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Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities - Changes to Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Environmental Exit Cost [Line Items]      
Interest accretion $ (88)us-gaap_AccretionExpense $ (87)us-gaap_AccretionExpense $ (84)us-gaap_AccretionExpense
Ending balance, environmental remediation 235us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies    
Landfill [Member]      
Environmental Exit Cost [Line Items]      
Beginning balance, landfill 1,421us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandfillMember
1,338us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandfillMember
 
Obligations incurred and capitalized 54us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandfillMember
59us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandfillMember
 
Obligations settled (69)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandfillMember
(71)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandfillMember
 
Interest accretion 88us-gaap_AccretionExpense
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandfillMember
87us-gaap_AccretionExpense
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandfillMember
 
Revisions in estimates and interest rate assumptions (9)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandfillMember
6us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandfillMember
 
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments (42)wm_AssetRetirementObligationIncreaseDecreaseForAcquisitionsDivestituresAndOtherAdjustments
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandfillMember
2wm_AssetRetirementObligationIncreaseDecreaseForAcquisitionsDivestituresAndOtherAdjustments
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandfillMember
 
Ending balance, landfill 1,443us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandfillMember
1,421us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandfillMember
 
Environmental Remediation Liabilities [Member]      
Environmental Exit Cost [Line Items]      
Beginning balance, environmental remediation 227us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalExitCostByPropertyAxis
= wm_EnvironmentalCostsMember
253us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalExitCostByPropertyAxis
= wm_EnvironmentalCostsMember
 
Obligations settled (21)us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesPayments
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalExitCostByPropertyAxis
= wm_EnvironmentalCostsMember
(20)us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesPayments
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalExitCostByPropertyAxis
= wm_EnvironmentalCostsMember
 
Interest accretion 5us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesProvisionForNewLosses
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalExitCostByPropertyAxis
= wm_EnvironmentalCostsMember
4us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesProvisionForNewLosses
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalExitCostByPropertyAxis
= wm_EnvironmentalCostsMember
 
Revisions in estimates and interest rate assumptions 25us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesIncreaseDecreaseForRevisionInEstimates
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalExitCostByPropertyAxis
= wm_EnvironmentalCostsMember
(6)us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesIncreaseDecreaseForRevisionInEstimates
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalExitCostByPropertyAxis
= wm_EnvironmentalCostsMember
 
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments (1)wm_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesIncreaseDecreaseForAcquisitionsDivestituresAndOtherAdjustments
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalExitCostByPropertyAxis
= wm_EnvironmentalCostsMember
(4)wm_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesIncreaseDecreaseForAcquisitionsDivestituresAndOtherAdjustments
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalExitCostByPropertyAxis
= wm_EnvironmentalCostsMember
 
Ending balance, environmental remediation $ 235us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalExitCostByPropertyAxis
= wm_EnvironmentalCostsMember
$ 227us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
/ us-gaap_EnvironmentalExitCostByPropertyAxis
= wm_EnvironmentalCostsMember