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Capital Stock, Dividends and Share Repurchases - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Sep. 30, 2014
Feb. 28, 2015
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items]            
Common stock shares authorized 1,500,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized 1,500,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized 1,500,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized      
Common stock par value per share $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare      
Common stock shares issued 630,282,461us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued 630,282,461us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued 630,282,461us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued      
Common stock shares outstanding 458,500,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding 458,500,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding 464,300,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding 464,200,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding    
Preferred stock shares authorized 10,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized 10,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized        
Preferred stock par value per share $ 0.01us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare $ 0.01us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare        
Preferred stock shares outstanding 0us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesOutstanding 0us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesOutstanding        
Cash dividends   $ 693us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock $ 683us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock $ 658us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock    
Cash dividends declared and paid per common share $ 0.375us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid $ 1.50us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid $ 1.46us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid $ 1.42us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid    
Treasury stock at cost   600us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod 239us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod      
Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement (ASR) [Member]            
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items]            
Treasury stock at cost         420us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod
/ us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis
= wm_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember
 
Forward contract indexed to own stock         180us-gaap_ForwardContractIndexedToIssuersEquitySettlementAlternativesCashAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis
= wm_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember
 
Share Repurchase Program [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]            
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items]            
Maximum capital allocated for repurchases of shares           $ 1,000us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount
/ us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis
= wm_ShareRepurchaseProgramMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember