Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 339	$ 58	$ 307	$ 194
Other current assets	2,196	2,441
Total current assets	2,535	2,499
Property and equipment, net	12,170	12,344
Investments in and advances to affiliates
Other assets	7,737	7,760
Total assets	22,442	22,603
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	1,216	726
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	2,141	2,288
Total current liabilities	3,357	3,014
Long-term debt, less current portion	8,978	9,500
Other liabilities	4,068	4,087
Total liabilities	16,403	16,601
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	5,737	5,707
Noncontrolling interests	302	295
Total equity	6,039	6,002
Total liabilities and equity	22,442	22,603
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Other current assets
Total current assets
Property and equipment, net
Investments in and advances to affiliates	(33,153)	(32,647)
Other assets
Total assets	(33,153)	(32,647)
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt
Accounts payable and other current liabilities
Total current liabilities
Long-term debt, less current portion
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	(33,153)	(32,647)
Noncontrolling interests
Total equity	(33,153)	(32,647)
Total liabilities and equity	(33,153)	(32,647)
WM [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents			145	60
Other current assets
Total current assets
Property and equipment, net
Investments in and advances to affiliates	12,136	12,133
Other assets	41	42
Total assets	12,177	12,175
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	772	587
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	65	109
Total current liabilities	837	696
Long-term debt, less current portion	5,603	5,772
Other liabilities
Total liabilities	6,440	6,468
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	5,737	5,707
Noncontrolling interests
Total equity	5,737	5,707
Total liabilities and equity	12,177	12,175
WM Holdings [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Other current assets	6	6
Total current assets	6	6
Property and equipment, net
Investments in and advances to affiliates	16,519	16,246
Other assets	12	12
Total assets	16,537	16,264
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	5	13
Total current liabilities	5	13
Long-term debt, less current portion	449	449
Other liabilities
Total liabilities	454	462
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	16,083	15,802
Noncontrolling interests
Total equity	16,083	15,802
Total liabilities and equity	16,537	16,264
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	339	58	162	134
Other current assets	2,190	2,435
Total current assets	2,529	2,493
Property and equipment, net	12,170	12,344
Investments in and advances to affiliates	4,498	4,268
Other assets	7,684	7,706
Total assets	26,881	26,811
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	444	139
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	2,071	2,166
Total current liabilities	2,515	2,305
Long-term debt, less current portion	2,926	3,279
Other liabilities	4,068	4,087
Total liabilities	9,509	9,671
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	17,070	16,845
Noncontrolling interests	302	295
Total equity	17,372	17,140
Total liabilities and equity	$ 26,881	$ 26,811