.

We currently estimate that approximately 700 employee positions throughout the Company, including positions at both the management and support level, will be eliminated. Voluntary separation arrangements were offered to many in management.

We expect that this restructuring plan will be implemented through the end of 2012. We currently anticipate a pre-tax charge to earnings in the range of $50 million to $60 million, primarily related to employee severance and benefit expenses. This charge, which will be recorded primarily in the third quarter of 2012, is an estimate, and actual charges may vary materially based on various factors, including the level of employee terminations and changes in management’s assumptions. This charge estimate does not include facility, lease or other charges that are not yet estimable but that the Company may incur in connection with this restructuring.

Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation (Policies)	Jun. 30, 2012
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
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 as described in Note 13. 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 “WM,” we are referring only to Waste Management, Inc., the parent holding company. We currently manage and evaluate our principal operations through five Groups. Our four geographic operating Groups, which are comprised of our Eastern, Midwest, Southern and Western Groups, provide collection, transfer, disposal (in both solid waste and hazardous waste landfills) and recycling services. Our fifth Group is the Wheelabrator Group, which provides waste-to-energy services and manages waste-to-energy facilities and independent power production plants. We also provide additional services that are not managed through our five Groups, including the operations of Oakleaf Global Holdings acquired on July 28, 2011 (“Oakleaf”), which are presented in this report as “Other.” Additional information related to our segments and to our acquisition of Oakleaf can be found in Note 8 and in Note 9, respectively. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of June 30, 2012 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 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, 2011. 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, deferred income taxes and reserves associated with our insured and self-insured claims. Actual results could differ materially from the estimates and assumptions that we use in the preparation of our financial statements.
Fair Value Measurement	Fair Value Measurement — In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) amended authoritative guidance associated with fair value measurements. This amended guidance defines certain requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The amendments to authoritative guidance associated with fair value measurements were effective for the Company on January 1, 2012 and have been applied prospectively. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Comprehensive Income	Comprehensive Income — In June 2011, the FASB issued amended authoritative guidance associated with comprehensive income, which requires companies to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This update eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in equity. In December 2011, the FASB deferred the effective date of the specific requirement to present items that are reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income to net income alongside their respective components of net income and other comprehensive income. The amendments to authoritative guidance associated with comprehensive income were effective for the Company on January 1, 2012 and have been applied retrospectively. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities [Abstract]

Liabilities for landfill and environmental remediation costs


	June 30, 2012						December 31, 2011
	Landfill		Environmental Remediation		Total		Landfill		Environmental Remediation		Total
Current (in accrued liabilities)	$	119	$	37	$	156	$	123	$	38	$	161
Long-term		1,210		227		1,437		1,169		235		1,404

	$	1,329	$	264	$	1,593	$	1,292	$	273	$	1,565

Changes to landfill and environmental remediation liabilities


	Landfill			Environmental Remediation
December 31, 2010	$	1,266		$	284
Obligations incurred and capitalized		49			—
Obligations settled		(80	)		(37	)
Interest accretion		84			6
Revisions in cost estimates and interest rate assumptions		(30	)		23
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments		3			(3	)

December 31, 2011		1,292			273
Obligations incurred and capitalized		28			—
Obligations settled		(31	)		(14	)
Interest accretion		41			2
Revisions in cost estimates and interest rate assumptions		1			3
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments		(2	)		—

June 30, 2012	$	1,329		$	264

Debt (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Debt [Abstract]

Components of debt


	June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Revolving credit facility (weighted average interest rate of 1.4% at June 30, 2012 and 1.5% at December 31, 2011)	$	300	$	150
Letter of credit facilities		—		—
Canadian credit facility (weighted average effective interest rate of 2.0% at June 30, 2012 and 1.8% at December 31, 2011)		112		137
Senior notes and debentures, maturing through 2039, interest rates ranging from 2.60% to 7.75% (weighted average interest rate of 6.0% at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011)		6,220		6,228
Tax-exempt bonds maturing through 2041, fixed and variable interest rates ranging from 0.2% to 7.4% (weighted average interest rate of 2.9% at June 30, 2012 and 3.1% at December 31, 2011)		2,722		2,771
Tax-exempt project bonds, maturing through 2029, fixed and variable interest rates ranging from 0.2% to 3.4% (weighted average interest rate of 1.4% at June 30, 2012 and 1.3% at December 31, 2011 )		86		86
Capital leases and other, maturing through 2055, interest rates up to 12%		386		384

		9,826		9,756
Current portion of long-term debt		853		631

	$	8,973	$	9,125

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]

Fair values of derivative instruments recorded in balance sheet


Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments	Balance Sheet Location	June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Electricity commodity contracts	Current other assets	$	3	$	5
Interest rate contracts	Long-term other assets		—		73

Total derivative assets		$	3	$	78

Interest rate contracts	Current accrued liabilities	$	55	$	42
Electricity commodity contracts	Current accrued liabilities		1		—
Interest rate contracts	Long-term accrued liabilities		44		32
Foreign exchange contracts	Long-term accrued liabilities		1		2

Total derivative liabilities		$	101	$	76

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


Three Months Ended June 30,	Statement of Operations Classification	Gain (Loss) on Swap			Gain (Loss) on Fixed-Rate Debt
2012	Interest expense	$	2		$	(2	)
2011	Interest expense	$	18		$	(18	)

Six Months Ended June 30,	Statement of Operations Classification	Gain (Loss) on Swap			Gain (Loss) on Fixed-Rate Debt
2012	Interest expense	$	(1	)	$	1
2011	Interest expense	$	12		$	(12	)

Impact of periodic settlements of active swap agreements and the impact of terminated swap agreements on results of operations


	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
Decrease to Interest Expense Due to Hedge Accounting for Interest Rate Swaps	2012		2011		2012		2011
Periodic settlements of active swap agreements(a)	$	2	$	6	$	7	$	11
Terminated swap agreements(b)		7		3		9		6

	$	9	$	9	$	16	$	17

(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.

(b)	The amortization to interest expense of terminated swap agreements has increased due to our election to terminate our interest rate swap portfolio with a notional amount of $1 billion in April 2012.

Pre-tax impacts of our foreign currency cash flow derivatives on our comprehensive income and results of operations


Three Months Ended June 30,	Derivative Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion)			Statement of Operations Classification	Derivative Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)
2012	$	6		Other income (expense)	$	6
2011	$	(3	)	Other income (expense)	$	(2	)


Six Months Ended June 30,	Derivative Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion)			Statement of Operations Classification	Derivative Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)
2012	$	1		Other income (expense)	$	(3	)
2011	$	(14	)	Other income (expense)	$	(12	)

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the location and amount of gains and losses reported in the statement of financial performance, or when applicable, the statement of financial position. For example, (a) gains and losses recognized in the income statement on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments in fair value hedges and related hedged items designated and qualifying in fair value hedges and (b) gains and losses initially recognized in other comprehensive income on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges.

+ References + Details

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Common share data used for computing the basic and diluted earnings per share


	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2012		2011		2012			2011
Number of common shares outstanding at end of period		463.0		472.3		463.0			472.3
Effect of using weighted average common shares outstanding		0.4		1.9		(0.1	)		2.6

Weighted average basic common shares outstanding		463.4		474.2		462.9			474.9
Dilutive effect of equity-based compensation awards and other contingently issuable shares		0.6		1.8		0.8			2.1

Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding		464.0		476.0		463.7			477.0

Potentially issuable shares		17.1		17.3		17.1			17.3
Number of anti-dilutive potentially issuable shares excluded from diluted common shares outstanding		8.3		6.1		8.2			6.1

Segment and Related Information (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Reportable segments


	Gross Operating Revenues		Intercompany Operating Revenues			Net Operating Revenues		Income from Operations
Three Months Ended:
June 30, 2012
Eastern	$	780	$	(148	)	$	632	$	143
Midwest		822		(136	)		686		176
Southern		865		(131	)		734		194
Western		836		(126	)		710		145
Wheelabrator		206		(32	)		174		15
Other		543		(20	)		523		(54	)

		4,052		(593	)		3,459		619
Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(153	)

Total	$	4,052	$	(593	)	$	3,459	$	466

June 30, 2011
Eastern	$	800	$	(136	)	$	664	$	141
Midwest		828		(126	)		702		156
Southern		862		(105	)		757		193
Western		825		(114	)		711		142
Wheelabrator		226		(30	)		196		42
Other		330		(13	)		317		(21	)

		3,871		(524	)		3,347		653
Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(147	)

Total	$	3,871	$	(524	)	$	3,347	$	506

Six Months Ended:
June 30, 2012
Eastern	$	1,516	$	(276	)	$	1,240	$	274
Midwest		1,579		(247	)		1,332		329
Southern		1,713		(246	)		1,467		387
Western		1,632		(238	)		1,394		276
Wheelabrator		413		(62	)		351		19
Other		1,012		(42	)		970		(72	)

		7,865		(1,111	)		6,754		1,213
Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(346	)

Total	$	7,865	$	(1,111	)	$	6,754	$	867

June 30, 2011
Eastern	$	1,504	$	(248	)	$	1,256	$	261
Midwest		1,556		(232	)		1,324		285
Southern		1,700		(203	)		1,497		385
Western		1,615		(222	)		1,393		282
Wheelabrator		436		(61	)		375		55
Other		623		(18	)		605		(35	)

		7,434		(984	)		6,450		1,233
Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(300	)

Total	$	7,434	$	(984	)	$	6,450	$	933

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the profit or loss and total assets for each reportable segment. An entity discloses certain information on each reportable segment if the amounts (a) are included in the measure of segment profit or loss reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) are otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in that measure of segment profit or loss.

+ References + Details

Acquisitions (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Acquisitions [Abstract]

Adjustments to preliminary purchase price allocation


	December 31, 2011			Adjustments			June 30, 2012
Accounts and other receivables	$	70		$	1		$	71
Other current assets		28			—			28
Property and equipment		72			(2	)		70
Goodwill		327			1			328
Other intangible assets		87			—			87
Accounts payable		(82	)		—			(82	)
Accrued liabilities		(48	)		—			(48	)
Deferred income taxes, net		(10	)		1			(9	)
Other liabilities		(12	)		(1	)		(13	)

Total purchase price	$	432		$	—		$	432

Preliminary allocation purchase price intangible assets


	Amount		Weighted Average Amortization Periods (In Years)
Customer relationships	$	74	10.0
Vendor relationships		4	10.0
Trademarks		9	15.0

	$	87	10.5

Pro forma consolidated results of operations


	Three Months Ended June 30, 2011			Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
Operating revenues		$	3,488		$	6,721
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc. .			235			417
Basic earnings per common share			0.49			0.88
Diluted earnings per common share			0.49			0.87

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of pro forma results of operations for a material business acquisition or series of individually immaterial business acquisitions that are material in the aggregate.

+ References + Details

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis


			Fair Value Measurements at June 30, 2012 Using
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	112	$	112	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale securities		162		137		—		25
Electricity commodity derivatives		3		—		3		—

Total assets	$	277	$	249	$	3	$	25

Liabilities:
Interest rate derivatives	$	99	$	—	$	99	$	—
Foreign currency derivatives		1		—		1		—
Electricity commodity derivatives		1		—		1		—

Total liabilities	$	101	$	—	$	101	$	—


			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2011 Using
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	120	$	120	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale securities		179		154		—		25
Interest rate derivatives		73		—		73		—
Electricity commodity derivatives		5		—		5		—

Total assets	$	377	$	274	$	78	$	25

Liabilities:
Interest rate derivatives	$	74	$	—	$	74	$	—
Foreign currency derivatives		2		—		2		—

Total liabilities	$	76	$	—	$	76	$	—

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements [Abstract]

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS

June 30, 2012

(Unaudited)


	WM		WM Holdings		Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	112	$	—	$	125	$	—		$	237
Other current assets		—		—		2,217		—			2,217

		112		—		2,342		—			2,454
Property and equipment, net				—		12,360		—			12,360
Investments in and advances to affiliates		12,338		16,156		3,201		(31,695	)		—
Other assets		44		12		7,821		—			7,877

Total assets	$	12,494	$	16,168	$	25,724	$	(31,695	)	$	22,691


LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	552	$	—	$	301	$	—		$	853
Accounts payable and other current liabilities		150		13		2,171		—			2,334

		702		13		2,472		—			3,187
Long-term debt, less current portion		5,580		449		2,944		—			8,973
Other liabilities		44		—		4,000		—			4,044

Total liabilities		6,326		462		9,416		—			16,204
Equity:
Stockholders’ equity		6,168		15,706		15,989		(31,695	)		6,168
Noncontrolling interests		—		—		319		—			319

		6,168		15,706		16,308		(31,695	)		6,487

Total liabilities and equity	$	12,494	$	16,168	$	25,724	$	(31,695	)	$	22,691

December 31, 2011


	WM		WM Holdings		Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	119	$	—	$	139	$	—		$	258
Other current assets		6		—		2,115		—			2,121

		125		—		2,254		—			2,379
Property and equipment, net		—		—		12,242		—			12,242
Investments in and advances to affiliates		12,006		14,905		3,033		(29,944	)		—
Other assets		120		12		7,816		—			7,948

Total assets	$	12,251	$	14,917	$	25,345	$	(29,944	)	$	22,569


LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	298	$	—	$	333	$	—		$	631
Accounts payable and other current liabilities		124		13		2,300		—			2,437

		422		13		2,633		—			3,068
Long-term debt, less current portion		5,727		449		2,949		—			9,125
Other liabilities		32		—		3,954		—			3,986

Total liabilities		6,181		462		9,536		—			16,179
Equity:
Stockholders’ equity		6,070		14,455		15,489		(29,944	)		6,070
Noncontrolling interests		—		—		320		—			320

		6,070		14,455		15,809		(29,944	)		6,390

Total liabilities and equity	$	12,251	$	14,917	$	25,345	$	(29,944	)	$	22,569

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended June 30, 2012

(Unaudited)


	WM			WM Holdings			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	3,459		$	—		$	3,459
Costs and expenses		—			—			2,993			—			2,993

Income from operations		—			—			466			—			466

Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)		(88	)		(8	)		(24	)		—			(120	)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		262			267			—			(529	)		—
Other, net		—			—			(12	)		—			(12	)

		174			259			(36	)		(529	)		(132	)

Income before income taxes		174			259			430			(529	)		334
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(34	)		(3	)		152			—			115

Consolidated net income		208			262			278			(529	)		219
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			11			—			11

Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	208		$	262		$	267		$	(529	)	$	208

Three Months Ended June 30, 2011

(Unaudited)


	WM			WM Holdings			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	3,347		$	—		$	3,347
Costs and expenses		—			—			2,841			—			2,841

Income from operations		—			—			506			—			506

Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)		(86	)		(8	)		(23	)		—			(117	)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		290			295			—			(585	)		—
Other, net		—			—			(8	)		—			(8	)

		204			287			(31	)		(585	)		(125	)

Income before income taxes		204			287			475			(585	)		381
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(33	)		(3	)		167			—			131

Consolidated net income		237			290			308			(585	)		250
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			13			—			13

Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	237		$	290		$	295		$	(585	)	$	237

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Six Months Ended June 30, 2012

(Unaudited)


	WM			WM Holdings			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	6,754		$	—		$	6,754
Costs and expenses		—			—			5,887			—			5,887

Income from operations		—			—			867			—			867

Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)		(176	)		(16	)		(49	)		—			(241	)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		486			496			—			(982	)		—
Other, net		—			—			(20	)		—			(20	)

		310			480			(69	)		(982	)		(261	)

Income before income taxes		310			480			798			(982	)		606
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(69	)		(6	)		279			—			204

Consolidated net income		379			486			519			(982	)		402
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			23			—			23

Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	379		$	486		$	496		$	(982	)	$	379

Six Months Ended June 30, 2011

(Unaudited)


	WM			WM Holdings			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	6,450		$	—		$	6,450
Costs and expenses		—			—			5,517			—			5,517

Income from operations		—			—			933			—			933

Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)		(171	)		(17	)		(47	)		—			(235	)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		527			537			—			(1,064	)		—
Other, net		—			—			(11	)		—			(11	)

		356			520			(58	)		(1,064	)		(246	)

Income before income taxes		356			520			875			(1,064	)		687
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(67	)		(7	)		315			—			241

Consolidated net income		423			527			560			(1,064	)		446
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			23			—			23

Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	423		$	527		$	537		$	(1,064	)	$	423

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)


	WM		WM Holdings		Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
Three Months Ended June 30, 2012
Comprehensive income	$	190	$	262	$	253	$	(529	)	$	176
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—		—		11		—			11

Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	190	$	262	$	242	$	(529	)	$	165

Three Months Ended June 30, 2011
Comprehensive income	$	231	$	290	$	316	$	(585	)	$	252
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—		—		13		—			13

Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	231	$	290	$	303	$	(585	)	$	239


	WM		WM Holdings		Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
Comprehensive income	$	366	$	486	$	523	$	(982	)	$	393
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—		—		23		—			23

Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	366	$	486	$	500	$	(982	)	$	370

Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
Comprehensive income	$	421	$	527	$	591	$	(1,064	)	$	475
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—		—		23		—			23

Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	421	$	527	$	568	$	(1,064	)	$	452

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Six Months Ended June 30, 2012

(Unaudited)


	WM			WM Holdings			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$	379		$	486		$	519		$	(982	)	$	402
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		(486	)		(496	)		—			982			—
Other adjustments		91			—			651			—			742

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(16	)		(10	)		1,170			—			1,144

Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired		—			—			(154	)		—			(154	)
Capital expenditures		—			—			(730	)		—			(730	)
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		—			—			(39	)		—			(39	)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		—			—			(903	)		—			(903	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings		150			—			162			—			312
Debt repayments		(35	)		—			(236	)		—			(271	)
Cash dividends		(329	)		—			—			—			(329	)
Common stock repurchases		—			—			—			—			—
Exercise of common stock options		31			—			—			—			31
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other		9			—			(14	)		—			(5	)
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net		183			10			(193	)		—			—

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		9			10			(281	)		—			(262	)

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

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(7	)		—			(14	)		—			(21	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		119			—			139			—			258

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	112		$	—		$	125		$	—		$	237

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)

Six Months Ended June 30, 2011

(Unaudited)


	WM			WM Holdings			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$	423		$	527		$	560		$	(1,064	)	$	446
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		(527	)		(537	)		—			1,064			—
Other adjustments		2			(3	)		633			—			632

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(102	)		(13	)		1,193			—			1,078

Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired		—			—			(157	)		—			(157	)
Capital expenditures		—			—			(596	)		—			(596	)
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets		—			—			13			—			13
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net		(5	)		—			(79	)		—			(84	)

Net cash used in investing activities		(5	)		—			(819	)		—			(824	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings		396			—			8			—			404
Debt repayments		—			(147	)		(167	)		—			(314	)
Cash dividends		(323	)		—			—			—			(323	)
Common stock repurchases		(168	)		—			—			—			(168	)
Exercise of common stock options		35			—			—			—			35
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other		(10	)		—			(49	)		—			(59	)
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net		37			160			(197	)		—			—

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(33	)		13			(405	)		—			(425	)

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

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(140	)		—			(28	)		—			(168	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		465			—			74			—			539

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	325		$	—		$	46		$	—		$	371

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Liabilities for landfill and environmental remediation costs
Total, Environmental Remediation	$ 264
Current (in accrued liabilities)	156	$ 161
Long-term	1,437	1,404
Total	1,593	1,565
Landfill Liabilities [Member]
Liabilities for landfill and environmental remediation costs
Long-term, Landfill	1,210	1,169
Current (in accrued liabilities), Landfill	119	123
Total, Landfill Liabilities	1,329	1,292	$ 1,266
Environmental Remediation Liabilities [Member]
Liabilities for landfill and environmental remediation costs
Environmental Remediation ,current	37	38
Environmental Remediation, noncurrent	227	235
Total, Environmental Remediation	$ 264	$ 273	$ 284

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Changes to landfill and environmental remediation liabilities
Interest accretion	$ 41	$ 41
Ending balance, environmental remediation	264
Landfill Liabilities [Member]
Changes to landfill and environmental remediation liabilities
Beginning balance, landfill	1,292	1,266	$ 1,266
Obligations incurred and capitalized	28		49
Obligations settled	(31)		(80)
Interest accretion	41		84
Revisions in cost estimates and interest rate assumptions	1		(30)
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments	(2)		3
Ending balance, landfill	1,329		1,292
Environmental Remediation Liabilities [Member]
Changes to landfill and environmental remediation liabilities
Beginning balance, environmental remediation	273	$ 284	284
Obligations settled	(14)		(37)
Interest accretion	2		6
Revisions in cost estimates and interest rate assumptions	3		23
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments			(3)
Ending balance, environmental remediation	$ 264		$ 273

Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Components of Debt
Revolving credit facility	$ 300	$ 150
Canadian credit facility	112	137
Senior notes and debentures	6,220	6,228
Tax-exempt bonds	2,722	2,771
Tax-exempt project bonds	86	86
Capital leases and other	386	384
Total long-term debt	9,826	9,756
Current portion of long-term debt	853	631
Long term Debt, less current portion	$ 8,973	$ 9,125

Debt (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
Debt (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Revolving credit and letter of credit facilities, aggregate capacity	$ 2,500
Senior notes and debentures, maturing through 2039, interest rates ranging from 2.60% to 7.75% (weighted average interest rate of 6.0% at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011)	6,220		$ 6,228
Debt (Additional Textual) [Abstract]
Letter of credit outstanding, revolving credit and letter of credit facilities	1,500
Letter of credit outstanding, revolving credit facility	1,000
Debt maturing within twelve months, total	1,004
Canadian credit facility	$ 112		137
Interest rate of senior notes	6.375%
Tax-exempt bonds, current	$ 143
Tax-exempt bonds subject to re-pricing within next 12 months	151
Debt maturing within twelve months classified as long-term	550
Repayment of tax-exempt bonds	66
Tax exempt bonds held in trust	18
Outstanding borrowing under revolving credit facility	300		$ 150
Revolving credit facility [Member]
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Revolving credit and letter of credit facilities, aggregate capacity	$ 2,000
Weighted average interest rate	1.40%		1.50%
End period of maturity for debt instruments, revolving credit facility	May 31, 2016
Borrowings under revolving credit facility	$ 150
Letter of credit facility [Member]
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Start period of maturity for debt instruments	Jun. 30, 2013
End period of maturity for debt instruments, revolving credit facility	Jun. 30, 2015
6.375% senior notes due November 2012 [Member]
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Senior notes and debentures, maturing through 2039, interest rates ranging from 2.60% to 7.75% (weighted average interest rate of 6.0% at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011)	$ 400
Capital leases and other [Member]
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest rate upper range	12.00%	12.00%
End period of maturity for debt instruments	2055
Senior notes and debentures [Member]
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Weighted average interest rate	6.00%		6.00%
Interest rate lower range	2.60%
Interest rate upper range	7.75%
End period of maturity for debt instruments	2039
Tax-exempt project bonds [Member]
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Weighted average interest rate	1.40%		1.30%
Interest rate lower range	0.20%
Interest rate upper range	3.40%
End period of maturity for debt instruments	2029
Tax-exempt bonds [Member]
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Weighted average interest rate	2.90%		3.10%
Interest rate lower range	0.20%
Interest rate upper range	7.40%
End period of maturity for debt instruments	2041
Issuance of tax-exempt bonds	$ 25
Issuance of tax-exempt bonds	$ 43
Canadian credit facility [Member]
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Weighted average interest rate	2.00%		1.80%
Net Repayment of Canadian credit facility debt	$ 27

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details) - Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair values of derivative instruments recorded in Balance Sheet
Assets Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments	$ 3	$ 78
Derivative liabilities designated as hedging instruments	101	76
Electricity commodity contracts [Member] \| Current Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Fair values of derivative instruments recorded in Balance Sheet
Derivative liabilities designated as hedging instruments	1
Electricity commodity contracts [Member] \| Other Current Assets [Member]
Fair values of derivative instruments recorded in Balance Sheet
Assets Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments	3	5
Interest rate contracts [Member] \| Current Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Fair values of derivative instruments recorded in Balance Sheet
Derivative liabilities designated as hedging instruments	55	42
Interest rate contracts [Member] \| Long-term accrued liabilities [Member]
Fair values of derivative instruments recorded in Balance Sheet
Derivative liabilities designated as hedging instruments	44	32
Interest rate contracts [Member] \| Long-term other assets [Member]
Fair values of derivative instruments recorded in Balance Sheet
Assets Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments		73
Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] \| Long-term accrued liabilities [Member]
Fair values of derivative instruments recorded in Balance Sheet
Derivative liabilities designated as hedging instruments	$ 1	$ 2

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details 1) - Interest expense [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Impact of changes in the fair value of interest rate swaps and the underlying hedged items on results of operations
Increase (Decrease) in Fair Value of Hedged Item in Interest Rate Fair Value Hedge	$ (2)	$ (18)	$ 1	$ (12)
Increase (Decrease) in Fair Value of Interest Rate Fair Value Hedging Instruments	$ 2	$ 18	$ (1)	$ 12

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Impact of periodic settlements of active swap agreements and the impact of terminated swap agreements on our results of operations
Periodic settlements of active swap agreements	$ 2	$ 6	$ 7	$ 11
Terminated swap agreements	7	3	9	6
Total	$ 9	$ 9	$ 16	$ 17

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details 3) - Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] - Other income (expense) [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Pre-tax impacts of our foreign currency cash flow derivatives on our comprehensive income and results of operations
Derivative Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion)	$ 6	$ (3)	$ 1	$ (14)
Derivative Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)	$ 6	$ (2)	$ (3)	$ (12)

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details Textual) $ in Millions, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($) MW	Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($) MW	Jun. 30, 2012 CAD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($)
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
Cash paid to settle forward-starting interest rate swap agreements				$ 9
Tenor of senior notes issued in February 2011 in years				10 years
After tax gains (losses) recognized in other comprehensive income due to changes in fair value of cash flow hedges		$ (16)	$ (8)		$ (12)	$ (13)
Deferred losses related to cash flow hedges reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income into income, after tax		(4)	1			9
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Additional Textual) [Abstract]
Fixed-rate senior notes outstanding							$ 6,100		$ 6,100
Senior notes swapped to variable interest rates	$ 1,000						$ 1,000
Percentage of senior notes swapped to variable interest rates							16.00%
Increase in carrying value of debt instruments from fair value hedge accounting for interest rate swaps							$ 102		93
Proceeds from termination of interest rate swaps	$ 76
Treasury Lock [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
Deferred losses related to treasury rate locks scheduled to be reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive into interest expense over next 12 months, pre tax									4
Deferred losses related to Treasury rate locks reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income into interest expense, pre tax		2	2		$ 4	4
Deferred losses, net of taxes, related to Treasury rate locks included in accumulated other comprehensive income							12		10
Maximum term of cash flow hedges					2032
Deferred losses related to cash flow hedges reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income into income, after tax		1	1		$ 2	2
Forward Starting Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
Pre tax gains (losses) recognized in other comprehensive income for changes in fair value of forward-starting interest rate swaps		30	11		25	7
After tax gains (losses) recognized in other comprehensive income due to changes in fair value of cash flow hedges		18	7		$ 15	$ 5
Maximum term of cash flow hedges						10 years
Notional amount of forward-starting interest rate swaps				$ 150						$ 525
Forward Starting Interest Rate Swap [Member] \| Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
Fair value of forward-starting swaps (interest rate derivatives) included in current liabilities							42		55
Fair value of forward-starting swaps (interest rate derivatives) included in long-term liabilities							$ 32		$ 44
Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
After tax gains (losses) recognized in other comprehensive income due to changes in fair value of cash flow hedges		4	(2)			$ (8)
Other comprehensive income due to changes in fair value of cash flow hedges after tax gains (losses)					less than $1 million
Deferred losses related to cash flow hedges reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income into income, after tax		4	$ (1)		$ (2)	$ (7)
Commodity Contract [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
After tax gains (losses) recognized in other comprehensive income due to changes in fair value of cash flow hedges		(2)			3
Deferred losses related to cash flow hedges reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income into income, after tax		$ 1			$ 4
Expected percentage of merchant electricity sales hedged								19.00%	19.00%
Expected number of megawatt hours hedged by electricity swaps \| MW					628,800		1,550,000
Percentage of merchant electricity sales hedged		16.00%	49.00%		24.00%	51.00%	50.00%
Pre tax gains (losses) recognized in other comprehensive income for changes in fair value of electricity commodity derivatives		$ (2)			$ 4
Pre-tax gains (losses) associated with electricity commodity derivatives reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income		$ 2			$ 7
October 13, 2013 [Member] \| Principal [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
Notional amount of foreign currency cash flow hedges								$ 370
October 13, 2013 [Member] \| Interest [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
Notional amount of foreign currency cash flow hedges								10
November 30, 2012 [Member] \| Interest [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
Notional amount of foreign currency cash flow hedges								$ 11

Income Taxes (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jan. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities			$ (11)	$ (9)	$ (18)	$ (13)
Interest expense			$ 121	$ 119	$ 243	$ 240
Income Taxes (Additional Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate			34.30%	34.50%	33.60%	35.10%
Increase in the bonus depreciation allowance low									50.00%
Increase in the bonus depreciation allowance high									100.00%
Percentage of deduction that applies to qualifying property							50.00%	100.00%
Decrease in cash taxes due to acceleration of depreciation deduction on capital expenditures								$ 190
Estimated decrease in cash taxes due to acceleration of depreciation deduction on current year capital expenditures							$ 90
Low-Income Housing Properties [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Cash payments to acquire equity method investment		$ 6
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities			$ (6)	$ (6)	$ (12)	$ (12)
Income tax benefit, including tax credits, from equity method investment			9	11	16	18
Interest expense			2	2	3	4
Tax credits from equity method investment			6	7	10	11
Investment in Refined Coal Facility [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Cash payments to acquire equity method investment	$ 48
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities			(1)	(2)	(2)	(2)
Income tax benefit, including tax credits, from equity method investment			$ 5	$ 4	$ 8	$ 7

Earnings Per Share (Details) - shares shares in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
Earnings Per Share (Details) - shares shares in Millions	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Common share data used for computing the basic and diluted earnings per share
Number of common shares outstanding at end of period	463.0	472.3	463.0	472.3
Effect of using weighted average common shares outstanding	0.4	1.9	(0.1)	2.6
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding	463.4	474.2	462.9	474.9
Dilutive effect of equity-based compensation awards and other contingently issuable shares	0.6	1.8	0.8	2.1
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding	464.0	476.0	463.7	477.0
Potentially issuable shares	17.1	17.3	17.1	17.3
Number of anti-dilutive potentially issuable shares excluded from diluted common shares outstanding	8.3	6.1	8.2	6.1

- Definition

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Antidilution
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505113

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Diluted Earnings Per Share
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510752

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Contingent Stock Agreement
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6508534

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph c
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 13, 14
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 07-4
-Paragraph 4
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 171
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

- Definition

The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

+ References + Details

- Definition

This element represents the weighted average total number of shares issued throughout the period including the first (beginning balance outstanding) and last (ending balance outstanding) day of the period before considering any reductions (for instance, shares held in treasury) to arrive at the weighted average number of shares outstanding. Weighted average relates to the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares have been issued and outstanding to the total time in that period. Such concept is used in determining the weighted average number of shares outstanding for purposes of calculating earnings per share (basic).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7655603&loc=d3e1448-109256

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7655603&loc=d3e2646-109256

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 10
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph a
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 8
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

- Definition

Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7655603&loc=d3e1448-109256

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Weighted-Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6528421

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 07-4
-Paragraph 4
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 8
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 171
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph a
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual)	6 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual)	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($) Site landfill Homeowners
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Maximum potential future payments regarding guarantees of unconsolidated entities financial obligations	$ 20,000,000
Term of Guarantees of financial obligations	Guarantees of unconsolidated entities' financial obligations maturing through 2020
Approximate number of homeowners properties adjacent to or near certain of our landfills with agreements guaranteeing market value \| Homeowners	850
Number of landfills adjacent to or near homeowners' properties with agreements guaranteeing market value \| landfill	20
High end estimate of reasonably possible additional losses associated with environmental remediation liabilities	$ 150,000,000
Environmental remediation liability	$ 264,000,000
Number of sites listed on the EPA's NPL for which we have been notified we are a PRP \| Site	80
Number of owned sites listed on the EPA's NPL for which we have been notified we are a PRP \| Site	16
Approximate percentage of workforce covered by collective bargaining agreements	20.00%
Number of non-owned sites listed on the EPA's NPL for which we have been notified we are a PRP \| Site	64
Dollar threshold for environmental matters requiring disclosure under item 103 of the SEC's Regulation S-K	$ 100,000
Liability incurred on plaintiffs	Less than $1 million
2011 Audit [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Maximum number of months expected for IRS audits to be completed	6 months
2012 Audit [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Maximum number of months expected for IRS audits to be completed	18 months
GRDC [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Penalty Paid	$ 167,285

Segment and Related Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Reportable segments
Gross Operating Revenue	$ 4,052	$ 3,871	$ 7,865	$ 7,434
Intercompany Operating Revenues	(593)	(524)	(1,111)	(984)
Net Operating Revenues	3,459	3,347	6,754	6,450
Income from Operations	466	506	867	933
Eastern [Member]
Reportable segments
Gross Operating Revenue	780	800	1,516	1,504
Intercompany Operating Revenues	(148)	(136)	(276)	(248)
Net Operating Revenues	632	664	1,240	1,256
Income from Operations	143	141	274	261
Midwest [Member]
Reportable segments
Gross Operating Revenue	822	828	1,579	1,556
Intercompany Operating Revenues	(136)	(126)	(247)	(232)
Net Operating Revenues	686	702	1,332	1,324
Income from Operations	176	156	329	285
Southern [Member]
Reportable segments
Gross Operating Revenue	865	862	1,713	1,700
Intercompany Operating Revenues	(131)	(105)	(246)	(203)
Net Operating Revenues	734	757	1,467	1,497
Income from Operations	194	193	387	385
Western [Member]
Reportable segments
Gross Operating Revenue	836	825	1,632	1,615
Intercompany Operating Revenues	(126)	(114)	(238)	(222)
Net Operating Revenues	710	711	1,394	1,393
Income from Operations	145	142	276	282
Wheelabrator [Member]
Reportable segments
Gross Operating Revenue	206	226	413	436
Intercompany Operating Revenues	(32)	(30)	(62)	(61)
Net Operating Revenues	174	196	351	375
Income from Operations	15	42	19	55
Other [Member]
Reportable segments
Gross Operating Revenue	543	330	1,012	623
Intercompany Operating Revenues	(20)	(13)	(42)	(18)
Net Operating Revenues	523	317	970	605
Income from Operations	(54)	(21)	(72)	(35)
Operating Group Total [Member]
Reportable segments
Gross Operating Revenue	4,052	3,871	7,865	7,434
Intercompany Operating Revenues	(593)	(524)	(1,111)	(984)
Net Operating Revenues	3,459	3,347	6,754	6,450
Income from Operations	619	653	1,213	1,233
Corporate and Other [Member]
Reportable segments
Income from Operations	$ (153)	$ (147)	$ (346)	$ (300)

Segment and Related Information (Details Textual)	6 Months Ended
Segment and Related Information (Details Textual)	Jun. 30, 2012 Segment
Segment and Related Information (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of classified segment groups	5
Number of geographic segments	4

Acquisitions (Details) - Oakleaf [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jul. 28, 2011
Adjustments to preliminary purchase price allocation
Accounts and other receivables	$ 71	$ 70
Other current assets	28	28
Property and equipment	70	72
Goodwill	328	327
Other intangible assets	87	87
Accounts payable	(82)	(82)
Accrued liabilities	(48)	(48)
Deferred income taxes, net	(9)	(10)
Other liabilities	(13)	(12)
Total purchase price	432	$ 432	$ 432
Adjustments [Member]
Adjustments to preliminary purchase price allocation
Accounts and other receivables	1
Property and equipment	(2)
Goodwill	1
Deferred income taxes, net	1
Other liabilities	$ (1)

Acquisitions (Details 1) - Oakleaf [Member] $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
Acquisitions (Details 1) - Oakleaf [Member] $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)
Preliminary allocation of the purchase price to intangible assets
Total intangible assets subject to amortization	$ 87
Total intangible assets subject to amortization, weighted average amortization period	10 years 6 months
Customer relationships [Member]
Preliminary allocation of the purchase price to intangible assets
Total intangible assets subject to amortization	$ 74
Total intangible assets subject to amortization, weighted average amortization period	10 years
Vendor relationships [Member]
Preliminary allocation of the purchase price to intangible assets
Total intangible assets subject to amortization	$ 4
Total intangible assets subject to amortization, weighted average amortization period	10 years
Trademarks [Member]
Preliminary allocation of the purchase price to intangible assets
Total intangible assets subject to amortization	$ 9
Total intangible assets subject to amortization, weighted average amortization period	15 years

Acquisitions (Details 2) - Oakleaf [Member] - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011
Pro forma consolidated results of operations
Operating revenues	$ 3,488	$ 6,721
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$ 235	$ 417
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.49	$ 0.88
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.49	$ 0.87

- Definition

The pro forma basic net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References + Details

- Definition

The pro forma diluted net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References + Details

Acquisitions (Details Textual) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Acquisitions (Details Textual) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($) Operations Segment	Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Jul. 28, 2011 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 3,459		$ 3,347	$ 6,754	$ 6,450
Total consideration, net of cash acquired, for business acquisition				$ 154	$ 157
Business Combinations (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of collection and recycling operations acquired \| Operations				16
Number of geographic segments \| Segment				4
Oil and Gas [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total consideration, net of cash acquired, for business acquisition		$ 94
Oakleaf [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition cost of acquired entity	432			$ 432		$ 432		$ 432
Cash received in acquisition								$ 4
Operating revenues							$ 580
Acquisition-related costs classified as Selling, general and administrative expenses						1
Revenues recognized by acquiree post the acquisition date	147			295
Net losses recognized by acquiree post the acquisition date	4			4
Purchase price allocation to goodwill	$ 328			$ 328		$ 327

Restructuring (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Restructuring (Details) $ in Millions	Jul. 31, 2012 Employee	Jul. 31, 2011 Employee	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)
Restructuring (Textual) [Abstract]
No of Employees positions eliminated \| Employee	700
Pre-tax restructuring charges			$ 3	$ 7	$ 19
Employee severance costs				7
Employee severance and benefit cost payments through the balance sheet date				17
2011 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring (Textual) [Abstract]
No of Employees positions eliminated \| Employee		700
No of Employees positions eliminated open position \| Employee		300
Employee severance costs					$ 18
Corporate [Member]
Restructuring (Textual) [Abstract]
Employee severance costs				$ 3

- 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

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140904-122747

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)(10)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915506&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140864-122747

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5-8
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 146
-Paragraph 8-13, 20
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS146-1
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 112
-Paragraph 7
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

(Income) Expense from Divestitures, Asset Impairments and Unusual Items (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Oct. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Expense from Divestitures Asset Impairments and Unusual Items [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 6,237	$ 6,215
(Income) Expense from Divestitures, Asset Impairments and Unusual Items (Textual) [Abstract]
Asset impairment charges		34
Wheelabrator [Member]
Income Expense from Divestitures Asset Impairments and Unusual Items [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 788
Estimated fair value over carrying value percentage	30.00%
Percentage of increase in goodwill carrying amount after impairment test		slightly greater than 10

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the cumulative amount paid and (if applicable) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to the adoption of any changes in generally accepted accounting principles (as applicable) and for any impairment charges, in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph e
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 43
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 72
-Subparagraph d
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph e
-Clause 1
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 68
-Subparagraph l
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 34
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Fair Value Measurements (Details) - Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets
Cash equivalents	$ 112	$ 120
Available-for-sale securities	162	179
Interest rate derivatives		73
Electricity commodity derivatives	3	5
Total assets	277	377
Liabilities:
Interest rate derivatives	99	74
Foreign currency derivatives	1	2
Electricity commodity derivatives	1
Total liabilities	101	76
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member]
Assets
Cash equivalents	112	120
Available-for-sale securities	137	154
Total assets	249	274
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Assets
Interest rate derivatives		73
Electricity commodity derivatives	3	5
Total assets	3	78
Liabilities:
Interest rate derivatives	99	74
Foreign currency derivatives	1	2
Electricity commodity derivatives	1
Total liabilities	101	76
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Assets
Available-for-sale securities	25	25
Total assets	$ 25	$ 25

Fair Value Measurements (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Billions	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value Measurements (Textual) [Abstract]
Carrying value of debt	$ 9.8	$ 9.8
Estimated fair value of debt	$ 11.1	$ 10.8

Variable Interest Entities (Details) £ in Millions, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 GBP (£)	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2000 USD ($)
Variable Interest Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Noncontrolling interests								$ 319	$ 320
Variable Interest Entities (Additional Details) [Abstract]
Under the LLC agreements, the LLC shall be dissolved upon the occurrence of any of the following events					(i) A written decision of all members of the LLCs; (ii) December31, 2063; (iii) a court's dissolution of the LLCs; or (iv) the LLCs ceasing to own any interest in the waste-to-energy facilities.	(i) A written decision of all members of the LLCs; (ii) December31, 2063; (iii) a court's dissolution of the LLCs; or (iv) the LLCs ceasing to own any interest in the waste-to-energy facilities.
Expense recognized for other companies' noncontrolling interests in LLCs earnings			$ 12	$ 12		$ 25	$ 25
Carrying value of restricted trust funds and escrow accounts for which company is not the sole beneficiary specifically for future settlement of landfill and environmental remediation liabilities								109	107
Variable interest entities primary beneficiary trust fair value assets								120	123
Limited Liability Company I [Member]
Variable Interest Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage of ownership in LLC's					0.50%	0.50%
Percentage of variable interest entities owned by other companies					99.50%	99.50%
Low-Income Housing Properties [Member]
Variable Interest Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investment balance								166	178
Consideration for investment		$ 221
Cash payments to acquire equity method investment		6
Value of notes payable included in consideration for investment		$ 215
Equity method investments debt balance								164	176
Investment in Refined Coal Facility [Member]
Variable Interest Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investment balance								30	35
Cash payments to acquire equity method investment	$ 48
Investment in Recycling and Waste to Energy [Member]
Variable Interest Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage of ownership in LLC's					50.00%	50.00%
Investment balance								1
Expected cost to construct Waste-to-Energy LLC facility					£ 200			314
Total commitment					57	$ 90
Note receivables balance from the LLC					£ 7	$ 11
Limited Liability Company II [Member]
Variable Interest Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage of ownership in LLC's					0.25%	0.25%
Percentage of variable interest entities owned by other companies					99.75%	99.75%
Limited Liability Company II [Member] \| Limited Liability Company I [Member]
Variable Interest Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Total initial investment by other companies										$ 167
Reporting entity percentage of interest in earnings of variable interest entity after achieving targeted returns					80.00%	80.00%
Other companies percentage of interest in earnings of variable interest entity after achieving targeted returns					20.00%	20.00%
Consolidated variable interest entity carrying amount of asset								302	308
Noncontrolling interests								$ 248	$ 246

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 237	$ 258	$ 371	$ 539
Other current assets	2,217	2,121
Total current assets	2,454	2,379
Property and equipment, net	12,360	12,242
Other assets	7,877	7,948
Total assets	22,691	22,569
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	853	631
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	2,334	2,437
Total current liabilities	3,187	3,068
Long-term debt, less current portion	8,973	9,125
Other liabilities	4,044	3,986
Total liabilities	16,204	16,179
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	6,168	6,070
Noncontrolling interests	319	320
Total equity	6,487	6,390
Total liabilities and equity	22,691	22,569
WM [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	112	119	325	465
Other current assets		6
Total current assets	112	125
Investments in and advances to affiliates	12,338	12,006
Other assets	44	120
Total assets	12,494	12,251
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	552	298
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	150	124
Total current liabilities	702	422
Long-term debt, less current portion	5,580	5,727
Other liabilities	44	32
Total liabilities	6,326	6,181
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	6,168	6,070
Total equity	6,168	6,070
Total liabilities and equity	12,494	12,251
WM Holdings [Member]
Current assets:
Investments in and advances to affiliates	16,156	14,905
Other assets	12	12
Total assets	16,168	14,917
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	13	13
Total current liabilities	13	13
Long-term debt, less current portion	449	449
Total liabilities	462	462
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	15,706	14,455
Total equity	15,706	14,455
Total liabilities and equity	16,168	14,917
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	125	139	$ 46	$ 74
Other current assets	2,217	2,115
Total current assets	2,342	2,254
Property and equipment, net	12,360	12,242
Investments in and advances to affiliates	3,201	3,033
Other assets	7,821	7,816
Total assets	25,724	25,345
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	301	333
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	2,171	2,300
Total current liabilities	2,472	2,633
Long-term debt, less current portion	2,944	2,949
Other liabilities	4,000	3,954
Total liabilities	9,416	9,536
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	15,989	15,489
Noncontrolling interests	319	320
Total equity	16,308	15,809
Total liabilities and equity	25,724	25,345
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Investments in and advances to affiliates	(31,695)	(29,944)
Total assets	(31,695)	(29,944)
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	(31,695)	(29,944)
Total equity	(31,695)	(29,944)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (31,695)	$ (29,944)

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Operating revenues	$ 3,459	$ 3,347	$ 6,754	$ 6,450
Costs and expenses	2,993	2,841	5,887	5,517
Income from operations	466	506	867	933
Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)	(120)	(117)	(241)	(235)
Other, net	(12)	(8)	(20)	(11)
Total other income (expense)	(132)	(125)	(261)	(246)
Income before income taxes	334	381	606	687
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	115	131	204	241
Consolidated net income	219	250	402	446
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	11	13	23	23
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	208	237	379	423
WM [Member]
Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)	(88)	(86)	(176)	(171)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	262	290	486	527
Total other income (expense)	174	204	310	356
Income before income taxes	174	204	310	356
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(34)	(33)	(69)	(67)
Consolidated net income	208	237	379	423
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	208	237	379	423
WM Holdings [Member]
Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)	(8)	(8)	(16)	(17)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	267	295	496	537
Total other income (expense)	259	287	480	520
Income before income taxes	259	287	480	520
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(3)	(3)	(6)	(7)
Consolidated net income	262	290	486	527
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	262	290	486	527
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Operating revenues	3,459	3,347	6,754	6,450
Costs and expenses	2,993	2,841	5,887	5,517
Income from operations	466	506	867	933
Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense)	(24)	(23)	(49)	(47)
Other, net	(12)	(8)	(20)	(11)
Total other income (expense)	(36)	(31)	(69)	(58)
Income before income taxes	430	475	798	875
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	152	167	279	315
Consolidated net income	278	308	519	560
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	11	13	23	23
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	267	295	496	537
Eliminations [Member]
Other income (expense):
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	(529)	(585)	(982)	(1,064)
Total other income (expense)	(529)	(585)	(982)	(1,064)
Income before income taxes	(529)	(585)	(982)	(1,064)
Consolidated net income	(529)	(585)	(982)	(1,064)
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$ (529)	$ (585)	$ (982)	$ (1,064)

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income	$ 176	$ 252	$ 393	$ 475
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	11	13	23	23
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	165	239	370	452
WM [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income	190	231	366	421
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	190	231	366	421
WM Holdings [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income	262	290	486	527
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	262	290	486	527
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income	253	316	523	591
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	11	13	23	23
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	242	303	500	568
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income	(529)	(585)	(982)	(1,064)
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$ (529)	$ (585)	$ (982)	$ (1,064)

- Definition

The change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to the reporting entity. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, but excludes any and all transactions which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.

+ References + Details

- Definition

The change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to noncontrolling interests. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.

+ References + Details

- Definition

The change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to the economic entity, including both controlling (parent) and noncontrolling interests. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, including any and all transactions which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.

+ References + Details

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 219	$ 250	$ 402	$ 446
Other adjustments			742	632
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			1,144	1,078
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(154)	(157)
Capital expenditures			(730)	(596)
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets			20	13
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net			(39)	(84)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(903)	(824)
Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings			312	404
Debt repayments			(271)	(314)
Cash dividends			(329)	(323)
Common stock repurchases				(168)
Exercise of common stock options			31	35
Distributions Paid to Noncontrolling Interests and Other			(5)	(59)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(262)	(425)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents				3
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(21)	(168)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			258	539
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	237	371	237	371
WM [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	208	237	379	423
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes			(486)	(527)
Other adjustments			91	2
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			(16)	(102)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net				(5)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities				(5)
Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings			150	396
Debt repayments			(35)
Cash dividends			(329)	(323)
Common stock repurchases				(168)
Exercise of common stock options			31	35
Distributions Paid to Noncontrolling Interests and Other			9	(10)
Change in Intercompany and Investments Net			183	37
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			9	(33)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(7)	(140)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			119	465
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	112	325	112	325
WM Holdings [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	262	290	486	527
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes			(496)	(537)
Other adjustments				(3)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			(10)	(13)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Debt repayments				(147)
Common stock repurchases
Change in Intercompany and Investments Net			10	160
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			10	13
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	278	308	519	560
Other adjustments			651	633
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			1,170	1,193
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(154)	(157)
Capital expenditures			(730)	(596)
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets			20	13
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net			(39)	(79)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(903)	(819)
Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings			162	8
Debt repayments			(236)	(167)
Common stock repurchases
Distributions Paid to Noncontrolling Interests and Other			(14)	(49)
Change in Intercompany and Investments Net			(193)	(197)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(281)	(405)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents				3
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(14)	(28)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			139	74
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	125	46	125	46
Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$ (529)	$ (585)	(982)	(1,064)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes			982	$ 1,064
Cash flows from financing activities:
Common stock repurchases

Subsequent Event (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Subsequent Event (Details) $ in Millions	Jul. 31, 2012 Employee	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($) BusinessUnits
Subsequent Event (Textual) [Abstract]
No of Employees positions eliminated \| Employee	700
Severance cost range start \| $		$ 50
Severance cost range end \| $		$ 60
2012 Restructuring [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of areas pre restructuring \| BusinessUnits		22
Number of areas post restructuring \| BusinessUnits		17