Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities [Abstract] Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities Debt [Abstract] Debt Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Segment and Related Information [Abstract] Segment and Related Information Fair Value Measurements [Abstract] Fair Value Measurements Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements [Abstract] Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements Debt Income Taxes Commitments and Contingencies Segment and Related Information Total liabilities and equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interests Noncontrolling interests Additional paid-in capital Common stock, $0.01 par value; 1,500,000,000 shares authorized; 630,282,461 shares issued Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Waste Management, Inc. stockholders' equity: Liabilities Liabilities on LLCs after all debt obligations of the LLCs have been paid Total liabilities Total liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other liabilities Deferred income taxes Total current liabilities Current liabilities: LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Total assets Assets Total assets, per Consolidated Balance Sheets Other Assets, Noncurrent Other assets Other intangible assets, net Goodwill Goodwill, Ending Balance Goodwill, Beginning Balance Goodwill Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property and equipment, net Property and equipment, Net Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $15,107 and $14,690, respectively Total current assets Other Assets, Current Other assets Deferred income taxes Parts and supplies Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $31 and $26, respectively 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 at end of period Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents Current assets: ASSETS Allowance for doubtful accounts Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Ending Balance Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Beginning Balance Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Accumulated depreciation and amortization Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock par value per share Common stock, par value Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock shares authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Common stock, shares issued Treasury Stock, Shares Treasury Stock, Shares, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Shares, Beginning Balance Treasury stock, shares Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net income Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc. Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Provision for income taxes Provision for (benefit from) income taxes Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other, net Operating Income (Loss) Income from operations Income from operations Revenues recognized by Oakleaf Costs and expenses: Selling, general and administrative Total costs and expenses Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic earnings per common share Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted earnings per common share Interest accretion on 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 Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Decrease in cash and cash equivalents Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash used in financing activities Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities Other Excess tax benefits associated with equity-based transactions Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised Exercise of common stock options Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Common stock repurchases Repurchase of common stock Common stock repurchases Common stock repurchases Cash flows from financing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash used in investing activities Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities Other Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts Total consideration, net of cash acquired, for business acquisition Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired Cash flows from investing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures: Excess tax benefits associated with equity-based transactions Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment Net gain on disposal of assets Net gain on disposal of assets Net gain on disposal of assets Equity-based compensation expense Provision for bad debts Deferred income tax provision Deferred income tax benefits included in provision for income taxes Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred total Cash flows from operating activities: Shares, Issued Ending Balance, shares Beginning Balance, shares Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares Shares repurchased (in thousands) Common stock repurchases, shares Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Other comprehensive income (loss) Other comprehensive income (loss) Other Comprehensive Income, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Foreign currency translation adjustments Foreign currency translation adjustments Other Comprehensive Income, Reclassification Adjustment on Derivatives Included in Net Income, Net of Tax Realized losses on derivative instruments reclassified into earnings, net of taxes of $17 Realized (gains) losses on derivative instruments reclassified into earnings, net of taxes Realized gains on derivative instruments reclassified into earnings, net of taxes of $6 Other Comprehensive Income, Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax Comprehensive Income [Member] Comprehensive Income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Retained Earnings [Member] Retained Earnings Treasury Stock [Member] Treasury Stock Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Additional Paid-In Capital Common Stock [Member] Common Stock Interest accretion on and discount rate adjustments to environmental remediation liabilities and recovery assets Tax effects on realized gains on derivative instruments reclassified into earnings Other Comprehensive Income, Reclassification Adjustment on Derivatives Included in Net Income, Tax Tax effects on unrealized losses resulting from changes in fair values of derivative instruments Other Comprehensive Income, Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Tax Taxes on accumulated unrealized loss on derivative instruments Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Noncontrolling Interests Noncontrolling Interests Interest accretion on landfill liabilities Interest accretion Interest accretion on landfill liabilities Interest accretion on landfill liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Accounts and Other Receivables Receivables Receivables Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Total New borrowings Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt and Capital Securities, Net, Total Debt repayments Repayments of Long-term Debt and Capital Securities, Total Payments of Dividends, Common Stock Cash dividends Cash dividends declared and paid Cash dividends Cash dividends Other receivables Deferred income taxes Common share data used for computing the basic and diluted earnings per share Accounts payable Accrued liabilities Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Ending Balance Beginning Balance Total equity Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Consolidated net income Consolidated net income Consolidated net income Net income Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive income Comprehensive income Comprehensive income Total current assets Other intangible assets, net Total current liabilities Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Ending Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Commitments and contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Total accumulated other comprehensive income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Treasury Stock Value Treasury stock at cost, 169,078,749 and 155,235,711 shares, respectively Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Stockholders' equity Total Waste Management, Inc. stockholders' equity Total Waste Management, Inc. stockholders' equity Selling, general and administrative Selling, General and Administrative Expense Interest accretion on and discount rate adjustments to environmental remediation liabilities and recovery assets Equity-based compensation expense Share-based Compensation Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash, Total Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash Debt repayments Repayments of Long-term Debt, Long-term Capital Lease Obligations, and Capital Securities Excess tax benefits associated with equity-based transactions Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Deferred revenues Deferred revenues Deferred Revenue and Credits, Current Debt, Current Less current portion Less current portion Current portion of long-term debt Current portion of long-term debt Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations Scheduled debt and capital lease payments Long term Debt, less current portion of long-term debt Long-term debt, less current portion Equity: Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements Schedule of Condensed Financial Statements [Text Block] Accrued Capping Closure and Post Closure Costs and Environmental Loss Contingencies Landfill and environmental remediation liabilities The estimated amount of costs required as of the balance sheet date to comply with regulatory requirements pertaining to the retirement of an asset, which will be paid after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. Carrying value of the obligation (known or estimated) arising from requirements to perform activities to remediate one or more sites, payable after twelve months or beyond the next operating cycle if longer. Asset Retirement Obligations and Environmental Loss Contingencies Disclosures [Text Block] Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities Description of the asset retirement obligation and the associated long-lived asset. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement from service of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. This element may be used for all the disclosures related to asset retirement obligations. Disclosures of environmental loss contingencies, such as presence of hazardous waste, relevant information from reports issued by regulators, and estimated costs to achieve compliance with regulatory requirements. This element may be used for all of an entity's disclosures about environmental loss contingencies. This element may be used as a single block of text to encapsulate the entire inventory disclosure including data and tables. Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Assets [Abstract] Assets, Current [Abstract] Other Receivables Supplies Assets, Current Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Accounts Payable, Current Accrued Liabilities, Current Liabilities, Current Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent Common Stock, Value, Issued Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Costs and Expenses Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Provision for Doubtful Accounts Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt and Capital Securities, Net Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Parent [Member] Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Dividends, Common Stock, Cash Cash dividends declared and paid Cash dividends declared Depreciation Depletion and Amortization associated with Property Plant and Equipment and Intangible Assets Depreciation and amortization expense Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization associated with Property Plant and Equipment and Intangible Assets. Interest and Other Income Expense [Abstract] Other income (expense): Interest and Other Income (Expense). Interest and Debt Expense Interest expense Interest expense Interest expense Interest expense Increase Decrease in Other Assets Current Other current assets Other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Assets, Current. Increase Decrease in Other Assets Non current Other assets Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Assets, Non-current. Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities Deferred revenues and other liabilities Capital expenditures Payments to Acquire Productive Assets, Total Payments to Acquire Productive Assets Proceeds from Divestitures of Businesses and Other Sales of Assets Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets This element represents the cash inflow during the period from the sale of businesses and other assets. Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests Proceeds from (Payments to) Noncontrolling Interests, Total Proceeds from (Payments to) Noncontrolling Interests Other Comprehensive Income, Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities, net of taxes Other Comprehensive Income, Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax, Total Equity based compensation transactions including dividend equivalents net of taxes Equity-based compensation transactions, including dividend equivalents, net of taxes Equity-based compensation transactions, including dividend equivalents, net of taxes. Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method Total repurchases (in millions) Total repurchases (in millions) Common stock repurchases Reduction in noncontrolling interest Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests Tax effects on unrealized losses on marketable securities Other Comprehensive Income, Available-for-sale Securities, Tax Taxes on accumulated unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities Other Comprehensive Income, Available-for-sale Securities, Tax, Total Income Loss from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, and Noncontrolling Interest Income before income taxes Income before income taxes Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income (expense) before income taxes, extraordinary items, cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, and Noncontrolling interest. Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared Cash dividends declared per common share Capital expenditures Revenues Net Operating Revenues Operating revenues Operating Operating Generally recurring costs associated with normal operations excluding Selling, General and Administrative Expense, Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Expense, Restructuring Expense, and expense from Asset Impairments and Unusual Items. Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Comprehensive Income: Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Balance Sheets [Abstract] Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract] Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity [Abstract] Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Income Taxes [Abstract] Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract] Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes: Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Comprehensive Income Components of accumulated other comprehensive income, which is included as a component of Waste Management, Inc. Stockholders' equity Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Foreign currency translation adjustments Fair Value Measurements (Details) [Abstract] Fair Value Measurements. Fair value of assets and liabilities on a recurring basis: Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract] Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Total Carrying value of debt Debt and Capital Lease Obligations Carrying value of debt Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Liabilities: Liabilities [Abstract] Assets: Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Net of Tax Funded status of post-retirement benefit obligations, net of taxes Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) by Derivative Instrument Risk [Axis] Derivative Contract Type [Domain] Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities (Tables) [Abstract] Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities Tables. Earnings Per Share (Tables) [Abstract] Earnings Per Share Tables. Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Tables) [Abstract] Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements Tables. Schedule of Derivative Instruments in Statement of Financial Position, Fair Value [Text Block] Fair values of derivative instruments recorded in Balance Sheet Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details) [Abstract] Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements Details. Earnings Per Share (Details) [Abstract] Earnings Per Share. Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities (Details) [Abstract] Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities Details. Changes to landfill and environmental remediation liabilities [Abstract] Changes to landfill and environmental remediation liabilities Changes to landfill and environmental remediation liabilities. Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Weighted average basic common shares outstanding Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding Number of anti-dilutive potentially issuable shares excluded from diluted common shares outstanding Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount Interest income expense Interest income (expense) Interest income (expense) Interest income (expense). Costs and expenses WM [Member] Eliminations [Member] Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other. Subsidiaries [Member] Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] Liabilities for landfill and environmental remediation costs [Abstract] Liabilities for landfill and environmental remediation costs Liabilities for landfill and environmental remediation costs. Potentially issuable shares Potentially issuable shares Potentially issuable shares. Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment Dilutive effect of equity-based compensation awards and other contingently issuable shares Effect of using weighted average common shares outstanding Effect of using weighted average common shares outstanding Effect of using weighted average common shares outstanding. WM Holdings [Member] Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Other adjustments Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net, by Balance Sheet Classification [Abstract] Fair values of derivative instruments recorded in Balance Sheet Interest expense [Member] Impact of periodic settlements of active swap agreements and the impact of terminated swap agreements [Abstract] Impact of periodic settlements of active swap agreements and the impact of terminated swap agreements on our results of operations Impact of periodic settlements of active swap agreements and the impact of terminated swap agreements on our results of operations. Impacts of foreign currency cash flow derivatives on results of operations and comprehensive income pre tax [Abstract] Impacts of foreign currency cash flow derivatives on results of operations and comprehensive income, pre-tax Impacts of foreign currency cash flow derivatives on results of operations and comprehensive income, pre-tax. Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income, Effective Portion, Net Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income, Effective Portion, Net, Total Derivative Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion) Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net, Total Derivative Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion) Other income (expense) [Member] Other income (expense). Maximum Length of Time Hedged in Cash Flow Hedge Maximum term of cash flows hedged with Treasury rate locks Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) by Income Statement Location [Axis] Income Statement and Other Comprehensive Income Location [Domain] Derivative Asset Designated as Hedging Instrument, Fair Value Derivative Assets Designated as Hedging Instruments