XML 111 R90.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Restructuring - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 36 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2014
Jul. 31, 2012
Areas
Employees
Aug. 31, 2014
Employees
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]              
Pre-tax restructuring charges related to employee severance and benefit costs     $ 7us-gaap_SeveranceCosts1        
Pre-tax restructuring charges 67us-gaap_RestructuringCharges 82us-gaap_RestructuringCharges 18us-gaap_RestructuringCharges 67us-gaap_RestructuringCharges      
Employee severance and benefit costs from restructurings beginning in 2012         133us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate    
Employee severance and benefit cost payments through the balance sheet date         94us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring    
Remaining employee severance payable through our restructuring efforts   33us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining          
Completion date of restructuring activities         Dec. 31, 2015    
2012 Restructuring [Member]              
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]              
Number of employee positions eliminated           700us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostNumberOfPositionsEliminated
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wm_TwoThousandTwelveRestructuringMember
 
Pre-tax restructuring charges related to employee severance and benefit costs       56us-gaap_SeveranceCosts1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wm_TwoThousandTwelveRestructuringMember
     
Pre-tax restructuring charges       67us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wm_TwoThousandTwelveRestructuringMember
     
Number of areas pre restructuring           22wm_NumberOfAreasPreRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wm_TwoThousandTwelveRestructuringMember
 
Number of areas post restructuring           17wm_NumberOfAreasPostRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wm_TwoThousandTwelveRestructuringMember
 
Two Thousand Fourteen Restructuring [Member]              
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]              
Number of employee positions eliminated             650us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostNumberOfPositionsEliminated
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wm_TwoThousandFourteenRestructuringMember
Pre-tax restructuring charges related to employee severance and benefit costs   70us-gaap_SeveranceCosts1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wm_TwoThousandFourteenRestructuringMember
         
Pre-tax restructuring charges   82us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wm_TwoThousandFourteenRestructuringMember
         
2013 Restructuring [Member]              
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]              
Pre-tax restructuring charges     $ 18us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wm_TwoThousandThirteenRestructuringMember