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Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
May 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Cash proceeds received $ 93us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised $ 132us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised $ 43us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised  
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Vesting period 30 days      
Price at which employees are able to purchase shares of common stock of company at end of each offering period 85.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardDiscountFromMarketPricePurchaseDate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
     
The number of shares newly issued during the reporting period under the plan 774,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
928,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
1,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
 
Shares available under employee stock plans 1,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
     
Number of offering periods 2wm_NumberOfOfferingPeriods
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
     
Increase in annual compensation expense due to employee stock plan 6us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
6us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
7us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
 
Increase in annual compensation expense due to employee stock plan, net of tax 4us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
4us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
4us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
 
2014 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Shares available under employee stock plans 25,900,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wm_TwoThousandFourteenStockIncentivePlanMember
     
Maximum number of shares authorized for issuance under stock incentive plan       23,800,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wm_TwoThousandFourteenStockIncentivePlanMember
2009 Stock Incentive Plan Member        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Shares available under employee stock plans       1,100,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wm_TwoThousandNineStockIncentivePlanMember
Employee Stock Incentive Plans [Member]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Increase in annual compensation expense due to employee stock plan 59us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wm_EmployeeStockIncentivePlanMember
54us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wm_EmployeeStockIncentivePlanMember
22us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wm_EmployeeStockIncentivePlanMember
 
Deferred income tax benefits included in provision for income taxes 23us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wm_EmployeeStockIncentivePlanMember
21us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wm_EmployeeStockIncentivePlanMember
9us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wm_EmployeeStockIncentivePlanMember
 
Currently unrecognized compensation expense that will be recognized in future periods for unvested RSU, PSU and stock option awards issued and outstanding 46us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wm_EmployeeStockIncentivePlanMember
     
Weighted average period of under which unrecognized compensation expenses associated with all unvested awards currently outstanding is expected to be recognized 1 year 4 months 24 days      
Stock Options [Member]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Employee stock option description of vesting methods Vest in 25% increments on the first two anniversaries of the date of grant with the remaining 50% vesting on the third anniversary      
Term of options 10 years      
Cash proceeds received 93us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
132us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
43us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
 
Tax benefits realized from stock option exercises 5us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
10us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
5us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
 
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised 27us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
41us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
15us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
 
Fair value of stock options granted $ 4.55us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 4.26us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 4.66us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
 
Share-based compensation arrangement by share-based payment award, fair value assumptions, method used Black-Scholes option pricing model      
Stock Options [Member] | First Anniversary [Member]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Vesting period 12 months      
Vested shares issued, percentage of the established target 25.00%us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= wm_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheOneMember
     
Stock Options [Member] | Second Anniversary [Member]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Vesting period 12 months      
Vested shares issued, percentage of the established target 25.00%us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= wm_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheTwoMember
     
Stock Options [Member] | Third Anniversary [Member]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Vesting period 12 months      
Vested shares issued, percentage of the established target 50.00%us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= wm_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheThreeMember
     
Restricted Stock Units [Member]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Vesting period 3 years      
The number of shares newly issued during the reporting period under the plan 42,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
     
Total fair market value of vested awards 3us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
1us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
11us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
 
Performance Share Units [Member]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Vesting period 3 years      
The number of shares newly issued during the reporting period under the plan 106,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
     
Total fair market value of vested awards $ 8us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
$ 14us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
$ 32us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
 
Range of performance share units awarded at end of three year period range 0% to 200% of the targeted amount      
Vested shares issued, percentage of the established target 60.00%us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
     
Performance Share Units [Member] | Minimum [Member]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Range of potential payout percentage of performance share units awarded at end of three year period range 0.00%wm_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPotentialAsPercentageOfTarget
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
     
Performance Share Units [Member] | Maximum [Member]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Range of potential payout percentage of performance share units awarded at end of three year period range 200.00%wm_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPotentialAsPercentageOfTarget
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
     
Deferred Units [Member] | Employee Stock Incentive Plans [Member]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Vested deferred units outstanding 295,000wm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedDeferredNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= wm_DeferredStockUnitsMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wm_EmployeeStockIncentivePlanMember