Debt [Abstract] Debt. Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies [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 Disclosure [Text Block] Debt Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Segment and Related information Total liabilities and equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interests Additional paid-in capital Common Stock, Value, Issued 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 Total liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other liabilities Deferred income taxes Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Current liabilities: LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Assets Total assets, per Consolidated Balance Sheets Total assets Other Assets, Noncurrent Other assets Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Other intangible assets, net Goodwill Goodwill Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property and equipment, net Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $15,545 and $15,308, respectively Assets, Current Total current assets Other Assets, Current Other assets Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Deferred income taxes Parts and supplies Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $28 and $29, respectively Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents at end of year Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 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 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. 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 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 Increase (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 Cash proceeds received 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 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 Net gain from disposal of assets Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment Net gain on disposal of assets Net gain on disposal of assets Equity-based compensation expense Provision for bad debts Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred income tax benefits included in provision for income taxes Deferred total Deferred income tax (benefit) provision Cash flows from operating activities: Shares, Issued Ending balance, shares Beginning balance, shares Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Other comprehensive income, net of taxes Other comprehensive income, net of taxes 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 Reclassification adjustment for losses included in net income, net of tax expense of $2 and $5, respectively Other Comprehensive Income, Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax Unrealized gains (losses), resulting from changes in fair value, net of tax expense (benefit) of $2 and $(3), respectively Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income 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) losses on derivative instruments reclassified into earnings Other Comprehensive Income, Reclassification Adjustment on Derivatives Included in Net Income, Tax Tax effects on unrealized gains (losses) resulting from changes in fair value Other Comprehensive Income, Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Tax Taxes on accumulated unrealized loss on derivative instruments Tax effects on unrealized gains (losses) resulting from changes in fair values of derivative instruments Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Noncontrolling Interests Noncontrolling Interests Interest Accretion on Landfill Liabilities Interest accretion on landfill liabilities Interest accretion on landfill liabilities. Interest accretion 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 Payments of Dividends, Common Stock Cash dividends Cash dividends Other receivables 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 Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive income Comprehensive income Comprehensive income Commitments and contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Retained earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive income Treasury Stock Value Treasury stock at cost, 167,540,175 and 169,749,709 shares, respectively Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Stockholders' equity Total Waste Management, Inc. stockholders' equity Selling, general and administrative Selling, General and Administrative Expense 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 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 Current portion of long-term debt Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations Long term Debt, less current portion Long-term debt, less current portion Equity: Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Earnings Per Share 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. Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Assets [Abstract] Assets, Current [Abstract] Other Receivables Supplies Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Accounts Payable, Current Accrued Liabilities, Current Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent 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] 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 Depreciation, depletion and amortization associated with property plant and equipment and intangible assets. Depreciation and amortization expense Interest and Other Income Expense [Abstract] Other income (expense): Interest and other income (expense). Interest and Debt Expense Interest expense Recognized interest expense related to investment Interest expense Interest expense Increase Decrease in other Assets Current Other current assets Increase (decrease) in other assets, current. Other current assets Increase Decrease in other Assets Non current Other assets Increase (decrease) in other assets, non-current. Other assets 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 available-for-sale securities, net of tax expense (benefit) of $1 and $(1), respectively 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. Reduction in noncontrolling interest Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests Income Loss from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, and Noncontrolling Interest 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. Income before income taxes Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared Cash dividends declared per common share Capital expenditures Revenues Total operating revenues Operating revenues Operating Total operating cost 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. 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 Statement of Changes in Equity [Abstract] Income Taxes [Abstract] Other comprehensive income, net of taxes: Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract] Other comprehensive income (loss) 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 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Liabilities: Liabilities [Abstract] Assets: Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract] Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) by Derivative Instrument Risk [Axis] Derivative Contract Type [Domain] Interest Rate Contracts [Member] Interest rate contracts [Member] Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities (Tables) [Abstract] Landfill and environmental remediation liabilities. Earnings Per Share (Tables) [Abstract] Earnings per share. Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Tables) [Abstract] Condensed consolidating financial statements. 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. Earnings Per Share (Details) [Abstract] Earnings per share. Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities (Details) [Abstract] Landfill and environmental remediation liabilities. 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 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 Parent Company [Member] WM [Member] Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other. 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 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. Maximum term of cash flows hedged with treasury rate locks Maximum Length of Time Hedged in Cash Flow Hedge Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) by Income Statement Location [Axis] Income Statement and Other Comprehensive Income Location [Domain] Derivative assets designated as hedging instruments Derivative Asset Designated as Hedging Instrument, Fair Value Derivative liabilities designated as hedging instruments Derivative Liability Designated as Hedging Instrument, Fair Value Other Assets [Member] Long-term other assets [Member] Accrued Liabilities [Member] Current accrued liabilities [Member] Costs and expenses Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts Derivatives, Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Location [Axis] Balance Sheet Location [Domain] Distributions Paid to Noncontrolling Interests and Other Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests Debt (Tables) [Abstract] Debt. Debt (Details) [Abstract] Debt. Segment and Related Information (Tables) [Abstract] Segment and related information. Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Text Block] Reportable segments Segment and Related Information (Details) [Abstract] Segment and related information. Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract] Reportable segments Group Three [Member] Southern [Member] Group three. Group Four [Member] Western [Member] Group four. Group Five [Member] Group five. Wheelabrator [Member] Corporate and Other [Member] Corporate and Other [Member] Corporate and other. Segment Reporting Information, Revenue Gross Operating Revenues Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted Maximum potential future payments regarding guarantees of unconsolidated entities financial obligations Future payments regarding guarantees of unconsolidated entities financial obligations