Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details) (USD $) In Millions	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 282	$ 539	$ 550	$ 1,140
Other current assets	2,137	1,943
Total current assets	2,419	2,482
Property and equipment, net	11,911	11,868
Investments in and advances to affiliates	0	0
Other assets	7,722	7,126
Total assets	22,052	21,476
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	225	233
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	2,302	2,252
Total current liabilities	2,527	2,485
Long-term debt, less current portion	9,388	8,674
Other liabilities	3,852	3,726
Total liabilities	15,767	14,885
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	5,948	6,260
Noncontrolling interests	337	331
Total equity	6,285	6,591
Total liabilities and equity	22,052	21,476
WM [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	184	465	457	1,093
Other current assets	2	4
Total current assets	186	469
Property and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in and advances to affiliates	11,664	10,757
Other assets	141	91
Total assets	11,991	11,317
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	35	0
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	94	93
Total current liabilities	129	93
Long-term debt, less current portion	5,846	4,951
Other liabilities	68	13
Total liabilities	6,043	5,057
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	5,948	6,260
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total equity	5,948	6,260
Total liabilities and equity	11,991	11,317
WM Holdings [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Other current assets	0	1
Total current assets	0	1
Property and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in and advances to affiliates	14,576	13,885
Other assets	12	12
Total assets	14,588	13,898
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	0	1
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	5	17
Total current liabilities	5	18
Long-term debt, less current portion	449	596
Other liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	454	614
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	14,134	13,284
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total equity	14,134	13,284
Total liabilities and equity	14,588	13,898
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	98	74	93	47
Other current assets	2,135	1,938
Total current assets	2,233	2,012
Property and equipment, net	11,911	11,868
Investments in and advances to affiliates	3,029	2,970
Other assets	7,569	7,023
Total assets	24,742	23,873
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	190	232
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	2,203	2,142
Total current liabilities	2,393	2,374
Long-term debt, less current portion	3,093	3,127
Other liabilities	3,784	3,713
Total liabilities	9,270	9,214
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	15,135	14,328
Noncontrolling interests	337	331
Total equity	15,472	14,659
Total liabilities and equity	24,742	23,873
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Other current assets	0	0
Total current assets	0	0
Property and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in and advances to affiliates	(29,269)	(27,612)
Other assets	0	0
Total assets	(29,269)	(27,612)
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	0	0
Total current liabilities	0	0
Long-term debt, less current portion	0	0
Other liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	0	0
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	(29,269)	(27,612)
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total equity	(29,269)	(27,612)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (29,269)	$ (27,612)