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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LbrufxK+jgjPsURjC4QhUcied4Q7r1f6h+F8BOchg3z48e846/xXTI7TBsZ21fja
 HK7o5T9lRio2Lr0V9zWMzg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000823768-04-000016.txt : 20040116
<SEC-HEADER>0000823768-04-000016.hdr.sgml : 20040116
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040116135211
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000823768-04-000016
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040116

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CAFFERTY PASTORA SAN JUAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001197025

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12154
		FILM NUMBER:		04529311

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 FANNIN ST
		STREET 2:		STE 4000
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WASTE MANAGEMENT INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000823768
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REFUSE SYSTEMS [4953]
		IRS NUMBER:				731309529
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 FANNIN STREET
		STREET 2:		STE 4000
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7135126200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 FANNIN STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 4000
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	USA WASTE SERVICES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2004-01-15</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000823768</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WASTE MANAGEMENT INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WMI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197025</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CAFFERTY PASTORA SAN JUAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1001 FANNIN</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 4000</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77002</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Stock Units</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>0</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2004-01-15</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>1251.7883</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>1251.7883</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>4410.9406</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Stock units accrued under the 2003 Waste Management, Inc. Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan.  The stock units will be paid ou
t in shares of common stock following termination of Board service.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Linda J. Smith, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2004-01-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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