XML 59 R111.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Acquisitions and Divestitures - Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation of Other Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Greenstar LLC [Member]  
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Total intangible assets subject to amortization $ 32us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wm_GreenstarLlcMember
Total other intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted average amortization period 10 years
Greenstar LLC [Member] | Supplier Relationships [Member]  
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Total intangible assets subject to amortization 31us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= wm_SupplierRelationshipsMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wm_GreenstarLlcMember
Total other intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted average amortization period 10 years
Greenstar LLC [Member] | Lease Agreements [Member]  
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Total intangible assets subject to amortization 1us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_LeaseAgreementsMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wm_GreenstarLlcMember
Total other intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted average amortization period 8 years 4 months 24 days
RCI Environnement Inc [Member]  
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Total intangible assets subject to amortization 169us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wm_RciEnvironnementIncMember
Total other intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted average amortization period 14 years 7 months 6 days
RCI Environnement Inc [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]  
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Total intangible assets subject to amortization 162us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wm_RciEnvironnementIncMember
Total other intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted average amortization period 15 years
RCI Environnement Inc [Member] | Trade Name [Member]  
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Total intangible assets subject to amortization $ 7us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wm_RciEnvironnementIncMember
Total other intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted average amortization period 5 years