Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Consolidated net income	$ 219	$ 250	$ 402	$ 446
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments:
Unrealized losses, resulting from changes in fair value, net of tax benefit of $(10), $(5), $(8) and $(8), respectively	(16)	(8)	(12)	(13)
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax (expense) benefit of $(2), $1, $0 and $6, respectively	(4)	1		9
Total Unrealized losses on derivative instruments	(20)	(7)	(12)	(4)
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax expense (benefit) of $0, $0, $1 and $(1), respectively	(1)	1	1	(1)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(22)	8	2	36
Change in funded status of post-retirement benefit obligation, net of tax benefit of $0, $0, $0 and $(1), respectively				(2)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	(43)	2	(9)	29
Comprehensive income	176	252	393	475
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	11	13	23	23
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$ 165	$ 239	$ 370	$ 452