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Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Jun. 30, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]        
Proceeds from divestiture of business $ 2,090,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses $ 70,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses $ 7,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses  
Puerto Rico Operation and Certain Other Collection and Landfill Assets [Member]        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]        
Proceeds from divestiture of business       80,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wm_PuertoRicoOperationAndCertainOtherCollectionAndLandfillAssetsMember
Reported Value Measurement [Member]        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]        
Carrying value of debt 9,400,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
10,200,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
   
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]        
Carrying value of debt 10,600,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
11,000,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
   
Repayment of debt 751,000,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
     
Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]        
Fair value of redeemable preferred stock 4,000,000us-gaap_IncreaseInCarryingAmountOfRedeemablePreferredStock
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_RedeemablePreferredStockMember
     
Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member] | Puerto Rico Operation and Certain Other Collection and Landfill Assets [Member]        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]        
Proceeds from divestiture of business 15,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wm_PuertoRicoOperationAndCertainOtherCollectionAndLandfillAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_RedeemablePreferredStockMember
     
Domestic Line of Credit [Member]        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]        
Revolving credit facility $ 2,250,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_DomesticLineOfCreditMember
$ 2,250,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_DomesticLineOfCreditMember