Accounting Policies [Abstract] Accounting Policies [Abstract] Accounts Payable Current Accounts payable Accounts Receivable Net Current Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $40 and $45, respectively Accretion expense and discount rate adjustments to environmental remediation liabilities and recovery assets. Accretion Expense And Discount Rate Adjustments To Environmental Remediation Liabilities And Recovery Assets Interest accretion on and discount rate adjustments to environmental remediation liabilities and recovery assets Accrual For Environmental Loss Contingencies Ending balance, environmental remediation Beginning balance, environmental remediation Environmental remediation liability Total, Environmental Remediation Accrual for environmental loss contingencies, increase (decrease) for acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments, including foreign currency translation. Accrual For Environmental Loss Contingencies Increase Decrease For Acquisitions Divestitures And Other Adjustments Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments Accrual For Environmental Loss Contingencies Increase Decrease For Revision In Estimates Revisions in cost estimates and interest rate assumptions Accrual For Environmental Loss Contingencies Payments Obligations settled Accrual For Environmental Loss Contingencies Provision For New Losses Interest accretion Accrued Capping Closure Post Closure And Environmental Costs Current (in accrued liabilities) Accrued capping closure post closure and environmental costs disclosures. Accrued Capping Closure Post Closure And Environmental Costs Disclosures [Text Block] Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities Accrued capping closure post closure and environmental costs net. Accrued Capping Closure Post Closure And Environmental Costs Net Total Accrued Capping Closure Post Closure And Environmental Costs Noncurrent Landfill and environmental remediation liabilities Long-term Accrued capping closure post closure and environmental costs roll forward analysis. Accrued Capping Closure Post Closure And Environmental Costs Roll Forward Analysis Table [Text Block] Changes to Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities Accrued capping closure post closure and environmental costs. Accrued Capping Closure Post Closure And Environmental Costs Table [Text Block] Liabilities for Landfill and Environmental Remediation Costs Accrued capping closure post closure. Accrued Capping Closure Post Closure [Member] Landfill Liabilities [Member] Accrued Environmental Loss Contingencies Current Current (in accrued liabilities), Environmental Remediation Accrued Environmental Loss Contingencies Noncurrent Long-term, Environmental Remediation Accrued Liabilities Current Accrued liabilities Accrued Liabilities [Member] Current accrued liabilities [Member] Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] Post - Retirement Benefit Plans [Member] Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment Accumulated depreciation and amortization Accumulated Net Gain Loss From Designated Or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] Gains and Losses on Derivative Instruments [Member] Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain Loss [Member] Unrealized Gain and Losses on Available-for-Sale Securities [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cumulative Changes In Net Gain Loss From Cash Flow Hedges Effect Net Of Tax Deferred losses, net of taxes, related to cash flow hedges included in accumulated other comprehensive income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Ending balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Beginning balance Accumulated other comprehensive income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Abstract] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Table] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member] Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member] Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets Weighted Average Useful Life Total other intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted average amortization period Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid In Capital [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Other adjustments Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current Allowance for doubtful accounts Amendment Flag Amendment Flag Amortization Of Deferred Hedge Gains Terminated swap agreements Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount Number of anti-dilutive potentially issuable shares excluded from diluted common shares outstanding Approximate number of homeowners properties adjacent to or near certain of our landfills with agreements guaranteeing market value. Approximate Number Of Homeowners Properties Adjacent To Or Near Certain Of Our Landfills With Agreements Guaranteeing Market Value Approximate number of homeowners' properties adjacent to or near certain of our landfills with agreements guaranteeing market value Asset Impairment Charges Impairment charges Asset Retirement Obligation Ending balance, landfill Beginning balance, landfill Total, Landfill Liabilities Asset Retirement Obligation Accretion Expense Interest accretion Interest accretion on landfill liabilities Asset Retirement Obligation Current Current (in accrued liabilities) Asset Retirement Obligation Increase Decrease For Acquisitions Divestitures And Other Adjustments Asset Retirement Obligation Increase Decrease For Acquisitions Divestitures And Other Adjustments Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Incurred Obligations incurred and capitalized Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Settled Obligations settled Asset Retirement Obligation Revision Of Estimate Revisions in cost estimates and interest rate assumptions Asset Retirement Obligations Noncurrent Long-term Assets Total assets Assets [Abstract] ASSETS Assets Current Total current assets Assets Current [Abstract] Current assets: Assets Fair Value Disclosure Total assets Assets Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract] Assets: Balance Sheet Location [Axis] Balance Sheet Location [Axis] Balance Sheet Location [Domain] Balance Sheet Location [Domain] Basis Of Accounting Policy Policy [Text Block] Basis of Presentation Business Acquisition Acquiree [Domain] Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain] Business Acquisition Additional Consideration At Fair Value Business Acquisition Additional Consideration At Fair Value Estimated fair value of liability for additional cash payments related to acquisitions Business Acquisition Additional Consideration Potential Cash Payment Business Acquisition Additional Consideration Potential Cash Payment Additional consideration payable Business Acquisition [Axis] Business Acquisition [Axis] Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Purchase Price Net Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Purchase Price Net Total purchase price Business Acquisition [Line Items] Business Acquisition [Line Items] Business Acquisition Pro Forma Earnings Per Share Basic Basic earnings per common share Business Acquisition Pro Forma Earnings Per Share Diluted Diluted earnings per common share Business Acquisition Pro Forma Information [Text Block] Pro Forma Consolidated Results of Operations Business acquisition purchase price allocation accounts and other receivables. Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Accounts And Other Receivables Accounts and other receivables Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Accounts Payable Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Accounts Payable Accounts payable Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Accrued Liabilities Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Accrued Liabilities Accrued liabilities Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Deferred Income Tax Asset (Liability), Net Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Deferred Income Tax Asset Liability Net Deferred income taxes, net Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Deferred Revenues Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Deferred Revenues Deferred revenues Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Goodwill Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Goodwill Allocation of purchase price to Goodwill Goodwill Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Landfill And Environmental Remediation Liabilities Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Landfill And Environmental Remediation Liabilities Landfill and environmental remediation liabilities Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Long Term Debt Current Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Long Term Debt Current Current portion of long-term debt Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Long Term Debt Noncurrent Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Long Term Debt Noncurrent Long-term debt, less current portion Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Other Current Assets Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Other Current Assets Other current assets Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Property Plant And Equipments Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Property Plant And Equipments Property and equipment Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocations Amortizable Intangible Assets Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocations Amortizable Intangible Assets Other intangible assets Business acquisition purchase price allocation supplies. Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Supplies Part and supplies Business Acquisitions Pro Forma Net Income Loss Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc. Business Acquisitions Pro Forma Revenue Operating revenues Business acquisitions purchase price allocation other noncurrent liabilities. Business Acquisitions Purchase Price Allocation Other Noncurrent Liabilities Other liabilities Business Combination Consideration Transferred 1 Total consideration paid, inclusive of certain adjustment Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Acquisitions Business Combination Pro Forma Information Earnings Or Loss Of Acquiree Since Acquisition Date Actual Income (Loss) recognized since the acquisition date Business Combination Pro Forma Information Revenue Of Acquiree Since Acquisition Date Actual Revenue recognized since the acquisition date Business Combinations [Abstract] Business Combinations [Abstract] Canadian credit facility. Canadian Credit Facility [Member] Canadian credit facility and term loan [Member] Capital leases and other. Capital Leases And Other [Member] Capital leases and other [Member] Carrying amount of redeemable preferred stock. Carrying Amount Of Redeemable Preferred Stock Redeemable preferred stock Carrying value of restricted trust funds and escrow accounts for which the company is not the sole beneficiary specifically for future settlement of landfill and environmental remediation liabilities. Carrying Value Of Restricted Trust Funds And Escrow Accounts For Which Company Is Not Sole Beneficiary Specifically For Future Settlement Of Landfill And Environmental Remediation Liabilities 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 Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Cash Flow Hedge Ineffectiveness Is Immaterial Ineffectiveness recognized upon termination of forward starting swaps Cash Flow Hedging [Member] Cash Flow Hedging [Member] Cash Received (Paid) For Termination Of Interest Rate Swaps Cash Received Paid For Termination Of Interest Rate Swaps Cash received (paid) for termination of interest rate swaps Change in intercompany and investments, net. Change In Intercompany And Investments Net (Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net Commitment relating to loan agreement. Commitment Relating To Loan Agreement Total commitment Commitments And Contingencies Commitments and contingencies Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items] Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items] Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items] Commitments And Contingencies [Table] Commitments And Contingencies [Table] Commitments And Contingencies [Table] Commodity Contract [Member] Electricity commodity derivatives [Member] Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared Cash dividends declared per common share Common Stock [Member] Common Stock [Member] Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value Common Stock Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock Shares Issued Common stock, shares issued Common Stock Shares Outstanding Number of common shares outstanding at end of period Common Stock Value Common stock, $0.01 par value; 1,500,000,000 shares authorized; 630,282,461 shares issued Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc. Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc. Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive income Comprehensive income Comprehensive Income Note [Text Block] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Comprehensive Income Policy Policy [Text Block] Comprehensive Income Condensed Financial Information Of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract] Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract] Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items] Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items] Condensed Financial Statements [Text Block] Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements Consolidation Eliminations [Member] Eliminations [Member] Consolidation Items [Axis] Consolidation Items [Axis] Consolidation Items [Domain] Consolidation Items [Domain] Corporate And Other [Member] Corporate and Other [Member] Costmethod Investments [Member] Cost-method Investments [Member] Costmethod Investments Other Than Temporary Impairment Impairment charge relating to decline in value of investment accounted under cost method Cost Method Investments Realized Gain Loss Cost-method Investments, Realized Gain (Loss) Cost Of Goods And Services Sold Operating Costs And Expenses Costs and expenses Total costs and expenses Credit Facility [Axis] Credit Facility [Axis] Credit Facility [Domain] Credit Facility [Domain] Currency Translation [Member] Currency Translation [Member] Currency Translation [Member] Current accrued liabilities. Current Accrued Liabilities [Member] Current accrued liabilities [Member] Total current assets excluding cash and cash equivalents. Current Assets Excluding Cash And Cash Equivalents Other current assets Current Fiscal Year End Date Current Fiscal Year End Date Total current liabilities excluding current portion of long-term debt. Current Liabilities Excluding Current Portion Of Long Term Debt Accounts payable and other current liabilities Customer Relationships [Member] Customer Relationships [Member] Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Carrying value of debt Total long-term debt Debt Current Current debt obligations Current portion of long-term debt Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Debt Debt Instrument [Axis] Debt Instrument [Axis] Debt Instrument Basis Spread On Variable Rate 1 Interest rate spread on term loan borrowings Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage Interest rate of senior notes Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage Rate Range Maximum Interest rate upper range Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage Rate Range Minimum Interest rate lower range Debt Instrument [Line Items] Debt Instrument [Line Items] Debt Instrument Maturity Date Range End 1 End period of maturity for debt instrument Debt Instrument Name [Domain] Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] Debt Instrument [Table] Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Debt Instrument Unused Borrowing Capacity Amount Unused and available credit capacity, revolving credit facility Debt maturing within months classified as long term. Debt Maturing Within Months Classified As Long Term Debt maturing within twelve months classified as long-term Debt Weighted Average Interest Rate Weighted average interest rate Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit Deferred income tax (benefit) provision Deferred Revenue And Credits Current Deferred revenues Deferred Tax Assets Gross Current Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Liabilities Gross Noncurrent Deferred income taxes Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Depreciation and amortization Derivative Asset Notional Amount Notional amount of interest rate swaps Derivative Contract Type [Domain] Derivative Contract [Domain] Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset Derivative assets designated as hedging instruments Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability Derivative liabilities designated as hedging instruments Derivative Instrument Risk [Axis] Derivative Instrument [Axis] Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items] Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items] Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosures [Table] Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Table] Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Derivative Instruments Gain Loss By Hedging Relationship [Axis] Hedging Relationship [Axis] Derivative Instruments Gain Loss By Hedging Relationship By Income Statement Location By Derivative Instrument Risk [Table] Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Table] Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items] Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] Derivative Nonmonetary Notional Amount Percent Of Required Need Coverage Expected percentage of merchant electricity sales hedged Derivative Notional Amount Notional amount of derivatives Derivative Number Of Instruments Held Number of hedges outstanding Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items] Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] Disclosure required under item one zero three of SEC's regulation Sk. Disclosure Required Under Item One Zero Three Of Secs Regulation Sk Dollar threshold for environmental matters requiring disclosure under item 103 of the SEC's Regulation S-K Distributions (paid to) received from noncontrolling interests and other. Distributions Received From Paid To Noncontrolling Interests And Other Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other Dividends Common Stock Cash Cash dividends declared Document and entity information. Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Period End Date Document Period End Date Document Type Document Type Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share Basic Basic earnings per common share Earnings Per Share Diluted Diluted earnings per common share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Earnings Per Share Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations Effective tax rate Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Eligible Item Or Group For Fair Value Option [Axis] Eligible Item or Group for Fair Value Option [Axis] Employee Severance [Member] Employee Severance [Member] Entity Central Index Key Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity [Domain] Entity [Domain] Entity Filer Category Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Entity Registrant Name Environmental costs. Environmental Costs [Member] Environmental Remediation Liabilities [Member]