Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities - Changes (Detail) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025 USD ($)
Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities
Ending balance, environmental remediation	$ 215
Landfill [Member]
Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities
Beginning balance, landfill	3,057
Obligations incurred and capitalized	66
Obligations settled	(128)
Interest accretion	106
Revisions in estimates	29
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments	5
Ending balance, landfill	3,135
Environmental Remediation Liabilities [Member]
Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities
Beginning balance, environmental remediation	222
Obligations settled	(20)
Revisions in estimates and interest rate assumptions	13
Ending balance, environmental remediation	$ 215

Total costs accrued as of the balance sheet date for environmental loss contingencies.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483076/450-20-50-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/recommendedDisclosureRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (d)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481931/410-30-50-10

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/recommendedDisclosureRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (d)(3)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481931/410-30-50-10

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 16
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481899/410-30-55-16

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.Y.Q1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480102/450-20-S99-1

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481931/410-30-50-7

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of expense (reversal of expense) which increases (decreases) the accrual for environmental loss contingencies from revisions in estimates to existing obligations. Excludes changes related to business acquisitions, divestitures, or currency movement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesIncreaseDecreaseForRevisionInEstimates
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash outflow to settle environmental loss contingencies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.Y.Q1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480102/450-20-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph (f)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-17

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesPayments1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 25
-Paragraph 4
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481999/410-20-25-4

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481850/410-20-50-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of accretion expense recognized during the period that is associated with an asset retirement obligation. Accretion expense measures and incorporates changes due to the passage of time into the carrying amount of the liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481879/410-20-45-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(3)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481850/410-20-50-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 40
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (i)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147476148/220-40-50-22

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of asset retirement obligations incurred during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481850/410-20-50-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of asset retirement obligations settled, or otherwise disposed of, during the period. This may include asset retirement obligations transferred to third parties associated with the sale of a long-lived asset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481850/410-20-50-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in the asset retirement obligation from changes in the amount or timing of the estimated cash flows associated with the settlement of the obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(4)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481850/410-20-50-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 275
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482861/275-10-50-9

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.Y.Q4)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480102/450-20-S99-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483076/450-20-50-4

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EnvironmentalExitCostLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Asset Retirement Obligation Increase Decrease For Acquisitions Divestitures And Other Adjustments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wm_AssetRetirementObligationIncreaseDecreaseForAcquisitionsDivestituresAndOtherAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	wm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_LandfillMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EnvironmentalExitCostByPropertyAxis=wm_EnvironmentalCostsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: