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Income Taxes - Components of Net Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities) (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Deferred tax assets:    
Net operating loss, capital loss and tax credit carry-forwards $ 297wm_DeferredTaxAssetsNetOperatingLossCapitalLossAndTaxCreditCarryForwards $ 164wm_DeferredTaxAssetsNetOperatingLossCapitalLossAndTaxCreditCarryForwards
Miscellaneous and other reserves, net 380us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsOther 356us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsOther
Subtotal 677us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross 520us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross
Valuation allowance (300)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance (149)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Deferred tax liabilities:    
Landfill and environmental remediation liabilities (22)wm_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesAssetRetirementObligationAndAccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies (30)wm_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesAssetRetirementObligationAndAccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
Property and equipment (598)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment (966)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Goodwill and other intangibles (1,095)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssets (1,104)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssets
Net deferred tax liabilities $ (1,338)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet $ (1,729)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet